U.S. Supreme Court delays start of early voting in Ohio in 5-4 split
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Early voting won't be starting in Ohio on Tuesday, following an order from a divided U.S. Supreme Court that delayed it until next week.
A federal judge had temporarily blocked a state law trimming early voting and ordered Ohio’s elections chief to set additional times that included evening hours. His ruling came in a lawsuit brought by civil rights groups and others.
Ohio’s elections chief quickly reissued voting times following the order Monday from the high court.
The schedule from Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted scraps evening hours and an additional Sunday required by U.S. District Judge Peter Economus’ decision. Ohioans will have two Saturdays and the Sunday before the Nov. 4 election to cast an early ballot.
The plaintiffs had challenged Husted’s directive that set uniform early voting times and restricted weekend and evening hours. They also want to overturn a GOP-backed state law eliminating so-called golden week, a time when people could both register to vote and cast ballots. Without those days, early voting would typically start 28 or 29 days before Election Day, instead of the previous 35-day window.
The plaintiffs claim the new rules will make it difficult for residents to vote and disproportionately affect low-income and black voters, who, the groups say, are more likely to use the weekend and evening hours to vote early in elections.
The state contends Ohio offers more opportunities to vote early than most states.
Computing Source hosts ‘Pink Box Campaign’ for breast cancer
“Breast cancer research, support and advocacy is a cause very close to all of our hearts at Computing Source,” said Heilig. “Turning our recognizable and highly visible boxes pink for the month is a fun, eye-catching way for us to raise awareness.”
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