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"Go to the Polls and Vote, Officials Urge"
"YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Voters began casting their ballots in the Mahoning Valley at 6:30 a.m. today and some can expect to be challenged based on an early morning reversal by the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recognizing Republican concerns about fraud as valid.The court is based in Cincinnati.During a brief press conference Monday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan, D-17th Ohio, Mahoning County Board of Elections Director Michael Sciortino, a Democrat, and the board's Republican deputy director Thomas McCabe reiterated all measures are in place to ensure everything goes smoothly today when polls open."We're communicating to everyone to get out and vote," Ryan said, as he presented a copy of the "Ohio Voter's Bill of Rights" -- a list of 11 provisions that outlines the Ohioans' rights when they vote.Ohio is regarded as one of the pivotal states in the presidential race between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry. Because of its importance, elections officials have been working diligently to ensure the rights of all voters are secured and the process runs without incident."It's important that we have a non-confrontational election day," Sciortino said.He did ask, however, that people do everything the can to vote at their designated polling locations.In an important development Monday morning, U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott in Cincinnati and U.S. District Judge John Adams in Akron ruled challenges to voter eligibility can come only from poll workers inside each precinct. Republicans, suspicious of the validity of thousands of new voter registrations, favored placing officials representing each party at the polling stations for the sole purpose of challenging voter eligibility. Republicans appealed and a three-judge panel at the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overrulled Dlott, saying the integrity of the elections is more important.Unlike some states, Ohio does not require those casting ballots to present forms of identification. "You'll be asked your name and then you can sign in," he said. Among the other rights given to voters in Ohio are:If you are in line at your correct polling place by 7:30 p.m., you must be allowed to vote.You have the right to vote by provisional ballot. If you are an eligible registered voter, but are not allowed to vote, you may sign a statement that allows you to receive and cast a provisional ballot in your home precinct.You have the right to vote in the precinct where you live on the day of the election, even if you moved within the county or from a different county.If you are casting a paper ballot, you have the right to receive another ballot from election officials if you believe you made a mistake. Voters can request up to three ballots to correct errors.You have the right to request special help in the voting booth if you cannot read or write, if English is not your first language, or if you are blind or otherwise disabled. You may ask election officials for written or verbal instructions at any time.You have the right to vote without being intimidated by any person.You have the right to vote without anyone attempting to influence, hinder, or delay your vote outside of the polling place.You have the right to vote during work hours.You have the right to vote, even if you are unable to enter the voting site because you suffer from a disability. The polling place shall provide you with ballot outside.If you are in jail, you have the right to vote by absentee ballot, unless you have been convicted of a felony. If you are a felon released from prison, you have the right to vote upon re registering following your release. Some 196,000 voters are registered in Mahoning County. "We're as ready as we can be," McCabe stated."