Ohio Voting Issues

Interesting developments and analysis arising from the Obama campaign’s efforts to extend polling hours in certain precincts can be found here.  The motion is here and the court’s order, complete with handwritten amendments, is here.  The analysis continues:

Unfortunately, it is a fairly common campaign tactic to try to find a sympathetic judge to keep the polls open a little while longer, in the hope that campaign workers can increase voter turnout favorable to the candidate and thereby perhaps make a difference in the outcome if the race is close. But it is a mischievous tactic, because it attempts to change the rules at the end of the game, in order to give one side an extra advantage because of the last-minute rule change. It is especially mischievous when judges go along with this tactic even though they have no valid legal basis for doing so.

LDA counsel

The Letters to the Editor section of The Hill includes a helpful letter from the Secretary of the Senate/Clerk of the House:

In the Feb. 26 edition of The Hill, the article “K Street grows, maybe even beyond disclosure,” referenced disclosure requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1996.

The LDA definition of “lobbying activities,” or “lobbying contacts,” is explained in the joint guidance issued by the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House. The guidance makes clear, for example, that depending on the situation “status” requests, “monitoring,” and “communications” may fall within the definition of lobbying activities, and the costs related to such lobbying activities must be included in the total of lobbying firm’s lobbying receipts and organization’s lobbying expenses.

Our offices advise callers every day to disclose all of their lobbying activities and costs accurately and completely. To suggest that there is a blanket carve-out of the three aforementioned activities is incorrect. We encourage filers, the public and the press to call our offices with any questions so that they may receive accurate guidance and assistance.

Washington