Judge won't yet restore Ohio Libertarians to ballot

COLUMBUS (AP) — A federal judge has denied two disqualified Libertarian candidates immediate access to Ohio’s fall ballot and hints the decision may foreshadow his final judgment.

In an order issued Wednesday, Judge Michael Watson said adding Charlie Earl and Steven Linnabary to Nov. 4 ballots this late could result in voter “confusion and disarray.”

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday, a day before early voting is set to begin.

The Libertarian Party of Ohio argues a decision by elections chief Jon Husted to disqualify its gubernatorial and attorney general nominees was unconstitutional.

New evidence they introduced showed a Republican underwrote the legal challenge to Libertarian petitions and the state’s hearing officer also had GOP ties.

Judge Watson said those claims could have been brought months ago.