One of the most critical battleground states in the presidential election is home to three disputes over voting issues that could affect when voters can start casting ballots and how ballots will get counted this fall. Groups have challenged Ohio’s cut to early voting, its ballot procedures, and its process for removing voters from its registration rolls. Here’s a look at the lawsuits in Ohio: A dispute over a law that trims a week of early voting is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state’s Democratic Party asked the court on Sept. 1. to suspend a ruling that would trim early voting opportunities. That lower court decision from last month upheld a law eliminating days in which people could register and vote at the same time, a period known as “golden week.”
The odds that the high court will side with the Democrats are pretty long. The Supreme Court justices divided 4-4 on Aug. 31 on a move to reinstate North Carolina’s voter identification requirement. The split illustrates how closely divided the Supreme Court is on voting rights.
Democrats allege the change disproportionately burdens black voters and those who lean Democratic.
The state argues that scrapping the days helped alleviate administrative burdens for local elections officials while reducing costs and the potential of fraud.
More than 60,000 people voted during golden week in 2008, while over 80,000 cast ballots during the period in 2012, according to court filings.
Full Article: AP Explains: Ohio is home to 3 disputes over voting issues – Houston Chronicle.