00:00:02>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT THIS
00:00:07MORNING.
LET ME START BY RECOGNIZING SOME
00:00:11OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
TODAY.
00:00:13WE HAVE SENATOR FRANK LAROSE.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY
00:00:23CARGARLAND.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR
00:00:31CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.
WE ALSO HAVE MICHAEL DUSTMAN.
00:00:39BARBARA TAYLOR AND STEPHEN
CHEEK.
00:00:45I KNOW THAT THE CONGRESSMAN HAS
SERVED IN IRAW Q AND IS VERY
00:00:54SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES
00:00:59FROM THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.
WE HAVE JULIE BLIKE, DIRECTOR OF
00:01:08FAMILY READINESS AND WARRIOR
SUPPORT.
00:01:11SHE IS A COLONEL.
I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE OHIO VDW
00:01:16PRESIDENT -- VFW PRESIDENT.
CARL HIGGINBOSEM, CHRISTINE
00:01:28ALLIE, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER
FOLKS FROM THE AIR NATIONAL
00:01:34GUARD.
WE WENT ON A REFUELING MISSION
00:01:42TO GET THERE, SO I KNOW
STEPHANIE.
00:01:44SENIOR MASTER SGT MURRAY AS
WELL.
00:01:48LET ME ALSO RECOGNIZE THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
00:01:55DEPARTMENT OF OHIO AND THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT LIAISON AND A
00:02:00VETERAN OF REPRESENTING THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
00:02:02OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST AND
PARTICIPANTS TODAY IN OUR
00:02:10PROGRAM WILL BE NATIONAL GUARD
BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT CLOUSE
00:02:14AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE
DOVILLA.
00:02:19FOCUSED ON MILITARY VOTING.
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES
00:02:28DIRECTOR AND MILITARY VETERAN,
TOM MOE.
00:02:33I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
00:02:37THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE TURNOUT,
00:02:42IT IS VERY MEANINGFUL ABOUT OUR
COUNTRY, MILITARY, AND MAKING
00:02:49SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO VOTE.
00:02:53WHAT INSPIRED US TO TAKE AN
ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS WAS AN
00:02:57EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS
OUT DOING A JOB INTERVIEW.
00:03:01WHEN I TRAVELED AROUND THE
STATE, THERE WAS A CONCERN FROM
00:03:08MILITARY PERSONNEL AND
ESPECIALLY THEIR FAMILIES THAT
00:03:11SOMEHOW MILITARY VOTES, THAT
MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY SERVING
00:03:16ABROAD IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN,
THAT THEY WERE NOT HAVING ACCESS
00:03:20TO VOTING, THAT THEIR VOTES WERE
NOT BEING COUNTED ON ELECTION
00:03:26DAY, WHEN TO THEM IT REALLY
MATTERED.
00:03:32THAT WAS VERY TROUBLING TO ME.
OF THE LAST THING I WANT IS
00:03:39SOMEONE OUT THERE SERVING OUR
COUNTRY FOCUSED ON NATIONAL
00:03:43DEFENSE AND PUTTING THEIR LIFE
AT RISK -- WE DO NOT WANT THEM
00:03:47TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
DIFFICULTY THAT IT MIGHT TAKE
00:03:50THEM TO CAST A VOTE OR WHETHER
OR NOT THAT VOTE WILL BE
00:03:55COUNTED.
I TURNED TO ONE OF MY STAFF
00:03:58MEMBERS WHO SERVED TWO TOURS IN
IRAQ PENDING LET'S PUT SOMETHING
00:04:03TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT
HAVE THAT PROBLEM THE NEXT TIME
00:04:07WE GO OUT AND CAST BALLOTS.
YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT A
00:04:14MARINE VETERAN HAS TOLD ME THIS
IS MARINE-PROOF.
00:04:20IS IT POLITICIAN-PROOF?
I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN
00:04:29EASY THING TO PULL OFF.
WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE MILITARY
00:04:34READY TO VOTE INITIATIVE.
EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO REGISTER
00:04:40TO VOTE IT DURING ACTIVE DUTY IN
A SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD
00:04:44MANNER.
