Ohio Sheriff Shuts Down Voter Registration- Bars Oberlin voter group from Jail
/The jail doors have slammed shut on a group
trying to register Lorain County inmates to vote. "This is not a
playground, this is a jail," said Sheriff Phil Stammitti, who rebuffed
Oberlin Votes! from coming into the jail to educate inmates about their
voting rights. Inmates can register to vote if they are serving time
for a misdemeanor or awaiting trial, even on a felony charge. People
convicted of a felony may re-register to vote after being released from
prison. Advocates who are trying to register inmates say that many
don't know their voting rights. Since mid-September, Oberlin Votes!, a
nonpartisan coalition trying to register every eligible voter in the
city - even those in jail - has tried to sign up voters in the county
jail, which houses about 400 inmates, said Ron Rimbert, a member of the
group. Tuesday, Stammitti said they couldn't peddle their registration
forms at the jail. [more 
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