From Advancement Project

2008 was a banner year for U.S. democracy and its elections. Many states saw record increases in voter registration – particularly among minority and youth voters – and record increases in voter turnout. Undoubtedly, there was an excitement and new level of attention around this historic election. And, after two presidential elections with angrily disputed results, the 2008 election seemed poised to restore a calm confidence in America’s democratic processes. While the 2008 election ended without the sense of crisis that marked the last two presidential elections, the surface calm may distract from the critical need to continue reforming our election system. Millions of voters continued to be disenfranchised by a variety of election administration failures, and in close elections these failures will continue to undermine national confidence in our democracy.

By Jim Siegel of THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Senate Republicans approved a variety of election-law changes yesterday, such as increasing the number of places where voters can cast absentee ballots and ending the one-week span when Ohioans could register and vote on the same day.