AND MEMBER OF MY STAFF WHO I
00:04:48TALKED TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
00:04:53I WANT TO COMMEND HIM FOR THAT.
MAKING VOTER INFORMATION
00:04:58AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE WILL
AND ELIMINATE SOME OF THE
00:05:01CONFUSION.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS THE DEMAND OF
00:05:08MILITARY SERVICE AND A LACK OF
RESOURCES CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT
00:05:11TO ACCESS PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY
EXIST FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF
00:05:16OUR ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBER
PERSON NOW AS THEY ARE TRYING TO
00:05:19PARTICIPATE IN OHIO ELECTIONS.
BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE
00:05:24HAVE FROM THE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS, DURING THE 2010
00:05:29GENERAL ELECTION, THERE WERE
5670 MILITARY ABSENTEE BALLOTS
00:05:35ARE REQUESTED AND SENT OUT
STATEWIDE.
00:05:38DURING THE 2008 PRESIDENT TO
ELECTION, 14,345 MILITARY
00:05:47ABSENTEE BALLOTS REQUESTED AND
SENT, AND 10,672 WERE CAST.
00:05:52FOR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY,
THIS WILL SEEM VERY FAMILIAR.
00:06:00YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE
MILITARY READY-TO-EAT PROGRAM.
00:06:04IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE
DONE, WE NOW HAVE IF YOU LOOK AT
00:06:12THIS PACKAGE, IT WILL LOOK
FAMILIAR.
00:06:14IT LOOKS LIKE AN MRE BUT IS AN
MRV.
00:06:19SENATOR LAROSE SAID THAT THIS
WOULD STAND OUT.
00:06:24IT WILL LOOK FAMILIAR.
I KNOW THAT WE WERE TALKING,
00:06:29SOME OF THE MRE'S ARE MADE HERE
IN OHIO.
00:06:35BUT THE MILITARY READY TO VOTE
INITIATIVE IS MEANT TO BE THE GO
00:06:41TO SOURCE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SOLDIERS
00:06:45WHO ARE ALL HIGHER RESIDENTS TO
KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO
00:06:47PARTICIPATE AND HAVE THEIR VOTES
AS PART OF THE TALLY ON ELECTION
00:06:51DAY.
IN FACT, THE MRV BROCHURE
00:06:58WILL LOOK SIMILAR TO THEM, WILL
OUTLINE A PROCESS TO VOTE,
00:07:02REMIND A NON-VOTING DEADLINES,
AND WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT.
00:07:06THE BROCHURE OUTLINES IMPORTANT
VOTING INFORMATION SUCH AS
00:07:12REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT,
REMINDING VOTERS THE DAY OF THE
00:07:16BALLOT, AND THE BOTTOM LINE FOR
THE MILITARY READY TO VOTE
00:07:19INITIATIVE, IT WILL SERVE AS THE
VEHICLE FOR WHICH ACTIVE-DUTY
00:07:24PERSONNEL WILL GET THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED TO ENSURE
00:07:26EVERY SERVICE MEMBER HAS THE
INFORMATION NEEDED TO VOTE AND
00:07:30TO INCREASE THE VOTING MEMBERS
OF ACTIVE-DUTY PERSONNEL.
00:07:35RECOGNIZING OUR MEMBERS OF THE
MILITARY DEPEND HEAVILY ON
00:07:40TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP THEM UP-TO-
DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AT
00:07:42HOME, MY OFFICE IS ALSO MOVING
FORWARD WITH A STATE-WIDE QUOTA
00:07:47SYSTEM TO -- VOTING SYSTEM TO
MORE ACCOMMODATE THEM.
00:07:54IF YOU LOSE EXPOSURE AND CANNOT
FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO, NO
00:07:57MATTER WHAT, YOU CAN GO TO
OHIOMILITARYVOTES.COM.
00:08:03THAT WILL PROVIDE A ONE-STOP
SHOP WHERE EVERYTHING THAT
00:08:11MILITARY PERSONNEL NEED TO VOTE.
