A judge in Ohio on Friday granted a request from President Obama’s campaign to restore to all voters in the state the option to cast ballots during the three days before Election Day, the Associated Press reported.
The state law targeted by the Obama campaign cuts off early voting for most voters on the Friday evening before Election Day this fall. The law exempts Ohio residents living abroad and military personnel.
The Obama campaign and Democrats are suing the state’s elections chief over the legislation, arguing that it violates the fundamental rights of voters. But attorneys for the state counter that the local boards need the weekend to prepare for the election, and that it is not uncommon for military members to receive special voting accommodations.
U.S. District Judge Peter Economus issued a preliminary injunction on Friday. In his ruling, he said that he expects Ohio’s elections chief to “ensure that Ohio’s election process is ‘uniform, accessible for all, fair, and secure’ ” during the three days leading up to the election.
Democrats have estimated that 93,000 people voted during the weekend window before the 2008 election, according to AP. Those who did so were more likely to be African-American.
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