'Challengers' - Blackwell V.A

On the morning, then of April 3, the first official meeting commenced. The time was 9:45 a.m., 15 miutes late, Senator Mark Mallory (D-Cinncinati) was absent, and Chairman Dana Walch presided.

After Walch welcomed all attendees, she gave a brief introduction, wherein she described the reason for the committee meetings,

"This committee was formed for the purpose of advising Secretary of State Blackwell on how Ohio can best meet the requirements of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which was signed by President Bush in October... HAVA, was passed to help states replace antiquated voting systems, make the process of voting more accessible to persons with disabilities, better educate voters and officials, and centralize a list of voters in the state." (pgs 4.17 - 5.1)

In short, the committee members were nominated through the good-will of SoS Blackwell, and assisted him in writing Ohio's plan. 255(a) of HAVA 2002:

"The chief State election official shall develop the State plan under this subtitle through a committee of appropriate individuals."

Generally, then, the plan would allow the state to purchase new machines, update registry lists, inform voters, and assist the disabled.

Next, Walch breifly introduced each member, thanked them all for attending, and then turned the floor over to the honorable SoS Blackwell. Wasting no words, Blackwell cut to the heart of the meeting and informed the members,

This is an historic endeavor, and it is an ambitious endeavor, an endeavor that will provide Ohioans with a modern statewide election system where votes can be easily cast, accurately counted, and the whole process can be fairly administered. This new state-of-the-art elections technology will replace outdated voting machinery, a much needed overhaul for elections in the 21st Century (7.4 -7.11).

Hoping to avoid the Florida 2000 fiasco, Blackwell ambitiously planned to modernize Ohio's election system by replacing antiquated punch-card machines with state-of-the-art elections.

Blackwell continued by describing HAVA 2000 as the most sweeping voting legislation since "The Civil Rights Act of 1965." In order to head off any inferiority complex or uncontrolled anger Blackwell noted that the committee's work is major, not minor, especially since the very ambitious goal of the Committee aims to have their entire monumental plan implemented by November 2004. No one man could write the plan.

Igniting their state patriotism and love for hard work Blackwell stated

[This] is a challenge. But Ohio is celebrating its 200th birthday this year, and the prescription for progress in Ohio has always been one of industry, envision and people that have always rose to the occasion to meet challenges they are faced with (8.12 - 8.16).

Blackwell finished with a flourish by letting them know that they have a challenge they must overcome, but they reside in the greatest state of the union that has a fine tradition as a pace-setter and example for America. He concluded by thanking them

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