WE ALSO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE SO
00:08:16THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN ABROAD
AND BROUGHT THE COUNTRY CAN KEEP
00:08:20UP ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH OHIO
ELECTIONS AND WHEN THEY ARE
00:08:25COMMUNICATING WITH LOVED ONES
BACK HOME.
00:08:27OHIO'S SERVICE PERSONNEL, NO
MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, IF THEY
00:08:32ARE SERVING IN CALIFORNIA OR
AFGHANISTAN, IF THEY ARE AN OHIO
00:08:37RESIDENT, I WANT THEM TO HAVE
THE SAME ACCESS AS ALL OHIO
00:08:40VOTERS.
WE BELIEVE, THINGS TO THE
00:08:43SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY
00:08:49SERVICES HERE IN STATE
GOVERNMENT, OUR NATIONAL GUARD
00:08:51MEMBERS, THE LEADERSHIP THERE
THAT WE HAVE, MILITARY PERSONNEL
00:09:01WILL HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED
TO MAKE THE NEXT ELECTION
00:09:04PROCESS AS SIMPLE AS IT HAS
BEEN.
00:09:06WITH THAT, IT IS MY DISTINCT
PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO
00:09:10INTRODUCE BRIGADIER-GENERAL
ROBERT CLOUSE.
00:09:13HE IS THE COMMANDER OF THE 16TH
ENGINEER BRIGADE.
00:09:18HE BEGAN HIS MILITARY SERVICE IN
1970 WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE
00:09:22U.S. ARMY.
GENERAL CLOUSE HAS HELD A NUMBER
00:09:25OF LEADERSHIP POSITION WITHIN
THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD, AMONG
00:09:29WHICH ARE DEPUTY ASSISTANT
ADJUTANT GENERAL AND
00:09:35CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT OFFICER FOR THE OHIO
00:09:37NATIONAL GUARD.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME
00:09:44BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT CLOUSE.
.
00:09:45[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING.
00:09:52I BRING YOU GREETINGS ON BEHALF
OF OUR ADJUTANT GENERALS FROM
00:09:56ACROSS THE STATE.
AS WELL AS THE MORE THAN 15,000
00:10:03MEMBERS IN THE OHIO NATIONAL
GUARD.
00:10:05I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TAKING
00:10:09THE INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP SUCH A
COMPREHENSIVE AND NEEDED
00:10:13PROGRAM FOR ALL OF OHIO'S
SERVICE MEMBERS.
00:10:16I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES
00:10:21DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR TOM MOE, AND
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE DOVILLA FOR
00:10:28THE MILITARY SERVICE SUPPORT OF
THIS PROGRAM.
00:10:32I STAND HERE NOT AS A BRIGADIER
GENERAL BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE
00:10:37IF OF ALL OHIO'S SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVES.
00:10:41BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
THIS INITIATIVE IS TO PROVIDE
00:10:44INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO THE
VOTING PROCESS OUR SERVICE
00:10:49MEMBERS ARE DEPLOYED IS YET
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE
00:10:52COMMITMENT OHIO HAS MADE TO
THOSE WILLING TO GIVE OF
00:10:56THEMSELVES IN THE NAME OF
FREEDOM.
00:10:59SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THIS FALL
WE ARE DEPLOYING, IN JUST THE
00:11:04OHIO NATIONAL GUARD, OVER 2000
SOLDIERS TO AFGHANISTAN IN
00:11:09SUPPORT OF THE OVERSEAS
CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.
00:11:12THE MILITARY READY TO VOTE
PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER
00:11:16LAYER OF SUPPORT TO THIS GROUP
BY ALLOWING THEM TO EXERCISE
00:11:20THEIR VOTES WHILE DEPLOYED.
I HAVE SHARED WITH THE SECRETARY
00:11:25OUR COMMITMENT AT THE OHIO ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD, OUR TOTAL
00:11:32COMMITMENT TO THIS PROGRAM,
MAKING SURE THAT THE INFORMATION
00:11:35GETS OUT TO ALL OF OUR SERVICE
MEMBERS AND TO THE SERVICE
00:11:39MEMBERS THAT WE CAN GET TO FROM
OTHER SERVICES.
