2008 Press Releases

12/16/2008 Ohio's Electoral College Casts Votes For President, Vice-President Ohio’s 52nd Electoral College met this week to cast their votes for U.S. president and vice president, closing out the presidential race in the Buckeye State.

12/10/2008 Secretary Brunner To Convene Ohio Electoral College Monday Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will convene the 52nd Ohio Electoral College at noon Monday, Dec.15 in the Ohio Senate chambers in the Statehouse in Columbus.

12/9/2008 Secretary of State Offers Testimony On Proposed Senate Election Bill Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner submitted testimony Tuesday regarding Senate Bill 380, which is pending before the Ohio Senate State and Local Government Committee. Secretary Brunner expressed serious concerns regarding the bill and called on the House and Senate to work cooperatively with the Ohio Elections Summit process to craft thoughtful, comprehensive, bipartisan legislation in 2009.

12/5/2008 Statement Regarding Supreme Court Decision

11/25/2008 Statement Of Secretary Brunner Regarding Appeals Court Decision The following is a statement of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner regarding the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Skaggs v. Brunner.

11/25/2008 Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners to Meet The Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners will meet on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. in the 15th floor conference room of the Continental Plaza, 180 E. Broad St. in Columbus.

11/25/2008 Secretary Brunner Releases Cuyahoga County Board OH Elections From Administrative Oversight Following the successful administration of this year’s presidential primary and general election, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner today released the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections from administrative oversight.

11/14/2008 Secretary Brunner Launches Post-Election Audits Building on a successful pilot project after the March primary, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has launched statewide post-election audits for the general election. The post-election audits will assist bipartisan boards of elections in solidifying public confidence after a very successful general election.

11/10/2008 Secretary of State's Office Pays Tribute To Veterans With Veteran’s Day upon us, all are encouraged to honor the veterans who have fought so valiantly for our democracy. America’s military men and women have defended our country and one of its defining characteristics: the American right to vote.

11/4/2008 Secretary Brunner Issues Mid-Morning Election Update, Resources for Election Day Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has issued a brief mid-morning update on the status of voting in Ohio on Election Day. According to reports into the Citizen’s Response Center, voting in Ohio has been brisk and orderly on this historic day.

10/31/2008 John Glenn Calls on Ohioans to “Vote With Confidence” in New PSA Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced Friday a public service announcement (PSA) featuring Ohio legend John Glenn urging Ohioans to vote with confidence by absentee ballot or on Election Day.

10/27/2008 Secretary Brunner announces 1.46 Million Ohioans request absentee ballots On Monday, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced an unprecedented 1.46 million Ohioans have requested absentee ballots.

10/24/2008 Ballot Issue Signatures Certified Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Thursday determined that a referendum for the November ballot proposed by The Committee to Reject House Bill 545 has enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

10/21/2008 Secretary of State Website Back Online Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced Tuesday that the Secretary of State website is back online with some limited functionality and should be fully functional by the end of the day.

10/20/2008 Secretary of State Website Temporarily Taken Down for Security Purposes Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced on Monday afternoon that the state website has been set in a static mode with limited functionality as a precaution. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will assist with an investigation of one or more security breaches detected by the Secretary of State.

10/17/2008 U.S. Supreme Court Backs Brunner; Protects Ohio Voters The United States Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner was correct in protecting an estimated 200,000 Ohioans from being disenfranchised in this historic election.

10/16/2008 Secretary Brunner Appeals to US Supreme Court to Protect Ohioans' Voting Rights Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has asked the United States Supreme Court to protect the voting rights of an estimated 200,000 Ohioans. Because of a politically-motivated lawsuit, eligible Ohio voters could be forced to use provisional ballots if a lower court’s divided decision stands.

10/14/2008 Brunner Statement of Today's Court (En Banc) Ruling Statement of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner regarding an ‘en banc’ (full court) review of the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a Sixth Circuit three-judge panel’s October 10, 2008, stay of Judge George Smith’s TRO regarding HAVA matching for new or revised Ohio voter registrations since January 1, 2008.

10/2/2008 Statement of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Ohio Supreme Court Decision This statement can be attributed in whole or in part to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in connection with the Ohio Supreme Court ruling of today.

10/1/2008 Premier letter to Secretary of State's office and Butler County Election Simulation

9/30/2008 Brunner Launches Ohio Judicial Voter Guide Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner today announced the launch of the Ohio Judicial Voter Guide. The online guide will enable Ohio voters to educate themselves about judicial candidates in Ohio running for the Ohio Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Common Pleas.

9/30/2008 Brunner News Conference Today Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will hold a news conference TODAY (Sept. 30, 2008) at 11 a.m. to discuss technological advancements that will help voters including a partnership with a global technology company.

9/30/2008 Secretary Brunner Introduces Resources for Voter Access Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner today introduced a number of technology initiatives geared to provide greater access & information to Ohio voters.

9/29/2008 Statement of Secretary Brunner Regarding Ohio Supreme Court Decision The following statement may be attributed in whole or part to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner regarding the Ohio Supreme Court decision upholding the right of Ohioans to register and vote on the same day, the so-called “overlap period.”

