In Ohio, early voting restrictions face legal test

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images

(CBS News) In an indication of just how much both Republicans and Democrats have at stake in Ohio this fall, Democrats head to court today in an ongoing challenge with the state over early voting laws they say are designed to suppress Democratic turnout.

Wednesday's court challenge is the latest manifestation of a recent spate of Democratic protests over restrictions guiding how and when Ohioans can vote in advance of the presidential election, which they say could prevent thousands of people from getting to the polls.

According to a recent CBS News/New York Times/Quinnipiac poll, President Obama currently leads Mitt Romney in Ohio by six points, but both candidates are fiercely competing in the battleground state, which carries 18 electoral votes and is considered a must-win for any Republican hoping to win the presidency.

The Obama campaign, along with the DNC and the Ohio Democratic Party, announced last month that they were suing Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in response to new laws, enacted in 2011, which curtail in-person early voting in the state for the three days prior to November's elections.

According to those laws, early voting begins in Ohio on October 2 and will continue through Friday, November 2. Military voters are able to vote through the following Monday, on November 5.

Why does early voting matter?

Democrats argue that early voting allows for increased voter participation, particularly as the election nears. In Ohio in 2008, they say, 93,000 votes - or nearly 30 percent of all votes in the state - were cast in the last three days of early voting. For comparison, former President George W. Bush beat his Democratic rival John Kerry in Ohio approximately 119,000 votes in 2004. Keeping early voting polls closed the weekend before Election Day, some worry, could depress turnout by a pivotal margin, particularly in a close election. 

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[chevyhotrod]

That charge was categorically debunked - a New York Times editorial decried it as "an extraordinary lie" - and the Obama campaign lambasted the Romney team for the false charge.

_________________

Notice how Lucy uses a New York Times editorial as a debunking source...come on Lucy, stop the lies.

Come on CBS, you can find a better unbiased, so call reporter than this. She has been doing this stuff day in and day out.

The American people deserve better.

[chevyhotrod]

Why does Lucy just use the White House for a debunking source, I sure they will accommodate her and praise her for being such a good reporter and an upstanding citizen.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

On election day - take a sick day! What's one day off, this is your country's future! Your future! VOTE! Then offer rides to anyone who can't get to the polls!

OBAMA/BIDEN : )

[chevyhotrod]

What future?

$1.3+ Trillion Annual Deficits?
$16+ Trillion Debt and climbing?
$100+ Trillion unfunded liabilities?

What about the future of our children and grandchildren?

Will they be able to afford just the interest on this debt alone?

When the interest cannot even be paid, what do we do then?

[retmw1]

Take a sick day and the republicans would accuse you of being a lazy slacker.

[Bojax39]

"Democrats head to court today in an ongoing challenge with the state over early voting laws they say are designed to suppress Democratic turnout."

Yeah. It'll especially play hell with the illegal alien vote.....

[Tothiwim]

The Banana Republic of Florida has now been joined by Ohio and every other Republican-controlled state legislature. This is why Republicans are so fond of "States Rights", which is their code word that ostensibly refers to local control based on local preferences, but in fact is intended to invoke nostalgia for state-sponsored racism, promotion of local corruption, and violation of the principle of separation of church and state.

[chevyhotrod]

"state-sponsored racism"

Can win an argument, call them racist.

[Rodeo_Joe]

How odd - Republicans outlawing voters who can't produce excessive documentation when their candidate won't even show his tax returns.

What's the matter Repubs? Your "base" dying off too quickly?

[chevyhotrod]

Why can't President Obama turn over his college transcripts?

I guess you didn't pay close attention to the 2010 election, did you?

It will be much of the same in Nov. 2012, watch and see.

[1stlttightwad]

Hmm, sounds like the Dems are pis/sed off with the Repubs using their tactics..

[Bojax39]

Doesn't it? :-)

[1stlttightwad]

Many military personell are on duty and cannot leave to go vote, that is why. Many states have laws that require an employee to be given time off to vote without any penalty..There is no federal equivalent.

[AOCGUY]

wad, have you ever served in the military? The Military goes to great lengths to allow their members to vote. Oh, and BTW, in ConUS very few servicemembers work more than an 8 hour day or a 4 hour week. Simply not necessary. Plenty of time after or before duty hours to vote. Yesterday in the FL primary alost a third of the voters that entered to polling place after 4pm where I worked were in uniform coming off work to vote.

[marychgo]

There is NO excuse for what Ohio (or Pennsylvania or Florida) is doing. The entire history of the U.S. franchise has been to BROADEN the right to vote; the ONLY reason to reverse this history is the GOP's hope to win by NARROWING the right to vote.

[AOCGUY]

mary, what exactly has Florida done? Im a poll worker in Florida (early voted as did my wife). Early voting went ten days (ended this past Saturday) and polls opened at 0700 yesterday morning closed last night 1t 1900. No problems (unless you lost I guess). Seems to work here.

[Ulgnud]

It increases voter participation. And the Democrats are worried about more people voting. What are the Democrats trying to pull now?

[AOCGUY]

I don't believe you understood the issue. The Dems are upset about reduced and more restricted early voting not the other way around.

[nearl451]

The issue in Ohio is that County by COunty the hours are more or less per a vote. And the SOS is getting personally involved in managing that vote.