Andrew J. Tobias reports at cleveland.com:
A group of voting-rights activists
has suffered a legal defeat
in their attempt to challenge Ohio's system of
verifying signatures
on absentee ballot applications.
A federal judge has ruled Ohio’s
system of verifying signatures on absentee ballot applications is not
burdensome enough to be struck down as illegal, rejecting arguments made by a
coalition of voting-rights groups that sued the state.
U.S. District Judge Michael Watson
wrote that while Ohio’s signature-matching requirements impose a
“moderate" burden on voters, they have other options to cast a ballot if
their vote is improperly rejected, including casting a provisional ballot on
Election Day. He agreed with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose that the
state has a legitimate interest in promoting an orderly and secure election,
justifying that burden.
. . .
Watson’s ruling is technically just
an early loss for the voting-rights groups, which could continue to seek a trial
or appeal to a higher court. But it makes it significantly less likely their
case will succeed, especially given that the election is only 37 days away.
Read the full report here.
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