Good News Ohio!

Today the Supreme Court put Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in her place.

State Supreme Court overrules Brunner on absentee-ballot check-box issue
Application forms had been mailed by McCain campaign
Thursday, October 2, 2008 2:56 PM
Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008 03:19 PM
By Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The Ohio Supreme Court this afternoon ordered Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to direct county elections boards to accept disputed applications for absentee ballots that don't have a box on the form checked.

Brunner, a Democrat, had ruled that the applications from Republican John McCain's campaign should be rejected because the box must be checked to affirm that the applicant is a qualified elector as required by law.

But two Hamilton County residents sued, arguing that there is a statement on the form declaring the applicant is qualified, and that the applicant's signature is enough to satisfy the law even if the box isn't checked.

The court agreed, ruling that there is no requirement in the law that a box be checked or that the applicant's signature be close to an affirmation statement.