WKSU News: Federal judge orders Ohio to reinstate early-voting hours

Wednesday, June 11, 2014 Federal judge orders Ohio to reinstate early-voting hours Democrats celebrate and Republican Secretary of State says the decision gives him the uniformity he wanted by WKSU's M.L. SCHULTZE	Web Editor M.L. Schultze

Jon Husted says his only concern has been consistent voting hours.

A federal judge has ordered Ohio to reinstate early in-person voting the three days before Election Day.

Earlier this year, Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted had directed the 88 county boards of elections to hold uniform voting hours -- and they did not include the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before November’s gubernatorial election. Democrats challenged that, saying it disproportionately affects their voters, who dominate early-in person voting on those days.

In a speech in Akron last week,Husted said his only concern has been uniformity.

LISTEN: Husted on voting rules

Other options:

MP3 Download (0:16)

“I believe that all votes should vote by the same set of rules. you’re Mary Smith in Summit County or Mary Smith in Portage County, there’s no reason that you should have different rules in terms of days and hours that your vote. We should have the same set of rules. That’s what equality means.”

And in a statement today, he said he’ll follow the decision of U.S. District Judge Peter Economus, which gives Ohio the voting uniformity it needs.

Ohio Dmocratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, also praised the decision."

"All along, we believed the actions of the Republican-controlled Legislature, Secretary of State Husted and Gov. Kasich were unconstitutional; and yet again, a federal judge has agreed. This ruling shows how important these last three days are to ensure equal access to the ballot, and the hours set by Secretary Husted should reflect that."