Opponents of Ohio’s new election law have fallen short in their effort to get a ballot repeal question before voters next fall, but they have another 10 days to submit more signatures, the state’s top election official said Monday. Among other changes, the election overhaul shortens the swing state’s early voting period.
Secretary of State Jon Husted’s ruling on Monday comes after election officials reviewed the more than 333,000 signatures that opponents submitted in late September to put the law on hold. They need 231,150 valid signatures to get the referendum before voters in 2012. Husted’s office said they had 221,572 — 9,578 signatures shy of that necessary amount.
Opponents, including Democrats and President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, have continued to gather signatures in case they came up short. An Ohio Democratic Party spokesman said they have collected more than 150,000 additional signatures. They’ll have until Nov. 24 to submit more signatures.
Full Article: Opponents of Ohio’s election law fall short of needed signatures in ballot repeal effort | The Republic.