U.S. Supreme Court blocks early voting in Ohio

[alp227]

Last edited Mon Sep 29, 2014, 06:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Columbus Dispatch

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court today halted early voting in Ohio scheduled to begin Tuesday.

By a 5-4 vote, the justices blocked an order issued earlier this month by U.S. District Court Judge Peter C. Economus that would have given voters the chance to vote early 35 days before the election — meaning Tuesday — instead of 28 guaranteed by the state law.

Justices Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg would have upheld Economus’ ruling, but they were outvoted by the 5 conservative justices. The high court ruling will remain in effect until the court issues a ruling on an appeal by the state on the merits of the law.

The eleventh-hour ruling means it is all but certain that voting will not begin Tuesday, leaving opponents of the new election law dismayed at the decision.

Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/09/29/early-voting-in-ohio.html

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See also Cleveland Plain Dealer, Toledo Blade

[riqster]

1. Vote while you still can.

[billhicks76]

60. Conservative Court Illegitimate

They are puppets for the corporations. They no longer have the respect of the people. Taking away voting rights is an abomination.

[riqster]

73. Got that right!

We MUST decrease the Repub presence in the Senate so we can push for liberal justices.

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. Breaking News! USSC just halted all voting! The 5 conservative Justices.....

"I would have a Sarcasm alert" but it really happened November 2000.

[bigdarryl]

8. If shit like this doesn't make our side motivated to vote in Nov

Nothing will

[SoapBox]

57. Ain't it the truth.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

75. If only the low-info voters/non-voters could be forced to read DU for a week.

It's one of the only places on the internet that so succinctly spells out the truth about the "New" Republican Party.

[Kelselsius]

3. I hate to ask this but...

.. do you think normal Americans (Not the rich 1%) are going to have any rights in 20 years?

[rurallib]

6. I think it will take 50 years and some climate caused crises

but things are definitely heading the wrong direction
Welcome to DU

[villager]

27. Yes, but what will happen in 50 years, due to climate-caused crises, is the break-up of the U.S...

...into smaller, regional political entities.

The Empire will eventually fray. Despite the obvious gestures of its errand boys (like today's SCOTUS ruling)

[Tommymac]

50. And the deaths of at least 47% of us...

Those who will die in the next 75 years due to food shortages caused by climate change and the low supply of energy sources because these SC decisions have enabled the fossil fuel backed climate deniers who have hobbled the development of renewable energy sources.

Nice to know the Roberts Court could be presiding over the ruin of society.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/25/1332159/-why-the-47-must-die-Or-Not


(chart attribution: Dr. Roper and David E. Cozad)

(Speculating that the Ultra rich hope to survive a Red Line future - one where fossil fuels run out, 97% of us die, and they have 300 to 400 million slaves at the end of it all.)

[villager]

51. Hope the slaves will be in a more rebellious mood this time

But one always clings to that hope.

At the moment, though, Smartphones and flatscreens are still reasonably affordable...

[maindawg]

16. 20 years seems like a long time

But I remember 1994 like it was yesterday. And life was simpler then.
That was before everything changed. We are rapidly desending into fascism. There are definitely radicals running our government. Now that we know the truth, we know that healthcare is a human right. We know that our country is out of control in so many ways we are like an out of control addict. we cannot stop, and we are angry. We foster and preserve hatred. We are proud of our ignorance. Americans,
so defiant they will destroy themselves rather than move an inch.
I have watched with utter amazement as so many of my friends have succumed to the propaganda and the bullshit and they can no longer be my associates yet remain my friends. That bewilders me too.
In 20 years, the seems will have burst and a massive populist movement will have swept the plutocrats from the government. An enlightened age will commence. Its going to be a hell of a ride.

[vlyons]

42. welcome to the Age of KaliYuga

KaliYuga is the last and degenerate age.

[CANDO]

56. I like your optimism.

But with the fascist right....well, if they can't break the Koch addiction now, they will surely not break it later on when what was once America lies in ashes. What I mean is that the same money which governs us on the way down will be the same money showering the blame on the left as they continue getting their way on the way back up. So I guardedly cannot share your optimistic populist movement future.

