Ohio appealing to Supreme Court on early voting

[tishaLA]

Source: AP

Ohio's election chief is appealing a ruling by a federal court that reinstates the final three early voting days in the battleground state.

Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) said Tuesday he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to make the final decision on whether the state Legislature or federal courts should set Ohio election laws.

Husted called Friday's decision by a federal appeals court "an unprecedented intrusion" into how states run elections.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated early voting on the three days before Election Day, returning discretion to local boards of elections.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/top-news/ohio-to-appeal-ruling-on-3-early-voting-days/nSYL8/

[joycejnr]

1. Of COURSE he will...

...Conservatives are relentless in their pursuit of power - typical of organized criminal conspiracies with money to burn. You'd think that you can't stop them without cutting off their heads, but somehow in Ohio even prison doesn't deter them from continuing their crime spree against the People.

We need new laws, longer prison sentences, and higher fines for those who steal our votes.

[badgolfer]

2. AG Holder

Why isn't Holder getting involved in this? Is he afraid of the big bad Republicans?

[elleng]

8. President Obama's campaign and Democrats

had sued Husted and Ohio's attorney general over part of a law cutting off early voting for most residents on the Friday evening before a Tuesday election.

http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/top-news/ohio-to-appeal-ruling-on-3-early-voting-days/nSYL8/

[pinto]

3. Don Quixote appeal. Husted surely realizes SCOTUS will not take this before Nov 2.

Probably looking for a protracted legal challenge with the target -> 2014 elections, 2016 elections.

[SunSeeker]

10. Dunno. SCOTUS reacted within days to stop vote counting in FL for Bush.

Surely if counting votes amounted to an "irreparable harm" emergency that had to be stopped in Florida, then early voting in Ohio that might elect Obama is a similar emergency. The SCOTUS Conservative majority has established it will take jump through a ring of fire to help a Republican candidate.

[pinto]

11. Good point. (nt)

[leftynyc]

15. And their reputation is still in tatters

because of that. I doubt very much that Roberts will let that happen again. Even if they do, I would think the 14th amendment covers equal protection pretty handily.

[samsingh]

4. repugs clearly do not believe in democracy

what an fing joke. here so many people have lost their lives fighting for this right and these assholes are working hard to take it away.

[marble falls]

5. Desperate pathetic measures from a dispicable motherless fuck.

[elleng]

6. More info in this article:

The United States Court of appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled on Friday that Ohio voters would be “irreparably injured” by a decision from the secretary of state that called for eliminating three days of in-person early voting Nov. 3 to Nov. 5. The court said the decision could be left to individual counties.

But Mr. Husted, who has pushed for bringing uniformity to election laws across the 88 counties in Ohio, said Tuesday that he found the ruling to be “stunning” and a violation of equal protection because voters would be treated differently.

“This ruling not only doesn’t make legal sense, it doesn’t make practical sense,” Mr. Husted said. “The court is saying that all voters must be treated the same way under Ohio law, but also grants Ohio’s 88 elections boards the authority to establish 88 different sets of rules. That means that one county may close down voting for the final weekend while a neighboring county may remain open.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/ohio-official-will-take-early-voting-decision-to-supreme-court/

[SoapBox]

7. Gotta run to Papa Fat Tony for help!

...take it to the Activist, Radicalized MEN at the SC.

[JRLeft]

9. All you have to do is open up early voting for everyone equally.

“This ruling not only doesn’t make legal sense, it doesn’t make practical sense,” Mr. Husted said. “The court is saying that all voters must be treated the same way under Ohio law, but also grants Ohio’s 88 elections boards the authority to establish 88 different sets of rules. That means that one county may close down voting for the final weekend while a neighboring county may remain open.”

He wants long lines. He wants people to walk away from the polls on election day. Canvassers in Ohio need to get most people to the polls before election day or is this ass hole will screw them.

[AllyCat]

12. What is their rationale for getting rid of 3 days of voting?

Besides the underlying "we don't want minorities and the poor to vote", what is it on its face they are saying to the press for why this is necessary?

[bucolic_frolic]

13. This is a very broad statement:

"The court is saying that all voters must be treated the same way under Ohio law"

Is THAT what the court said?

And ....

"will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to make the final decision on whether the state Legislature or federal courts should set Ohio election laws"

He's into this on a states' rights angle

One man, one vote is not a states' rights issue

Federal Courts can enforce voting rights.

So I think that article has a little GOP slant to it.

[olegramps]

18. Remember states rights took a back seat when the SC selected Bush.

[liberal N proud]

14. The boldness at which the attempt to keep people from voting is unprecedented.

[Panasonic]

16. I hope the Supreme Court finds for reinstatement and deny Husted

and hold Husted in contempt and in jail until November 30th to ensure proper votes and methodology to count properly if necessary.

[blue_heron]

17. My Thoughts Exactly!!!!

when is this guy up for re-election. Need to get someone good to run against him and stop this craziness. Or start a recall.

[99th_Monkey]

19. Brazenly anti-democratic GOP must cheat to "win".

What a filthy heartless mean-spirited bunch of asshats.