Man challenges 52 voters on residency

By Advocate Staff Report

NEWARK A Granville man has challenged the residency of 52 registered Licking County voters.

Those challenged must attend a special hearing at the County Administration Building at 6 p.m. Tuesday to answer the challenge.

James B. Barton has challenged the registration based on the grounds that the 52 people are not residents of the precinct where they are registered.

Anyone who was challenged should have received a notice in the mail informing them of the hearing, and suggesting they bring a driver's license, utility bill or any other documentation showing proof of residency.

The notice also warns that not attending the hearing could lead to challenged voters being purged from the voter rolls, prohibiting them from voting on Nov. 2.

The Board of Elections will reach a decision on all challenges immediately after the hearing. All challenged voters are allowed to testify, call witnesses and be represented by an attorney.

In addition to the challenge to the 52 voters, the Republican Party has filed to have a voter challenger on location at Licking County's voting places.

The state and county Republican Party filed before Friday's deadline to have a voter challenger at each of Licking County's 122 precincts. The Democratic Party did not file on Friday and will not have any challengers in Licking County, although they may have challengers in other Ohio counties.

Voters who are challenged will be asked to fill out a two-page form stating their name, if they are a U.S. citizen, where they were born, if they have resided in the state 30 days, the names of two persons who know where they live, the county and precinct in which they live, and if they are of legal voting age.

The bottom of the form contains the following warning in bold type: "Whoever commits election falsification is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree."