Federal Judge Sides With Obama Campaign On Early Voting In Ohio
From Think Progress: “A citizen has a constitutionally protected right to participate in elections on an equal basis with other citizens in the jurisdiction.” In Ohio, that right to participate equally has been abridged by Ohio Revised Code ‘ 3509.03 and the Ohio Secretary of State’s further interpretation of that statute with regard to in-person […]
“A citizen has a constitutionally protected right to participate in elections on an equal basis with other citizens in the jurisdiction.” In Ohio, that right to participate equally has been abridged by Ohio Revised Code ‘ 3509.03 and the Ohio Secretary of State’s further interpretation of that statute with regard to in-person early voting. In 2005, Ohio expanded participation in absentee balloting and in-person early voting to include all registered Ohio voters. Now, “in-person early voting” has been redefined by the Ohio legislature to limit Plaintiffs’ access to the polls. This Court must determine whether preliminary injunctive relief should be granted to Plaintiffs on their claim that Ohio’s restriction of in-person early voting deprives them of their fundamental right to vote. Following Supreme Court precedent, this Court concludes that Plaintiffs have stated a constitutional claim that is likely to succeed on the merits. As a result—and as explained below—this Court grants Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.
This is from the case that Republicans turned into a big lie, claiming that the Obama campaign was trying to prevent military from voting. That was not the case. The Obama campaign was simply saying that everyone should have the same access to voting, regardless. The judge sided with the Obama campaign and actually used a very ironic precedent in his ruling, Gore -v- Bush.
This is just the latest in a growing number of cases where the courts are blocking the GOP’s attempts at disenfranchising voters. Earlier this week a federal court rejected Texas’ redistricting plan, stating it discriminates against blacks and Latinos.
If we have learned anything over the past several months it’s that the Republicans aren’t afraid to show their racism. Sure they might say they aren’t racist, but their actions in trying to disenfranchise so many non-white voters shows differently. It’s time for the media and the voters to call out the GOP for what they are – democracy hating racists. Their own actions prove that.
