Associated Press
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R)
After losing in the lower courts, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted announced last week that he would take his early-voting restrictions to the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping for a more favorable outcome.
In a victory for voting-rights advocates and Democrats, Husted lost at the high court, too.
The U.S. Supreme Court sealed a legal victory for President Barack Obama's campaign in the pivotal state of Ohio, leaving intact a ruling that restored early voting rights for the weekend before the Nov. 6 election.
Ohio Republicans had sought to cancel early voting that weekend for everyone except members of the military. A U.S. appeals court blocked the plan last week, saying it probably violated the constitutional rights of non-military voters. In a one-sentence order, the Supreme Court today rejected a challenge to that ruling, filed by Ohio's Republican secretary of state and attorney general.
To briefly recap for those who haven't been following this story, Ohio had previously allowed voters an early-voting window of three days before Election Day, which in turn boosted turnout and alleviated long lines in 2008. This year, state Republican officials wanted to close the window -- active-duty servicemen and women could vote early, but no one else, not even veterans, could enjoy the same right the weekend before the election.
President Obama's campaign team filed suit, asking for a level playing field, giving every eligible Ohio voter -- active-duty troops, veterans, and civilians -- equal access. Ohio Republicans kept pushing back, pleading with one court after another to limit voters' access.
Today, the Supreme Court effectively ended the fight.
Just yesterday, elections law expert Rick Hasen said the outcome of this case had the potential to dictate the outcome of the presidential race in Ohio, and by extension, possibly even the nation. For Democrats, that makes the outcome at the U.S. Supreme Court that much more encouraging.
Update: It's worth keeping in mind that there are potentially some fights still looming, including at local elections boards in the state. We also do not yet know what additional procedural steps Husted might take.
Second Update: My colleague Laura Conaway, who's covered this story closely, reminds me that Husted said last week that, in the event a defeat at the Supreme Court, he would set up uniform voting hours for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Whether he'll follow through remains to be seen.
Third Update: Husted has now issued a directive setting uniform hours on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before the election, and it's online here (pdf). In a statement, he grudgingly conceded, "Today I have set uniform hours statewide, giving all Ohio voters the same opportunities to vote in the upcoming presidential election regardless of what county they live in." That this is a concession the Ohio Secretary of State fought tirelessly not to make is rather remarkable, but as of this afternoon, it appears the fight is over.
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How much taxpayer money is being spent on the frivolous appeal's by this guy Husted?Ohio taxpayer's should be outraged.Or is it the Koch bros. and ALEC footing the bill?
This is good news. It would be even better news if Husted could be trusted to comply in good faith. What a creep.
This nonsense can't get much more disgusting. The Tea Party might as well go ahead and change their name to Taliban so as not to confuse people. They obviously have no interest in freedom or the success of this country.
They have the same type of extremist views that the taliban has.
After decades where we fought to expand access to the ballot box for American citizens, conservatives are desperately trying to disenfranchise as many people as they can before Election Day. The most frightening thing for conservatives is a fully functioning democracy where every vote counts -- even the ones from black, brown and poor people. Republicans are closing down voting booths and threatening folks that have the temerity to want to take part in their constitutional right to cast a ballot out of fear. The right is deathly afraid of the 99 percent of ordinary, poor and middle-class Americans that are fed up with the loopholes and benefits for the wealthy, fed up with a political party devoted to destroying the American Dream - progressive
The one argument I can't get over is the right wing claim that voting is a privilege. My whole life. all 53 years of it, I have heard that voting is a right, and that we are obligated as citizens to exercise that right, which I have been doing since I was legally old enough to vote. Even in places with dictatorships and the outcome is known before a ballot is cast, voting is considered to be a right!
My fear is that the votes won't be counted correctly, Husted has proven he can't be trusted.
This was done during the 2008 Election. We were, as you remember, still under the Geo "W" rule, so, they closed the door when the counting of votes started in Warren County saying there was a possible Terrorist Threat there. No one was able to check the trash dumpsters there to see how many Democrat votes were tossed out.
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
What effect will his have on other states, especially Florida whose election laws are close to third world standards. Why can't states have standardized election laws so that republicans won't try to hijack designated voters (black, old, non-republican). How about an amendment to the Constitution to keep election laws seamless. Or as a last resort why not have Jimmy Carter be on call wherever we have a voting problem (PA, Florida, etc). He's already overseeing third world elections from time to time. Just saying...
Just curious how much this legal escapade cost the tax payers of Ohio and whther the costs should be reimbursed by the RNC.
It would be cheaper if they just pay their fair share of Taxes.
True. I believe the Federal contribution for Sesame Street was $8 million, or in other words about 8 minutes of television political ads. Which do you think actually educate?
Also, the educational value of Sesame Street goes pretty far, with children getting a head start and the awesome shows like NOVA and other programs are included in most basic packages for TV, aren't they? Used to be available free with an antenna, but not sure any more.
After losing big time in this voting fiasco, the next election he should be nervous about is HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE. Democrats in Ohio will not forget how corrupt and partisan you were in trying to disenfranchise voters.
Is there any news on what will come of Thomas Ritchie and Dennis Lieberman? Doesn't make much sense to me that they should be out jobs for a reason even the Supreme Court feels is unjust.
Hopefully they can file a law suit and get reinstated or compensated. They now have the law on their side. The Supreme court says the action by Husted was not legal, hence the firing was illegal as well. Case closed. Order HUsted to pay personally not the taxpayers. It was his decission. If not, name the people that demanded this action from him.
Democrat or not in Ohio, any real red-blooded American would now vote democrat or sit it out and not validate this criminal attempt to rigg the election. Any republican that feels this what justified action by Husted is just as criminal as he tried to be. Having said that, IMO these are anything but upstanding, righteous American Citizens and should elect to move to a country that allows voter supression. I don't really mean that, but my anger drives me to wicked thoughts as this. No one should want to participate, especially republicans, in this attempt of voter supression. Remember....you could be next.
Shame on MSM for ignoring this story. Ohio citizens have pushed back on the GOP without help of MSM. The local media in Ohio stays silent. Racist billboards are being used to intimidate Black voters. The true the vote thugs are prepared to intimidate Black voters. MSM stays silent.
This county is in serious trouble.
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Thanks so much to Rachel Maddow for all you do. You were the leader in shouting about the atrocities involving voter suppression in Ohio and other places. I rarely go to bed without watching your show. Some of the stories about what has happened in Ohio might be lost if it was not for your show. Thanks again. This Ohio resident is indeed grateful.
This really is good news. Now, Ohio vote and vote early. Make them all crazy!!!!!!!
Despite what the Supreme Court did, my fear is that the theft of the election already baked into a rigged voting process.
The best way to counteract that is to get out the vote, see if people need a ride to polls, help with mailing it, help remind folks, get the facts straightened out. There was a college student in NY today that answered a false thing; saying/believing that Rmoney would get us out of Afghanistan faster/earlier than Obama.
Husted you embarrass me by being a human.
In Volusia County. FL , where ballots were found in the garbage 4 years ago, absentee ballots were outsourced to a printing company to be mailed called ABS. 50,000 ballots were never received by voters who requested them earlier this month. Hundreds of angry callers will be affected by this mishandling of their absentee ballots. Ann McFall, Supervisor of Elections claims her office will try to send out new ballots. Also, some ballots went out without page one. This company, ABS should be investigated.