Voter Suppression in Ohio_House Bill 194 by Sandra Williams, State Rep - Ohio

Background: House Bill 194 drastically changes the voting process in Ohio to make it harder^- to vote. This legislation will do the following:

· Eliminate the "Golden Week" of registering to vote and voting the same day

· Limit the early voting in person from 35 days to just 12 days.

· Reduce early voting by mail to just 2 weeks.

· Eliminate Sunday voting completely.

· Require that Saturday early voting hours end at 12 noon, no matter how large the county.

· Eliminate voting on the Friday, Saturday and Monday before the election, which is typically the busiest time for early voting.

· Prohibit the Board of Elections from mass mailing absentee ballot applications, used by large counties lessen election day lines

· Prohibit the Board of Elections from paying the return postage on an absentee ballot application, which puts an extra burden on the voter.

· Prevent local Boards of Elections from creating additional early voting locations without at least three board members agreeing.

· Removes the requirement that trained poll workers tell a voter if he or she are in the wrong precinct and that their vote would not count,

· Provisional ballots would require driver's license number, full social security number or State ID number,

· Eliminate the 10 days after a voting provisionally a voter has to prove his or her identity to the Board of Elections.

· Invalidates a vote even when intent is clear, for example: if a voter checks the box of their candidate and then proceeds to write the name of the candidate next to the box, their vote is not counted.

What this means to you: This legislation will undoubtedly lead to voter confusion and chaos on Election Day. House Bill 194 will make in harder and more inconvenient for seniors, working families, students and others to exercise their right to vote.

Hon. Sandra Williams, State Representative

Ohio House of Representatives, 77 South High ST FLR 10, Columbus OH 43215

DOWNLOAD 2011Fall_HB194_VoterSuppression.PDF with additional information

Call NOW 216-443-3231 to receive your Absentee Ballot Application from Cuyahoga County Voters Board

"WRITE your representative. SIGN a petition. Vote! I do."_Neale Sourna

Cleveland's Franklin Castle named one of the most haunted homes in the United States

Colleen Seitz, NewsNet5/WEWS-TV

It's been known to be the most haunted house in Ohio and now MSNBC.com has given Cleveland's Franklin Castle a new distinction -- one of the top-10 most haunted homes in the United States.

The 9,000-square-foot home on Franklin Avenue on the city's west side was built in 1864 by German-born banker Hannes Tiedemann. He spared no expense building the 28-room, 80-window castle with a ballroom, spiral staircases and secret passages.

"Finally, a haunted home that really looks haunted," notes MSNBC.com. "Complete with a tower, turrets, balconies, stone outcroppings, gargoyles, wrought-iron fixtures and fences, this imposing, Gothic-style Franklin Castle is said to be Ohio's most haunted home."

There have been several mysterious deaths in the home over the years. And there have been numerous sightings and sounds of ghosts. Footsteps, babies crying and doors slamming have been heard.

NewsNet5.com has put together pictures from a visit inside the Franklin Castle. Take a tour and learn more about the history and ghosts in this real haunted house. Click here for the photogallery .

The castle is currently owned by a woman who hoped to turn into a bed and breakfast, but a fire in 1999 halted her plans. MSNBC.com says that there are rumors that Franklin Castle will be on the market soon.

You can read more about the most haunted homes in the country at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39745803/ns/business-real_estate/

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I traveled by there for two weeks once, while job training and hadn't paid the place any serious attention, until I had nightmares the entire first week--no, not because of the job training--before realizing I must be zipping past the Franklin castle and a derelict's half-way house beside it. I hadn't even known exactly where it was, because I'd always thought Franklin was the owner not the street. Either way...Ick.

--Neale Sourna