A federal judge on Tuesday threw out provisions in Ohio’s law that had voided absentee and provisional ballots for technical flaws made by otherwise qualified voters. In a lawsuit filed by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless and the Ohio Democratic Party, U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley ruled that the laws violated provisions of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that require citizens receive equal protection under the law. Marbley also ruled that the state’s attempt to shorten a period from 10 to 7 days during which voters could fix those technical flaws was also unconstitutional, as was a provision that forbid poll workers from helping to fill out the ballot forms unless the voter declared he or she was either illiterate or disabled. Witnesses in a voting rights case in federal court said this week that in 2014 some legitimate ballots were rejected, while in other cases flaw ballots were counted. The case involves a lawsuit by advocates for the homeless and Ohio Democrats who are challenging the constitutionality of some Ohio election laws.
The Ohio Democratic Party cheered the decision. “This trial showed quite clearly that every lawfully cast vote was not being counted here in Ohio,” Democratic Party chair David Pepper said in a statement. “Many lawfully registered Ohioans have had their votes cast aside because of new and unnecessary requirements that were shown to be discriminatory.”
Subodh Chandra, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said criticized Republicans for tinkering with voting laws. “Because of the court’s decision, thousands of Ohioans will now have their legitimate votes in this fall’s presidential election counted—no thanks to (Secretary of State Jon) Husted and his fellow Republicans’ scheming,” Chandra said. “In reflexively defending such schemes, Husted has caused taxpayers to pay out millions of dollars in attorneys’ fees.”
Husted said the state will appeal.
Full Article: Federal judge finds Ohio laws on absentee and provisional ballots violate U.S. Constitution | cleveland.com.