State, federal courts uphold early voting in Ohio (a defeat for Republican challenges)

[sabra]

Source: AP

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, U.S. District Court Judge George Smith in Columbus declined to rule, deferring to the state Supreme Court decision.

But Smith ruled that counties must allow party poll observers during early voting.

The decisions were a victory for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat. Republicans had accused her of interpreting state law to benefit her own party.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080929/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_early_voting

[bluestateguy]

1. Good, but don't celebrate until the appeals are exhausted

nt

[stillcool]

2. Good news!..

I love that Secretary of State...especially the EVEREST study she had done.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/everest_Media.aspx

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/voterInformation/equipment/VotingSystemReviewFindings/EVERESTtestingReports.aspx

[David__77]

3. The law is clear, right?

"Intention" matters little when the letter is crystal clear. Further, why does voting early benefit one party?

[Kaleko]

4. Excellent. Repub power is waning everywhere.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

5. Even this US Supreme Court

will probably not accept a case where the US District upheld a state Supreme Court. Yeah, I know there was Florida, but the repugnants can't afford the negative publicity right now IMHO.

[santamargarita]

6. About damn time!

I hope this is the beginning of the end for Ohio Republicans

[Peace Patriot]

7. See LandShark's post on this ruling....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x508737