Zeno Swijtink
10-06-2008, 09:02 PM
Courts Allow Early Voting Week in Ohio (https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/us/politics/30ohio.html)
The Associated Press
In a close election voter irregularities, which seem to mostly revolve around Republican operatives - and it saddens me to have to say that - can substantively affect the outcome. This closes one door on that happening.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a defeat for Republican challenges, state and federal courts have cleared the way for a weeklong period in which new voters can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day in Ohio.
The early voting begins Tuesday and runs through Oct. 6. The Ohio Supreme Court and a federal judge in Cleveland on Monday upheld the weeklong voting period. Later in the day, Judge George Smith of Federal District Court in Columbus declined to rule, deferring to the Ohio Supreme Court decision.
But Judge Smith ruled that counties must allow party poll observers during early voting.
The disputed voting window results from an overlap between Tuesday䴜s beginning of absentee voting 35 days before Election Day, and the Oct. 6 end of voter registration.
The decisions were a victory for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat whom Republicans had accused of interpreting state law to benefit her party.
The early voting window became a partisan battle in this swing state where President Bush narrowly clinched re-election in 2004.
In a 4-to-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court said Ms. Brunner was correct in ruling that voters do not need to be registered for at least 30 days before receiving an absentee ballot, as Republicans had argued.
Although both the campaign of the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, and the Republican National Committee have urged supporters in Ohio to use the early voting, Republican-backed lawsuits were filed against it.
Earlier Monday, Judge James S. Gwin of Federal District Court in Cleveland issued a temporary restraining order forcing Madison County to follow Ms. Brunner's instructions. The county had said that on the advice of its county prosecutor it was not going to allow same-day voting.
The Ohio Supreme Court has six Republicans and one Democrat.
Judge Gwin was appointed by President Bill Clinton.
The Associated Press
In a close election voter irregularities, which seem to mostly revolve around Republican operatives - and it saddens me to have to say that - can substantively affect the outcome. This closes one door on that happening.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a defeat for Republican challenges, state and federal courts have cleared the way for a weeklong period in which new voters can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day in Ohio.
The early voting begins Tuesday and runs through Oct. 6. The Ohio Supreme Court and a federal judge in Cleveland on Monday upheld the weeklong voting period. Later in the day, Judge George Smith of Federal District Court in Columbus declined to rule, deferring to the Ohio Supreme Court decision.
But Judge Smith ruled that counties must allow party poll observers during early voting.
The disputed voting window results from an overlap between Tuesday䴜s beginning of absentee voting 35 days before Election Day, and the Oct. 6 end of voter registration.
The decisions were a victory for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat whom Republicans had accused of interpreting state law to benefit her party.
The early voting window became a partisan battle in this swing state where President Bush narrowly clinched re-election in 2004.
In a 4-to-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court said Ms. Brunner was correct in ruling that voters do not need to be registered for at least 30 days before receiving an absentee ballot, as Republicans had argued.
Although both the campaign of the Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, and the Republican National Committee have urged supporters in Ohio to use the early voting, Republican-backed lawsuits were filed against it.
Earlier Monday, Judge James S. Gwin of Federal District Court in Cleveland issued a temporary restraining order forcing Madison County to follow Ms. Brunner's instructions. The county had said that on the advice of its county prosecutor it was not going to allow same-day voting.
The Ohio Supreme Court has six Republicans and one Democrat.
Judge Gwin was appointed by President Bill Clinton.