Early voting, registration won’t overlap (OH court ruling)

Toledo Blade ^ | August 24 2016 | JIM PROVANCE

[Whenifhow]

A Cincinnati appeals court Tuesday dealt a blow to Democrats as it overturned a ruling that would have resurrected the so-called Golden Week, in which Ohioans may simultaneously register and cast a ballot.

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Voting 2-1, a panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the General Assembly’s law shortening the early vote calendar does not discriminate against particular blocs of voters.

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“The state election regulation at issue allows early in-person voting for 29 days before Election Day,” he wrote. “This is really quite generous. The law is facially neutral; it offers early voting to everyone. The Constitution does not require any opportunities for early voting and as many as 13 states offer just one day for voting: Election Day.”

Under this ruling, early voting will begin Oct. 12.

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“This issue has been dragged through the courts by political activists twice over the course of several years, and both times, it has ended with the same result — Ohio’s laws are fair and constitutional,” he said. “I hope the Democrats will end their wasteful lawsuits so we can all move forward with this election.”

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In May, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson, a 2004 appointee of President George W. Bush, sided with the Ohio Democratic Party in declaring the law unconstitutional. A further appeal could be sought before the entire 6th Circuit bench or the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge McKeague noted the various voting lawsuits pending before the bench and complained such cases are “asking the federal courts to become entangled, as overseers and micromanagers, in the minutiae of state election processes.”

[Whenifhow]

More from article:

Senate Bill 238 reduced from 35 to 29 the number of days before the election that voters can cast absentee ballots by mail or in person. This eliminated the so-called Golden Week, the overlap between the start of early voting and the close of voter registration 30 days before the election.

During these days, voters could register to vote and immediately cast a ballot that would be later counted if the new voter’s eligibility checked out.

The shorter time frame was used for the first time in the 2014 gubernatorial election.

[Whenifhow]

OHIO PING!!!

Please let me know if you want on or off the list.

[grania]

What they had the first time Obama ran was insanity. At the end of summer, there was this short interval of time when all kinds of register-to-vote gimmicks....parties, concerts, etc were used to get people downtown to register, and at the same time let them cast their votes! The "golden week" was a scam to accrue the votes of totally uninformed and disinterested new voters.

I'm glad that's over. It made a farce out of voting in OH. JMHO

[fwdude]

People prove that they DON'T WANT TO VOTE if they are not willing to go to the minor trouble of meeting requirements.

Of course, this is a sham. The lax rules that democrats push for is to enable illegal voting.

[Repeal 16-17]

This decision is a win for Trump. It’s a loss for the Wicked Witch and the GOPe. Now Trump has an even better chance of winning Ohio.

[CincyRichieRich]

Another plus for FREEP!

I had to read FREEP to know that the Toledo Blade announced a great ruling in my city of Cincinnati; and, I didn’t even see it in my local rag here.

[LS]

This is big.

[DoughtyOne]

Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

click and support them

[Reddy]

The dims will find some federal judge to overturn this in 3, 2, 1.....

[Typelouder]

Eliminate early voting all together! Absentee balloting if you are out of town. Everyone else, make it a priority to vote on Election Day. They don’t have early voting in New York...get rid of it here!