9/29/2008 Federal Court Upholds Registration, Voting Overlap Stating that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner “obviously determined the issue correctly,” US District Court Judge James S. Gwin issued on Monday a temporary restraining order requiring the Madison County Board of Elections and Secretary Brunner to comply with Directive 2008-63.

9/25/2008 Ballot Issue Signatures Certified Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Thursday determined that a constitutional amendment for the November ballot proposed by My Ohio Now has enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

9/25/2008 Secretary Brunner Strongly Defends Registration, Early Voting Overlap Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner continued her strong defense of Ohio law Thursday in a brief filed with the Ohio Supreme Court. The brief supports Secretary Brunner’s directives regarding a longstanding overlap between voter registration and early voting in Ohio.

9/23/2008 Referendum Signatures Insufficient Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Tuesday determined that a referendum for the November ballot proposed by The Committee to Reject House Bill 545, also known as Ohioans for Financial Freedom, has fallen short of the number of valid signatures needed.

9/23/2008 Secretary Brunner Offers Expanded Waivers For Polling Place Layout Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced Monday an expansion of the waivers available for Directive 2008-65, “Precinct Polling Location Arrangement and Diagram for Counties Using DREs.” The directive provides voters with a secondary back-up paper ballot line in touch-screen voting counties.

9/22/2008 Secretary Brunner Files Reply in Lawsuit Filing an answer to a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Ohio Monday, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner strongly reaffirmed her directive (Directive 2008-65) recognizing Ohio’s longstanding administration of the state’s election laws that allow Ohio citizens to both register and receive an absentee ballot at a time when both are permitted by state law.

9/23/2008 RESPONSE FILED IN STATE OF OHIO ex rel William Myles v. JENNIFER BRUNNER SECRETARY OF STATE OF OHIO Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner filed a response Monday to a lawsuit advised and coordinated by the Hamilton County Chair of the John McCain campaign.

9/17/2008 Statement of Secretary Brunner on Latest Lawsuit Regarding Absentee Ballot Procedures The following may be attributed in whole or in part to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner regarding the latest lawsuit filed against the office in relation to the confusing absentee ballot request forms of a presidential campaign.

9/12/2008 Brunner To Help Voters Confused By Complex Application Forms Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner took action Friday to help voters confused by an absentee ballot request form mailed by a presidential campaign.

9/12/2008 Statement of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Ohio Republican Party lawsuit This statement may attributed in whole or in part to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on the lawsuit filed Friday by the Ohio Republican Party.

9/12/2008 Brunner News Conference Today

9/5/2008 Secretary Brunner Clarifies Challenge Laws to Protect Voters Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner took action Friday to protect the rights of all eligible Ohio voters and to protect boards of elections from litigation likely to arise from Ohio law that presents conflicts with federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

8/19/2008 Secretary Brunner Transitions All Ohio Counties To Secure Voting Machine Delivery Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Tuesday unveiled secure voting machine delivery instructions for all Ohio counties.

9/2/2008 Referendum Supporters File 422,000 Signatures Supporters of a referendum that would repeal payday lending regulations in favor a new set of regulations submitted 422,000 signatures on Sunday to place the issue before voters this November.

8/15/2008 Secretary Brunner Helps Boards, Voters with Absentee Voting Guidance Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner issued Friday two directives and one advisory to prepare for absentee voting in Ohio. The guidance, crafted in partnership with elections officials, paves the way for successful early voting prior to the Nov. 4, 2008, election.

8/6/2008 SECRETARY OF STATE FILES COUNTERCLAIM IN LAWSUIT WITH PREMIER ELECTION SOLUTIONS, DOCUMENTS EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS IN PREMIER VOTING MACHINE COUNTIES

8/5/2008 Ballot Issue Petitions Filed With Secretary Brunner's Office Two groups filed petitions Tuesday to place two ballot issues on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

8/4/2008 Digest for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for Week of Aug. 4, 2008

7/31/2008 Brunner Prevails in Ohio Supreme Court Dispute The Ohio Supreme Court sided unanimously with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Thursday in a dispute over her rejection of the appointment of a Lawrence County Board of Elections member.

7/30/2008 Brunner Named Midwest Region Vice President For The National Association of Secretaries of State Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner was sworn-in Monday as the Midwest region vice president for the National Association of Secretaries of State at the organizations’ annual summer meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich.

7/29/2008 Ohio Ballot Board To Meet

7/28/2008 Digest for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for Week of July 28, 2008

7/25/2008 Success in March Prompts Secretary Brunner to Support Back-Up Paper Ballots for the Fall Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Friday issued a directive for all counties using electronic touch-screen voting machines to provide back-up paper ballots in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election.

7/23/2008 Secretary Brunner Issues Historic Statewide Voting Security Best Practices Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has implemented the first in a series of voting security directives that have been crafted in partnership with a bipartisan workgroup of local elections officials.

7/14/2008 Digest for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner For Week of July 14, 2008 Upcoming events for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

7/9/2008 Secretary Brunner Provides Guidance on Early Voting Locations Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has provided Ohio’s county boards of elections with clear, consistent guidance for establishing and operating early voting locations at sites other than boards of elections.