[defacto7]

62. You have a reasonable speculation of the future,

as reasonable as any. I believe this is an optimistic speculation but I'm a bit more cynical.

[mountain grammy]

30. Neither rights nor economic security..

unless they get off their butts and vote like it matters, because it does. I believe we need 2 votes for every one Republican in some of these corrupt, toxic, voter suppression states.

[CrispyQ]

4. I'm waiting for the day they give corporations the right to vote.

One vote per share. Or perhaps one vote per dollar of profit. That would be more fitting.

[Gman]

17. No sarcasm here... I feel they will argue

One vote per share and probably limit it to federal elections to begin with which would include races for the House and Senate. This is what I've come to expect. A SCOTUS decision is all they would need to uphold a law passed by a GOP House and Senate and signed by a GOP prez.

[louis-t]

5. When do you think they'll overturn the current state law?

At least there's still 28 days to vote early.

[bigdarryl]

7. I though these five were for states rights

Fucking Hypocrites.

[frazzled]

12. They are ...

The state had passed a law curtailing the voting hours; a judge had altered it. The were doing their states rights thingy by letting the law stand as is.

I hope there's a silver lining thing here: we saw it in 2012 in states where voter suppression was tried: people got mad and made an even greater effort to turn out. The publicity of this will at least get people aware enough that there's a midterm election around the corner, and angry enough to make sure they get to exercise their right to vote. I think these suppression measures are backfiring: it's making voting more important to people.

[mountain grammy]

32. I hope so too and that the news is spreading for people to see what's happening.

use it or lose it, folks!

[elleng]

9. SUPPORT NINA TURNER FOR SECRETARY OF STATE!

http://www.ninaturner.org/

[KeepItReal]

19. ^^^ YES!!! ^^^

Come on Ohio, do the right thing!

[fasttense]

10. The Supremes have never been big on voting.

They don't think voting is a right. They Picked the previous president for us in complete violation of the constitution. So, they are not big believers in one man one vote. Maybe one RepubliCON man one vote. But definitely they don't believe you have a right to vote. They may have a right to vote but certainly you don't have the right to vote.

[earthside]

18. Consumership over citizenship.

Essentially, I think you are correct.

The Supreme Court majority and many Americans (including some establishment Democrats) believe that "democracy of the marketplace" is more important that the popular will expressed through voting in elections.

The Tea Party-Repuglicans simply do not believe that voting for representatives and leaders in government is all that critical to the United States of America in our post modern consumer capitalistic society.

I do believe that if they really could have their way, the Tea Party-Repuglicans would impose a property-owner or business-owner requirement on the franchise. As for the rest of us, they think we would have all the 'power' we should be allowed based on how we spend our meager dollars in the "marketplace".

[belzabubba333]

11. why would kagan do this? why refer to the full court?

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals where the case was appealed, referred the case to the full court, which voted 5-4 to grant the stay.

[onenote]

15. Because if she denied the stay, a new request could and would be made to another Justice

So it is not uncommon for a Justice to refer such matters to the full court in order to save time.

[belzabubba333]

22. but this area is assignd to her, the others have their own area to deal with

not arguing trying to understand

[onenote]

23. As the Justice assigned to the Sixth Circuit, a request for stay has to go to her first

But if she denied it, the petitioner can then go to any other Justice. In fact, they could go to a third, or a fourth, etc. So the not uncommon practice is, in situations where that is likely to happen, the Justice refers the petition to the entire court.

For example, Justice Sotomayor could have denied the request for a stay of the Utah marriage equality decision; but knowing that it would simply be referred to another justice, she referred it to the entire court, which then granted the stay.

The relevant Supreme Court Rule is 22.4:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/supct/rule_22

[belzabubba333]

72. thanks\ eom

[Lochloosa]

13. Educate me please. If the state law is 28 days where did the 35 come from?

[former9thward]

29. From a judge who did not think 28 was enough.

I happen to think 28 is enough. If a person can't find time to vote in a month they are never going to vote. What is the stopping point? 365 days?

