Ohio elections chief cancels order on early voting

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s elections chief today canceled his order that barred counties from setting voting hours on disputed early-voting days in the presidential battleground state, while a legal battle brought by President Barack Obama’s campaign continues.

The moves comes after a federal judge this week ordered Secretary of State Jon Husted to personally appear at a court hearing over the swing state’s early-voting rules.

Husted, a Republican, said he was trying to provide guidance to the state’s 88 county election boards after a court ruling last week that restores early voting for all voters during the three days before Election Day.

The state is appealing the decision to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Fifteen military groups who had joined the state in the lawsuit also filed their formal appeal notice today.