Right to Vote

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed two voting restriction laws that limits the eligibility of absentee ballots and cuts the early voting period for Federal elections. The law will make it more difficult for overseas military members to vote if they make a minor paperwork error. It also prohibits election workers from assisting voters unless they are disabled or illiterate, which could make it more difficult for senior citizens in nursing homes that are accustomed to receiving assistance from bipartisan teams that help them cast their ballots.

A Republican dominated Board of County Commissioners in Florida voted to slash the number of places that individuals can vote in predominately minority heavy voting districts. Despite nearly unanimous public disapproval, the board went along with the recommendation of the county election supervisor to slash the amount of voting sites using the guise of saving the county money.

A Republican leaning Florida country voted to eliminate one third of their voting stations and halving the number of voting stations in heavily minority districts. The 6 to 1 vote was unanimously opposed by all speakers at the public forum before the vote, but that did not sway the Republican dominated board.

Don Yelton, the GOP precinct chair of Buncombe County in North Carolina, was forced to step down after he made multiple racially charged remarks during an interview on "The Daily Show." Mr. Yelton claimed that the strict new voter identification law in North Carolina will "kick the Democrats in the butt" and gloated that if the law "hurts a bunch of lazy blacks that want the government to give them everything, so be it." Even in his letter of resignation, Mr. Yelton remained defiant and claimed that he gladly resigns because he doesn't "want to be part of a group that is that mealy-mouthed and that gutless.”

As courts continue to block voter suppression efforts around the county, conservative groups are redoubling efforts to intimidate voters at the polls come Election Day.