00:11:42THUS, WE SHOULD INSURE ALL
SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE THE
00:11:46INFORMATION AND ALL THE
MATERIALS THEY NEED TO CAST A
00:11:50VOTE AND HAVE THAT VOTE COUNTED.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
00:11:56THIS MORNING, AND THANK EVERYONE
WHO HAS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH
00:11:59THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE]
00:12:01>> I WOULD LIKE TO NEXT
INTRODUCED STATE REPRESENTED
00:12:10GIVE MIKE DOVILLA.
I WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
00:12:16ABOUT HIM.
HE KNOWS FIRSTHAND THE
00:12:18CHALLENGES OF SERVING IN THE
MILITARY AND BEING ABLE TO GO AS
00:12:23ACTIVE MILITARY.
HE WAS IN HIS FIRST TERM AS A
00:12:25VETERAN OF THE U.S. NAVY AND
THEN OFFICER OF THE RESERVE
00:12:30COMPONENT OF THE U.S. NAVY.
HE SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY AND A
00:12:3512-MONTH DEPLOYMENT IN IRAQ
FROM 2007 UNTIL 2008.
00:12:40WHEN I WALKED INTO HIS OFFICE,
AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE GENERAL
00:12:45ASSEMBLY, I KNEW HE WAS A
VETERAN.
00:12:49I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO
EXPLAIN TO HIM WHAT WE WANTED TO
00:12:52DO TO TRY TO IMPROVE OUR VOTING
SYSTEM FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL IN
00:12:57THE STATE.
BUT HE ALREADY HAD A PLAN.
00:13:00I DID NOT NEED TO EDUCATE HIM
ON ANYTHING.
00:13:04HE CARED ABOUT IT, WAS FOCUSED
ON IT, AND HE HIT THE GROUND
00:13:08RUNNING.
THANKS TO HIS LEADERSHIP, WE ARE
00:13:11BETTER OFF FOR THAT, IN TERMS OF
OUR ABILITY TO SERVE MILITARY
00:13:15PERSONNEL, MAKING IT EASY FOR
THEM TO VOTE.
00:13:19PLEASE WELCOME STATE
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE DOVILLA.
00:13:24[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY.
00:13:31GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I REPRESENT THE 18TH OHIO HOUSE
00:13:35DISTRICT WHICH IS IN THE
SOUTHERN -- SOUTHWEST PART OF
00:13:39CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
I AM PLEASED TO JOIN SECRETARY
00:13:43HE SAID THIS MORNING -- HUSTED
THIS MORNING IN ANNOUNCING THE
00:13:50MILITARY READY TO VOTE
INITIATIVE.
00:13:52AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR KASICH
SIGNED INTO LAW BIPARTISAN
00:13:57LEGISLATION WHICH I INTRODUCED
HERE IN COLUMBUS TO IMPROVE THE
00:14:01CAPACITY FOR OUR MILITARY
SERVICE MEMBERS AND OTHER
00:14:04OVERSEAS VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE
IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
00:14:08CIVIC DUTIES WE HAVE AS
AMERICANS, THE RIGHT AND
00:14:11RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE.
HOUSE BILL 224, WHICH PASSED THE
00:14:16HOUSE AND SENATE UNANIMOUSLY, IT
IMPLEMENTS CHANGES TO OHIO'S
00:14:21UNIFORM OVERSEAS VOTING LAW.
IT REFLECTS MORE ACCURATE
00:14:25CHANGES MADE AT THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
00:14:27TO ME, IT REPRESENTS ONE OF THE
WAYS THAT WE CAN HONOR MILITARY
00:14:32MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHILE THESE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS
00:14:35ARE PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY
AROUND THE WORLD, WE HAVE A DUTY
00:14:39TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND OUR
00:14:42FREEDOMS, INCLUDING OUR FREEDOM
AT THE BALLOT BOX, ONLY
00:14:47UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS EFFORT TO ALLOW THEIR
00:14:49VOICES TO BE HEARD EACH AND
EVERY ELECTION.
