Living in Ohio, especially Southern Ohio can be tough for a political progressive like me. The status Quo seems so Status Quo. I live in the 8th Congressional District and with John Boehner as my rep you can understand why I find my representation lacking. National politics is about the only thing that excites me after supporting 3 campaigns against Boehner. I was very concerned about the limiting of early voting.
With Ohio being such a swingy swing state, one could understand why the GOP wants to suppress voting. I often wondered why Barack Obama was not pushing harder for extended voting hours to be restored. Well he has and he has been successful.
Join me below the orange tribute to Art Nouveau for some good news.
The Obama Campaign just won a court victory. Early voting was restricted in Ohio by John Husted, Secretary of State for Ohio. Well Good News, the three most important days of voting have been restored. The Fri, Sat, and Sun right before election Tuesday.
Here is part of the Judges decision that I found on Huffington Post, "On balance, the right of Ohio voters to vote in person during the last three days prior to Election Day -- a right previously conferred to all voters by the State -- outweighs the State's interest in setting the 6 p.m. Friday deadline," ruled the court. "The burden on Ohio voters' right to participate in the national and statewide election is great, as evidenced by the statistical analysis offered by Plaintiffs and not disputed by Defendants. Moreover, the State fails to articulate a precise, compelling interest in establishing the 6 p.m. Friday deadline as applied to non-UOCAVA [Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act] voters and has failed to evidence any commitment to the 'exception' it rhetorically extended to UOCAVA voters."
Its good news for Ohioans, It is good news for minorities, but it also restores some of my faith in the Obama Campaign. A victory like this before the election means so much for a victory in Nov.
After what happened in 2004 with the voting in Ohio I am so glad there is evidence that the process still works.
Such good news and on a holiday weekend.
Enjoy!!!