Federal Judge Orders Retention of 2004 Ballots

As reported in the Columbus Dispatch here, U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley has ordered the 88 county boards of elections in Ohio to retain all ballots from the 2004 presidential election. Federal law allows those ballots to be destroyed 22 months after Election Day, but a group of activists sued Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and asked the court to ensure that the records are saved so that possible election fraud can be investigated. A recent study found irregularities including an unusual number of ballots that were voided in heavily Democratic precincts because two presidential candidates were selected, suggesting deliberate manipulation.