Ohio settles lawsuit over voter registration

CLEVELAND (AP) — The state of Ohio has agreed to settle a lawsuit over the expansion of voter-registration procedures for low-income people.

Under the agreement filed last week in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, low-income people must be given the chance to register to vote when applying for welfare. The lawsuit says such services are required by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

The lawsuit was filed three years ago on behalf of two individuals and the group ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

The settlement agreement includes Ohio’s top election official and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.