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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

How partisan poll watchers could test Ohio’s election system

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Tuesday, November 5, 2024   

In a polarized political season, Ohio's election system faces new challenges as partisanship and election integrity concerns come to the forefront.

While most Ohioans trust their local election officials, heightened political tensions and increased recruitment of partisan poll watchers have cast a spotlight on the state's unique election safeguards.

Jenny Gimian, director of legal research and senior policy counsel for the nonprofit Informing Democracy, said Ohio's Pickaway and Portage counties are among the 16 counties nationwide identified as a top-level concern among those reviewed this year.

"The boards of elections in Ohio also have an even number of members, however, there's a clear tiebreaking procedure," Gimian explained. "If this were to happen, by law, the Secretary of State would be required to step in and summarily decide the matter."

Ohio's tiebreaking mechanism added a layer of security to prevent certification delays at the county level and it places significant responsibility on the Secretary of State to ensure impartiality. The process is designed to address disagreements efficiently, yet experts worry escalating partisan recruitment may strain the protections, as election workers could bring heightened biases to their roles.

Concerns over partisan involvement extend beyond Ohio, as national leaders rally supporters to form an "election day army" to monitor polling stations. The wave of mobilization, fueled by calls to counter perceived election vulnerabilities, has taken root across the country.

On the social media platform Telegram, Ohio's Proud Boys chapter warned, "The day is fast approaching when fence sitting will no longer be possible. ... You will either stand with the resistance or take a knee and willingly accept the yoke of tyranny and oppression."

Gimian pointed out the trend underscores a growing national movement to address election security concerns, even in states such as Ohio with established certification and oversight safeguards.

"National Republican Party officials have said they are recruiting an election-day army to combat alleged widespread election fraud and to guard the vote," Gimian emphasized. "Notably in August 2024, Republicans held a recruitment session at the party's Ohio borders."

Despite Ohio's established legal processes, the intensifying push for partisan poll oversight added complexity to election administration this year. As election denialism and politically motivated recruitment intersect with robust safeguards, Ohio's election officials face a delicate balance between maintaining security and ensuring fair, unbiased vote counting across its counties.


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