Brunner Now Seeks Changes She Fought Against

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner Fought Hard During The 2008 Elections To Ensure That Her Party Had Distinct Advantages At The Polls.  Now, With Victory Under Her Belt, She Has Reversed Her Positions On Basic Voter Fraud Protections.

Brunner Now Says She Is For Early Voting Observers And Against "Golden Week":

Brunner Now Agrees With Having Early Voting Observers And Wants To Eliminate "Golden Week."  "Brunner does agree with adding observers for early voting and eliminating Golden Week."  (Mark Niquette and Jim Siegel, "Top Democrats urge GOP to hold off on elections bill," The Columbus Dispatch, 11/19/08)

Brunner Now Acknowledges That More Time Is Needed For Elections Boards To Verify Voter Registrations Before Voting.  "[Jennifer Brunner] would keep the current voter-registration deadline at 30 days before the election but not start early voting until 20 days before the election, giving officials time to verify new registrations."  (Mark Niquette and Jim Siegel, "Top Democrats urge GOP to hold off on elections bill," The Columbus Dispatch, 11/19/08)

Brunner's Support For Allowing Early Voting Observers Comes After She Fought Against It:

A Judge Had To Grant A Restraining Order Against Brunner's Instructions Not To Allow Observers During Early Voting.  "[Judge George C. Smith] did grant a temporary restraining order against Brunner's instruction that observers are not allowed for in-person absentee voting until the election."  (Mark Niquette and Tim Doulin, "Three courts rule on absentee issue," The Columbus Dispatch, 9/30/08)

• Judge Smith Noted That There Is No Harm In Allowing The Observers And Not Allowing Them Would Create "Tremendous Risk Of Harm" Of "Voter Fraud And Intimidation."  "[Judge George] Smith said there is no harm to voters in allowing observers, but keeping them out would create ‘tremendous risk of harm to the general public as voter fraud and intimidation are possible, leading to the undermining of voter confidence as a whole.'"  (Mark Niquette and Tim Doulin, "Three courts rule on absentee issue," The Columbus Dispatch, 9/30/08)

Rather Than Support Judge Smith's Sensible Outlook On The Issue, Brunner Appealed His Ruling.  "Brunner said she plans to appeal."  (Mark Niquette and Tim Doulin, "Three courts rule on absentee issue," The Columbus Dispatch, 9/30/08)

The State Supreme Court Finally Ruled That The Secretary Of State "Must Allow Observers," For Early Voting.  "The Ohio Supreme Court said Thursday, Oct. 16, that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must allow observers into watch early voting across the state."  (Staff Report, "Court orders monitors for early voting statewide," Dayton Daily News, 10/17/08)

Brunner Also Fought For The Same Day Registration And Voting Overlap - Termed "Golden Week":

Brunner Issued A Directive Telling Elections Boards To Prepare For Same-Day Registration And Voting.  "At issue is the overlap between the start of absentee voting (Sept. 30) and the deadline for voter registration (Oct. 6). Republicans argue that no one should be allowed to register and vote on the same day because of the risk of fraud.  Brunner's directive last week told boards to prepare procedures for same-day registration and voting . . ." (Mark Niquette, "Brunner isn't budging on absentee-voter rules," The Columbus Dispatch, 8/19/08)

Brunner Said That The Election Boards "Have Enough Time To Verify" Voters Eligibility During The Same Day Registration And Voting.  "[Jennifer] Brunner said election boards have enough time to verify whether would-be voters are legally qualified before absentee ballots are counted on Nov. 4."  ("GOP warns of suit over voting law," The Toledo Blade, 8/19/08)

Partisan Secretary Of State:

Partisanship In The Secretary Of State's Office Is Now "Even More Apparent ... With Brunner Holding The Office."  "The battles over election rules underline the need for Ohio to have an impartial referee at the top for election disputes. ... This was apparent when Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell was secretary of state during the 2004 election, and it is even more apparent this year, with [Jennifer] Brunner holding the office."  (Editorial, "Votes in limbo," The Columbus Dispatch, 11/18/08)

"Brunner, every bit the Democrat, moved a bit closer to cementing her reputation as an overly partisan overseer of Ohio's elections."  (Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Hands-on, to a fault," 6/22/2008)