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Ex-Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell Questioned on Vote Suppression, From ’04 to Wave of ID Laws

A recent study by the Brennan Center estimates that new voter ID laws could disenfranchise more than five million people across the country in November, including voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin.

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A recent study by the Brennan Center estimates that new voter ID laws could disenfranchise more than five million people across the country in November, including voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wisconsin. On Monday, Democracy Now! producer Mike Burke spoke with a prominent supporter of the new voter IDs laws, Ken Blackwell, vice chair of the Republican National Committee’s platform committee and the former Republican Secretary of State in Ohio. In 2008, Blackwell oversaw the election process for Ohio while serving as state co-chair of the Committee to re-elect George W. Bush. His role in the Ohio election, which saw George W. Bush narrowly beat John Kerry, remains controversial to this day, making him the target of over a dozen lawsuits.

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Ken Blackwell, Vice Chair of the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee and the former Republican Secretary of State in Ohio.

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