00:14:51FOR ME, THIS LAW, AS THE
SECRETARY MENTIONED, AN
00:14:58INITIATIVE WE ARE INTRODUCING
TODAY, HAS PERSONAL
00:15:01SIGNIFICANCE.
DURING MY DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ IN
00:15:052007, 2008, I FELL VICTIM TO OLD
PROCESS FOR MILITARY OVERSEAS
00:15:10VOTING.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN AND
00:15:13DESPITE A PROACTIVE EFFORTS, I
WAS DISENFRANCHISED IN THAT
00:15:17YEAR'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
SINCE THAT TIME, I VOWED, IF I
00:15:21WERE EVER IN A POSITION TO
ADDRESS THIS POLICY ISSUE, AND
00:15:26TO BENNETT FROM HAPPENING FROM
OTHERS OVERSEAS, I WOULD DO SO.
00:15:29I HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT
00:15:33PROMISE.
I AM GRATIFIED TO HAVE RECEIVED
00:15:37BROAD BIPARTISAN REPORT --
SUPPORT FROM ALL OVER OHIO AS WE
00:15:44HAVE MOVED OUR ELECTION PROCESS
FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WILL HELP
00:15:48TO SERVE THOSE THAT SERVE US ON
THE FRONT LINES AND IN FARAWAY
00:15:52LANDS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
00:15:55JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
00:15:58[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO
00:16:06INTRODUCE DIRECTOR TOM MOE, A
RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE COLONEL.
00:16:14HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES.
00:16:20DIRECTOR MOE HAS MORE THAN 45
YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, 30 OF
00:16:27WHICH WERE SPENT IN ACTIVE DUTY
IN THE AIR FORCE WHERE HE SERVED
00:16:31ON A NUMBER OF STAFF AND DUTY
POSITIONS, INCLUDING COMMANDER
00:16:35OF A COMBAT READY FIGHT SQUADRON
AND COMMANDER OF THE AIRPORT'S
00:16:39LOGISTICS OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL.
00:16:43IN ADDITION TO PARTNER WITH US,
HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN
00:16:48INTERMITTENT -- INSTRUMENTAL IN
THE ROLLOUT OF OUR VOTE IN HONOR
00:16:54OF A MILITARY VETERAN PROGRAM,
WHICH IS DESIGNED TO GIVE
00:16:58OHIOANS AND OPPORTUNITY TO
PUBLICLY SHARE THEIR
00:17:02APPRECIATION FOR THE SERVICE OF
MILITARY VETERANS WILL BE
00:17:05DEBATING IN OUR DEMOCRATIC
SYSTEM, PRESERVED BY THEIR BRAVE
00:17:10SACRIFICE.
IT IS AN HONOR THAT MY FRIEND
00:17:16AND THE DIRECTOR TOM MOE IS WITH
US TODAY.
00:17:19PLEASE COME FORWARD AND SHARE A
FEW THOUGHTS.
00:17:23[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
00:17:32THANK YOU, MR. SECRETARY, FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO
00:17:38THIS GROUP TODAY ON SUCH A
BEAUTIFUL DAY.
00:17:40STANDING HERE AT THE VETERANS
MEMORIAL ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY, WE
00:17:45HAVE TWO THOUGHTS THAT COULD BE
GOING THROUGH OUR MINDS.
00:17:48ONE IS ENJOYING THE FREEDOM AND
SUNSHINE HERE.
00:17:51SECONDLY, REMINDING OURSELVES OF
THE SACRIFICES MADE FOR US TO BE
00:17:56ABLE TO STAND HERE AND SPEAK
FREELY AS WE DO.
00:17:57FREEDOM GUARANTEED BY TROOPS
AROUND THE WORLD AS WE SPEAK.
00:18:02THIS PARTICULAR ACT STRIKES HOME
TO EVEN OUR OFFICE, ON A DAY-TO-
00:18:09DAY BASIS.
MY CHIEF COUNSEL IS LEAVING IN
00:18:13JUST A FEW WEEKS TO JOIN HIS
FELLOW GUARDSMEN BACK IN COMBAT
00:18:19AGAIN.
