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Supreme Court denies Dems’ attempt to reinstate Golden Week
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an attempt by the Ohio Democratic Party to reinstate Ohio’s so-called Golden Week.
The ruling Tuesday means eligible voters in the state will not be allowed to register and cast ballots on the same day when Ohio’s absentee voting period for the presidential election begins next month.
The Democratic Party had sought a stay of a federal appeals court decision last month in favor of Republican-backed legislation that ended voter registration on one day and started early voting on the next.
The legislation, which reduced Ohio’s early voting period by one week, was signed into law in early 2014 and went into effect later that year.
Proponents said the change was needed to give county election officials time to verify voters’ eligibility before they cast ballots and to reduce potential voter fraud.
But opponents, including Democratic lawmakers, called it a further attempt to limit early voting and make it harder for eligible resident to cast ballots. The Ohio Democratic Party and others subsequently filed suit.
In May, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson reinstated Golden Week, ruling that the legislation eliminating the extra week of early voting hurt black voters in particular and was unconstitutional.
But a federal appeals court last month reversed that decision Tuesday, ruling that Ohio “continues to provide generous, reasonable and accessible voting options to all Ohioans.”