Celinda

Lake President Alysia Snell Partner Michael Perry Partner David Mermin Partner Robert G. Meadow, Ph.D. Partner Daniel R. Gotoff Partner Joshua E. U libarri Partner Tresa Undem Partner Rick A. Johnson Managing Director Robert X. Hillman Chief Financial Officer

To: Interested Parties From: Lake Research Partners Date: February 16, 2012 Re: New Ohio Statewide Poll Shows Majorities Set to Repeal HB194 A new statewide survey in Ohio reveals a solid majority of likely voters poised to repeal H.B. 194, a law that has imposed severe restrictions on the voting process.1 Strong support alone for repealing the law outnumbers the totality of the opposition and relatively few voters are undecided. Beyond the impressive level of intensity, support for repealing H.B. 194 is noticeably broad as well, with voters supporting repeal by double-digit margins, regardless of gender, age, race, education, and region. A majority of Ohioans supports the complete repeal of H.B. 194, a law passed last year by the Ohio Legislature that reduces the time period for voting by mail and early voting from 35 days to 16 days, closes early voting locations on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, and prevents counties from sending out vote-by-mail applications to voters. The law also specifies that poll workers do not have to tell voters they are in the wrong precinct and requires voters to give part of their Social Security numbers if they do not have photo ID. A 54% majority would vote No to repeal the law today compared to just 31% who H.B. 194: Keep as is or Repeal? would vote Yes. Much of 54% No (Repeal) the electorates support for repeal is rooted in intensity, with Yes (Keep 31% 18% 37% of voters as is) strongly backing repeal. Only 18% of voters 15% Undecided strongly support keeping the law on the books and 15% of voters are undecided.

Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey, which was conducted by telephone using nd professional interviewers. A total of 705 likely voters in Ohio were polled. The survey was conducted January 22 th through January 25 , 2012. The margin of error for the full sample is +/- 3.7%.

Page 2 of 2 Support for repealing H.B. 194 spans the state, claiming majorities in Northeast (53%), Northwest (52%), Central (57%), and Southern (53%) Ohio. The same is true for women (55%) and men (52%); younger (51%) and older (56%) voters; college educated (56%) and non-college educated (52%) voters; and white (54%) and black (58%) voters alike. The law, which was introduced and passed by Republican members of the State Legislature, even fails to draw the support of Republican voters across the state, who are themselves divided on repeal: 44% Yes to 43% No. Bottom line: Ohioans clearly believe that restricting voters ability to exercise their franchise is wrong both in theory and in practice. Consequently, it is not surprising that a majority of votersof all backgrounds and all across the statesupports the outright repeal of H.B. 194, and with noticeable intensity. Appendix: Trial Heat Wording
As you may know, last year the Ohio Legislature passed a law that reduces the time period for voting by mail and early voting from 35 days to 16 days, closes early voting locations on Saturday afternoon and Sundays, and prevents counties from sending out vote-by-mail applications to voters. It also specifies that poll workers don't have to tell voters they are in the wrong precinct and requires voters to give part of their social security numbers if they don't have photo ID. This year, a referendum will be on the Ohio ballot asking the voters if they approve of this law and its changes to voting. If the election were held today would you vote YES to approve the new law and its changes to voting or NO to reject the new law and its changes to voting, or are you undecided? Strong yes Not so strong yes Undecided - lean yes Undecided /Not sure/Dont know Undecided - lean no Not so strong no Strong no Yes No Undecided 18%
8% 5%

15%
5% 12%

37% 31% 54% 15%