Ohio official nixes early voting in Montgomery County

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A vote by Ohio’s elections chief means no extra hours for early voting at the board of elections in one of the state’s largest urban counties.

Elections board members were tied on the question of extended early voting for Montgomery County, which includes Dayton. The Dayton Daily News reports Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted became the tie breaker and sided with GOP board members who did not want to stretch the absentee voting into the weekend and evenings.

Husted said Wednesday his decision was based on the board’s financial constraints. He also says voters already have ample opportunity to get their vote in ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

A Democratic board member complains of “voter suppression.”

Other county elections boards are offering expanded early-voting hours.