A federal court appeal was reinstated on October 5 to allow voters in Ohio to vote in-person and without an excuse three days before Election Day on November 6.
The three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled in a case targeting a state law that ends early voting for most residents on the Friday evening before a Tuesday election. There is an exception for military personnel and Ohio voters living overseas.
President Obama’s campaign and other Democrats have sued Ohio’s Secretary of State, Jon Husted, and Attorney General, Mike DeWine, both republicans, on grounds that everyone should have a chance to vote on the set days.
Ohio is among 34 states, plus the District of Columbia, that are granted the option for early voting. About 30% (1.7 million) of votes in Ohio came in ahead of Election Day in 2008, which was crucial to President Obama’s victory, along with early voting in North Carolina and Florida. No GOP candidate in history has ever won presidency without winning the state of Ohio.
The local boards of elections would have discretion to allow all Ohio voters to vote on the days of Saturday, November 3, Sunday, November 4, and Monday, November 5. Early voting began in Ohio this year on October 2.
For more details on early voting and to find a location to vote near you, contact your Local Election Official.