7/9/2008 Secretary Brunner Calls Meeting of the Board of Voting Machine Examiners The Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners will meet on Friday, July 11 at 2 p.m. in the 15th floor conference room of the Continental Plaza, 180 E. Broad St. in Columbus.

7/1/2008 Secretary of State Secures Refund of Questionable Campaign Contributions Regarding David Brennan Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has secured the refund of nearly $30,000 in questionable campaign contributions involving David Brennan. The agreement, which was signed Monday, will require the money to be returned from various political campaigns to two political action committees associated with Brennan.

6/27/2008 Secretary Brunner Announces Workgroup Recommendations on Enhanced Voting Security

6/27/2008 Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners to Meet The Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners will meet on Thursday, July 3 at 9 a.m. in the 15th floor conference room of the Continental Plaza, 180 E. Broad St. in Columbus.

6/20/2008 Secretary of State Brunner to Welcome Elections Officials at Conference Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Monday, June 23, 2008, will welcome several hundred county elections officials to the 2008 Ohio Secretary of State Summer Conference at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

6/18/2008 Brunner statement on HB 694 Court Decision Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Wednesday’s decision in Franklin County Common Pleas Court connected to HB 694.

6/17/2008 Brunner Statement on Supreme Court Decision Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on Monday’s Ohio Supreme Court decision in the case of Summit County Republican Party Executive Committee v. Brunner, Secretary of State.

6/17/2008 Ohio Ballot Board Meeting Canceled The ballot board was to have considered whether a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit employers from deducting, without consent, amounts from an employee’s wages that would go to organizations that support or oppose a candidate contains only one proposed amendment.

6/12/2008 Ohio Ballot Board To Meet June 18 The ballot board will determine whether a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit employers from deducting, without consent, amounts from an employee’s wages that would go to organizations that support or oppose a candidate contains only one proposed amendment.

6/11/2008 Secretary of State Releases First Comprehensive Post-Election Report Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner released Wednesday the state’s first comprehensive post-election report, focusing on the historic March 2008 presidential primary.

5/27/2008 Independent Candidate Files for Attorney General Race

5/16/2008 Grads Vote 2008 Kicks Off with Talk to Graduating High School Seniors Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner launched a statewide program Friday that encourages youth involvement in elections with a talk to graduating seniors at Whetstone High School.

5/14/2008 Media Advisory Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will speak to high-school seniors at Whetsone High School on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.

5/9/2008 Official Canvass: Record Number of Voters Turn Out In Primary The secretary of state’s canvass revealed that 3,603,523 of Ohio’s 7.826 million registered voters cast ballots March 4 for a 46.06 percent turnout, a record turnout for a primary.

4/10/2008 Secretary of State's Office Moves Client Center In an effort to enhance service to its business clients, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office has formed the Records and Client Service Section of the Office of Business Services.

4/4/2008 Ohio Attorney General and Secretary of State Applaud Ruling by Elections Commission

3/13/2008 Secretary Brunner: "Ohio Sets Record For Absentee Ballots"

3/24/2008 Counties Sought for Post Election Audit Pilot

3/5/2008 Developments in Statewide Polling Locations

3/5/2008 Brunner Announces Polls to Remain Open in Sandusky County Until 9:00 p.m.

3/4/2008 Brunner & Dann Work to Help Boards of Elections Deal with Flooding Issues

2/22/2008 Brunner To Conduct Statewide Swearing-In Tour

3/3/2008 Ohio Supreme Court Refuses to Interfere with Brunner Directive for Paper Ballots

2/21/2008 BVME: E-Poll Books Must Be Certified By State

2/7/2008 Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners to Meet The Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008.

2/7/2008 Secretary Brunner Unveils Poll Worker Training Program Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has unveiled an online poll-worker training program available to all county boards of elections in the state.

2/20/2008 Judge Strikes Down Union County Challenge

2/15/2008 Fifth College Forum Added On Voting System Review The Ohio State University has been chosen as an additional location to the series of forums discussing electronic voting issues in the state of Ohio on Wednesday (Feb. 20).

2/14/2008 College Forums Scheduled on Voting System Review Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is announcing a series of forums on college campuses around the state about the recent comprehensive review of Ohio's voting systems.

2/19/2008 Secretary Brunner Announces Town Hall Meeting Schedule

1/24/2008 Many Ohio Election Officials’ Views Inconsistent with Voters’ Concerns Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner released today the results of a recent survey of all of the state's boards of elections officials resulting from the Secretary's comprehensive review of the state's voting systems on concerns they may have about voting systems used in their counties and whether they would like to see a change in their county's voting system if funding is provided.

1/16/2008 Letter to the Editor Regarding Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/16/2008 Pew Funding Will Benefit Ohio Voters The Pew Center on the States' Make Voting Work initiative announced today the funding of several projects that put special emphasis on elections in the U.S. Ohio is a fortunate partner with Pew to be the recipient of three grant-funded projects that will benefit Ohio voters in the immediate future.