UPDATE: Ohio Voters Gain Greater Access to Ballot in ACLU Settlement
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The American Civil Liberties Union will present arguments in federal court on Monday, August 11, seeking to have early voting opportunities restored for Ohioans in time for the November midterm election.
The ACLU is challenging a state law and directive that have slashed early voting opportunities in Ohio. The group filed a preliminary injunction motion in June asking the court to block enforcement of the law and directive prior to full trial and in time for the midterm election. On Monday, the ACLU will ask the federal court to:
- Restore Golden Week, including the opportunity to register or update registration and vote on the same day.
- Restore multiple Sundays during the early voting period.
- Restore voting on multiple weekday evenings during the early voting period.
"Cutbacks to early voting threaten access to the ballot for thousands of Ohioans this election," said Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project. "If they are not able to vote, they will have lost a critical opportunity to participate in our democratic process. We hope the court will recognize the irreparable harm in allowing these cutbacks to be in force before there is a full trial to determine the law's constitutionality."
"Cuts to early voting hurt working Ohioans who need early in-person voting but have inflexible work schedules, childcare duties or other responsibilities that make getting to the Board of Elections during normal business hours nearly impossible," said ACLU of Ohio Managing Attorney Freda Levenson. "Instead of seeking to limit opportunities to vote, officials should welcome the restoration of weekend and evening early voting to ensure that Ohioans continue to be able to participate in our democracy."
The ACLU and the ACLU of Ohio brought the complaint on behalf of the Ohio Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, and several African-American churches.
WHAT: Federal court hearing seeking to restore early voting opportunities for the November midterm election
WHO: American Civil Liberties Union
WHEN: Monday, August 11, 9 a.m.
WHERE: U.S. District Courthouse, 85 Marconi Boulevard, Columbus
More information about this case is available at: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/naacp-v-husted