[countryjake]

35. ...

[questionseverything]

38. ty for posting that line,that wait time

makes me angry but we have to see the truth

[countryjake]

59. Such a vid should have been presented to the SCOTUS...

before they made that crappy decision.

Now, I'd just like for John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy be required to watch that entire video, that massive line, every single morning til election day, standing up, outdoors, as soon as they are out of bed for the day, before they get to go pee. Maybe they'd learn a thing or two about waiting!

[former9thward]

40. Why didn't those people vote early?

Why did they wait until election day?

[countryjake]

58. They are voting early, this video was not done on election day...

Since early voting began, the "Souls to the Polls" push has become quite popular, with Sundays being the most convenient time for many working people to go vote. And that's the reason that Jon A. Husted has been trying to ban all weekend (and evening) voting in Ohio.

My brother there (and his son) early-voted more than a week before Election Day in 2012 (not in Cleveland, either) and they both stood for hours out in the rain, each at two different Ohio polling places. The site that my nephew voted at even ran out of ballots, after folks had waited for so long.

Republicans will do just about anything to try and disenfranchise people.

[former9thward]

61. Where are you getting this information?

Where does it say they are voting early? Please link.

[countryjake]

63. Voters are waiting in line for early voting on Sunday, November 04, 2012

It says so right on the video.

Posted by CuyahogaCounty BoardofElections

Published on Nov 4, 2012

[former9thward]

64. I watched the whole thing.

That information does not show up anywhere in this link. It is just music for the whole video.

[countryjake]

65. Go to YouTube and watch it...the info is right there.

It was posted on the Sunday before Election Day of 2012.

Then try searching "Souls to the Polls" and just see what Sunday early-voting means to the people of Ohio.

That's what Secretary of State Jon Husted has been trying to stop in Ohio. Republican jackass.

[countryjake]

67. Line down in Columbus on that same Sunday, doesn't have...

that groovy music, tho.

[countryjake]

68. Cincinnati line, the day before Election Day 2012...

Cincinnati early voting, 11/5/12, 12:30 pm

[questionseverything]

69. both videos clearly marked early voting

that poster is willfully blind

[countryjake]

71. All I can say is he should have seen those lines back in 2004...

on Election Day, before Ohio ever had early-voting.

Thousands and thousands simply gave up waiting before they had any chance to vote.

That's what Republicans wish to take Ohio back to.

[questionseverything]

79. losing same day registration is equally troublesome

The NAACP in June asked U.S. District Court Judge Peter C. Economus to restore Golden Week and add more early voting hours, arguing the restricted schedule burdened working Ohioans who utilized the one-stop-shop of same-day registration and voting and low-income and African-American Ohioans who change their addresses more often than others.

//////////////////////

i know when i am doing gotv for my local dem party so many people are disenfranchised because they have moved and their registration is not current

with the terrible ruling is their an effort to notify the black church leaders of the new time frame...since they can not vote the last 2 sundays before election?

[former9thward]

74. I can title a video with anything I want.

That does not make it true. You seem to be ignoring your user name.

[countryjake]

70. Sunday "Souls to Polls" day in Dayton, Ohio...

Sunday, Nov 4, 2012

[questionseverything]

37. 16 weekend hours..no evening hours

Husted's directive reissued this afternoon provides 197 hours of early voting, including 16 weekend hours and no evening hours. The ruling by Economus, which now is set aside, would have provided 259 hours -- nearly 30 percent more -- including 24 hours each of weekend and evening voting.

///////////////////

former9thward if you want to stop people from voting you are on the wrong site

[former9thward]

39. If you want to build strawmen to knock down you are on the wrong site.

[questionseverything]

41. look at the lines jake posted

from when the early voting was much longer

now the neocon repubs have it down to 16 weekend hours...and you are happy with that?