IT IS A SOMBER REMINDER AND ALSO
00:18:24A PLEASANT REMINDER OF THE
SACRIFICES THAT OUR MEN AND
00:18:28WOMEN DO FOR US EVERY DAY.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I
00:18:32HEARTILY SUPPORT AND HAVE BEEN
GLAD TO WORK WITH THE MILITARY
00:18:35READY TO VOTE INITIATIVE.
A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WILL MAKE
00:18:40IT EASIER FOR ARE DEPLOYED
TROOPS TO PRODUCE A BIT IN
00:18:43DEMOCRACY.
WE WILL CERTAINLY USE OUR MEANS
00:18:51TO BROADCAST THE FACTS OF THIS
PROGRAM THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR
00:18:53CONTACTS, A SOCIAL MEDIA, TO
MAKE SURE NO STONE IS LEFT
00:18:54UNTURNED, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PEOPLE SERVING OUTSIDE THE STATE
00:18:59OF OHIO HAVE A WORD OF THIS
PROGRAM.
00:19:03I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU,
MR. SECRETARY, FOR A PROGRAM
00:19:07THAT YOU MENTIONED.
THE VOTE IN HONOR OF THE
00:19:11VETERANS PROGRAM.
IT IS A GREAT WAY TO HONOR A
00:19:13VETERAN EVERY TIME THEY VOTE.
IT GIVES OUR CITIZENS A CHANCE
00:19:17TO DEDICATE THEIR BOAT TO A
VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN IMPORTANT
00:19:22OR INFLUENTIAL IN THEIR OWN
LIVES.
00:19:27ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S
PRINCIPAL MISSIONS IS TO
00:19:31ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
00:19:33YOU MAY KNOW OHIO HAS THE SIXTH
LARGEST POPULATION OF VETERANS
00:19:38IN THE COUNTRY AND WE ARE
MAKING VETERANS EVERY DAY AS OUR
00:19:41MILITARY SERVES AND RETURNED
FROM DUTY -- RETURNS FROM DUTY.
00:19:47MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO
VOTE WHILE SERVING OUTSIDE OF
00:19:53OHIO PUTS THE MAIN TOOLS OF
DEMOCRACY IN THEIR HANDS SO THAT
00:19:57THEY CAN BECOME THEIR OWN
ADVOCATES FOR THEMSELVES,
00:20:01FAMILIES, AND FELLOW AMERICANS.
SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR
00:20:07TROOPS SERVING, ON BEHALF OF THE
CITIZENS OF OHIO, FAMILIES OF
00:20:13THE MILITARY, ONCE AGAIN, THANK
YOU.
00:20:15[APPLAUSE]
>> IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK
00:20:23EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
IT REALLY ADDS TO THE VALUE AND
00:20:32IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO DO.
00:20:35IT IS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR
MILITARY BUILDING PERSONNEL.
00:20:39THEY CAN FIND EVERYTHING THEY
NEED RIGHT HERE IN THIS
00:20:43BROCHURE, OR AT
OHIOMILITARYVOTES.COM.
00:20:49WE WANTED TO MAKE IT SIMPLE AND
CLEAR.
00:20:53THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO
WAS TO RUN INTO A FAMILY OR
00:21:00MEMBER OF OUR MILITARY WHO IS
CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL NOT BE
00:21:04ABLE TO CAST A VOTE.
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
00:21:07THIS IS GIVING THEM A BIT OF
PEACE OF MIND AS THEY GO OFF.
00:21:13GENERAL CLOUSE MANSION -- HOW
MANY TROOPS DO WE HAVE DEPLOYED
00:21:17THIS YEAR?
>> OVER 2000 DEPLOYED THIS FALL.
00:21:21>> WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT
WHEN THEY LEAVE, THEY WILL BE
00:21:31ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND CAST
THEIR VOTE AND MAKE SURE IT GETS
00:21:35COUNTED.
THAT IS WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT.
00:21:51GOALS OF ROT.
WITH THAT, I THINK YOU FOR BEING
00:21:55HERE TODAY.
-- ABROAD.
