Obama’s Ohio Edge: Instant Voting
David Axelrod didn’t write Ohio’s voting laws, but they seem tailor-made for Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign. For one crucial week in October, Ohioans can register to vote and then cast their vote immediately — all in one act. The Associated Press explains:
“„Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents instant gratification — register one minute, vote the next… The move will benefit Obama, who enjoys a 2-to-1 lead over McCain among 18- to 34-year-olds… State lawmakers accidentally made the window before the 2006 elections.
As if that wasn’t enough, check out where this little feature is available:
“„The voting window, so far, is only being implemented in some counties — typically, urban areas or those with college campuses…
When Mark Penn was recently pressed on which strategies by the Obama campaign were “really genius,” he noted that Obama’s field operation “finely targeted several constituencies in order to put together their coalition and even to turn out unexpectedly large numbers of young people. They had a great organization.” Now Obama’s aides are taking that tack to build an early lead in pockets of Ohio that already lean strongly towards the Democratic nominee.