[former9thward]

43. The video is from election day.

Why didn't those people vote early? It is 28 days btw not 16 hours.

[questionseverything]

44. evidently you did not read the article

again from the article the op posted.......


Husted's directive reissued this afternoon provides 197 hours of early voting, including 16 weekend hours and no evening hours. The ruling by Economus, which now is set aside, would have provided 259 hours -- nearly 30 percent more -- including 24 hours each of weekend and evening voting.

///////

so yea 16 weekend hours and no evenings

[former9thward]

45. No answer to my question.

Why didn't they vote early?

[questionseverything]

46. i can not answer for others

can you admit you got the weekend hours wrong?

[former9thward]

47. I didn't say anything about weekend hours.

I just said it was 28 days not the 16 hours you were trying to imply. I don't know the daily hours, week day or weekend. But I do know that anyone can find the time in 28 days to vote.

[Kingofalldems]

48. So you agree with the republicans on the Supreme Court?

[former9thward]

49. Another strawman...

Try again with some context.

[Dont call me Shirley]

14. We really need a constitutional amendment guaranteeing every human the right to vote.

And make it not optional.

[Tommy2Tone]

20. Why not ban all voting?

Just let them tell us who won. That seems to be the growing trend, and it's going to get worse.

[bvf]

28. Keep the illusion going for as long as possible.

I refuse to believe my vote doesn't count just yet, but it gets harder with each bit of news like this.

I guess the only rational response is to keep fighting, show up at the polls, and be as outspoken and active as possible.

[Faryn Balyncd]

21. Republicans are shameless crooks who hate America, & will do ANYTHING for power.

[LoisB]

24. Instead of declaring the consititution "unconstitutional" piecemeal, why don't they

just vote 5-4 to get rid of everything except the 2nd Amendment in one fell swoop? Then the rest of us would not have to hope they do the right thing every time they have an opportunity to uphold our so-called rights.

[Enthusiast]

25. Strict constructionists.

[still_one]

26. The only thing I can say is screw justice Kennedy. What a jerk

[Major Hogwash]

31. We need a new Supreme Court!

One filled with people who believe in the people's right to vote early, and ones who don't believe that corporations are people.

[Peacetrain]

34. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Absolutely!!

[Travis_0004]

52. There are about 14 states with no early voting

I don't ever hear people complain about those states.

[countryjake]

33. Fucking outageous and here's why...

[lobodons]

36. Losing 1 of 5 can't come quick enough

I have a bottle of Champagne reserved for when 1 of the 5 Conservative seats is vacated!! Can't come soon enough!! Here's hoping the Dems don't F up 16. The next Presidential election is crucial for the Dems getting 1 of those 5 seats. (Surely Scalia and or Kennedy won't make it to 2024) The Dems need those seats. The Country NEEDS those seats!!

[blkmusclmachine]

53. I wondered why the SCOTUS enacted all those new security measures to distance themselves from the

people. Now I think I know why. This shit, and a lot more of it coming down the pike, too, I bet. I'm pretty sure they know how unpopular they will become...

[3catwoman3]

54. The 5 RWNJ justices are a...

...disgrace to the robes they wear. I'm sure they don't even bother to listen to the arguments. Why should they? They go in with their minds already made up.

[madamesilverspurs]

55. Thus we continue to be haunted

by the aftermath of Florida 2000, delivered by the hands of one who helped that happen, one John Roberts . . .

[Kablooie]

66. Why don't they just come out with what they really mean.

Only white male land owners should be allowed to vote.
They just want to go back to where we were two hundred years ago.

[Travis_0004]

76. Ohio starts early voting 28 days early

Thats earlier than 42 other states. I dont hear any complaints about those 42 other states.

[brendan120678]

77. Some people just like to take offense...

at anything the right-wingers in the Court do.

I'm disappointed with this ruling, but really-that one week isn't going to matter much. If you cant find the time in those 28 days to vote, you weren't going to find the time in 35 days either.

[Stardust]

78. Since when does SCOTUS convene in September? Nt