00:21:57A REMINDER, BALLOTS WILL BE SENT
OUT 45 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
00:22:04THEY WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO
CAST THEIR VOTE AND HAVE IT
00:22:08COUNTED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE
00:22:12ARE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
>> >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:22:15[INAUDIBLE]
>> HOUSE BILL 224 PUT IN PLACE
00:22:26THE POSSIBILITY FOR ELECTRONIC
REGISTRATION.
00:22:28SO EITHER BY E-MAIL OR INTERNET
DELIVERY, IN THE CASE THAT A
00:22:33COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS MAY
NOT HAVE A PREVIOUS OPTION, TO
00:22:36GO AHEAD AND REGISTER THAT WAY.
IN MY CASE, THE BREAKDOWN
00:22:41OCCURRED WHERE I REQUESTED A
BALLOT, AND IT WAS NEVER SHIPPED
00:22:45TO BAGHDAD.
EVEN AFTER THAT, THE ELECTION
00:22:48OCCURRED, IT NEVER GOT THERE.
IT NEVER ARRIVED EVEN AFTER THE
00:22:53ELECTION.
THE BALLOT WAS NEVER SENT TO ME.
00:22:55>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT WILL.
00:22:59>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> LET ME JUST ADD, BECAUSE
00:23:05THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT
ALLOWS THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY
00:23:09MEMBER, OR US -- SECRETARY OF
STATE -- TO CHECK BACK WITH THE
00:23:15BOARD TO ENSURE THAT THAT BALLOT
HAS BEEN SENT AND PROCESSED.
00:23:19>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
00:23:27THEY ARRIVED IN ADVANCE OF
ELECTION DAY SO THAT THEY ARE
00:23:31COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY AND
COUNTED AS PART OF THE TALLY.
00:23:34THAT IS WHAT THE ADDITIONAL TIME
FRAME IS 4.
00:23:37-- IS FOR.
WHEN I WAS OUT THERE TALKING
00:23:45WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL AND
THEIR FAMILIES, THEY DO NOT
00:23:49JUST ONE THEIR VOTE COUNTED AT
THE END OF THE PROCESS.
00:23:51THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR COUNT ON
THE NEWSPAPER, ON TV, ON
00:23:58ELECTION DAY.
WE WANT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
00:24:02>> THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS
COMPARED TO THE NUMBER ACTUALLY
00:24:09RETURNED IN PAST ELECTIONS?
REASONS FOR WHY WE ARE SEEING
00:24:12THE DIFFERENCE?
>> THAT WOULD BE SPECULATION.
00:24:17I DO NOT HAVE ANY SPECIFIC DATA
ON THAT.
00:24:24BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HOPE,
WITH THE IMPROVED INFORMATION
00:24:31FLOW, CONVENIENCE, MAKING SURE
THAT THE BALLOT COMES IN PLENTY
00:24:35OF TIME, AND THAT THEY ARE
GETTING THIS INFORMATION BEFORE
00:24:40THEY ARE DEPLOYED, THAT WE WILL
CREATE A LEVEL OF AWARENESS THAT
00:24:44WILL IMPROVE THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:24:50>> I THINK WE HAVE THAT NUMBER
-- DO WE HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER
00:25:02OF ACTIVE?
>> WE DO NOT TRACK IT THAT WAY.
00:25:14THERE ARE OVER 46,000 MILITARY
MEMBERS.
00:25:18THIS IS ALL ACTIVE COMPONENT,
GUARD, AND RESERVE IN OHIO
00:25:22MAILING ADDRESSES.
THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE TRACK
00:25:25THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:25:27>> IT DOES.
YOU CANNOT VOTA VIA INTERNET,
00:25:37BUT WE ARE USING THAT TECHNOLOGY
TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THAT
00:25:42INDIVIDUAL, SO THAT THEY CAN
RETURN IT THROUGH TRADITIONAL
00:25:46MALE.
I BELIEVE THEY CAN ALSO FAX IT
00:25:49BACK.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
00:25:53>> WE ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF
ISSUES.
00:26:00WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON A LOT OF
00:26:03THOSE TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO
00:26:08VOTE.
I AM A SUPPORTER OF THAT.
00:26:11I WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPIONED
IT.
00:26:13OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions