US Supreme Court Snubs Early Voting in Ohio

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that early voting in the state of Ohio can be curtailed, ignoring arguments that access to early voting improves turnout and gives wider poll access, particularly to working, low-income, and elderly people.

The decision came just hours before early voting was set to begin in the state and critics of the decision worry that the court has signaled how it may rule on similar voting rights cases from other states that our now making their way through lower courts.

According to SCOTUS Blog:

Advocates supportive of increased early voting were appalled by the court’s decision.

“We are disappointed that by a bare majority, the Supreme Court reinstated controversial voting changes that could make it harder for tens of thousands of Ohioans to vote,” said Wendy Weiser, director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. “Courts should serve as a bulwark against rollbacks to voting rights and prevent politicians from disenfranchising voters for political reasons.”