Ohio's 7-Day Window For Instant Registration and Voting

There's a must-read AP story out about a feature of Ohio's election calendar that may benefit the Obama campaign, as well as OH-15 contender Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus).

In essence, the seven-day overlap between the beginning of early voting (September 30th) and the end of voter registration (October 6th) creates one week in which new voters can register and cast their ballots at virtually the same time. The article suggests that both the Obama and McCain camps will work furiously to bank early votes during that week, but the net advantage will go to Obama if he can use that time period to tap into the more than 400,000 college students who are Ohio residents. "This is one of many ways we'll be encouraging our supporters to skip the lines on Election Day and make sure their vote is cast early," said Obama spokesman Isaac Baker in the AP story. In addition to Obama, this college-based push should help Kilroy, whose district includes the largest college campus in the country (OSU).

Although a little vague in explaining this oddity, the story indicates that the seven-day window for instant registration and voting is "only being implemented in some counties — typically, urban areas or those with college campuses." There is no explanation for why or how this is the case. However, the story quotes ORP executive director Jason Mauk as calling the situation suspicious and indicating that the GOP may sue Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner over it.