ACLU and others sue over Ohio's early-voting rules

COLUMBUS (AP) — Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union are suing Ohio’s elections chief over limits on when voters can cast an early ballot in the perennial battleground state.

Their lawsuit filed today in Columbus federal court claims that cuts to early voting disproportionally affect black voters, who they say are more likely to use weekend and evening hours.

The ACLU and the Ohio chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are among the plaintiffs challenging a directive from Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted that sets uniform voting hours statewide. The groups are also seeking to overturn a law that eliminated days when residents can both register to vote and cast an early ballot.

Ohioans vote absentee by mail or in person without giving any reason.