I don't see a legitimate case for the Republican party here. I put together a sketch of the details over at Election Law@Moritz:
linked text
I haven't seen any of the details in the media.
The Complaint in Spencer v. Blackwell: linked text
In a nutshell this is a statute that hasn't been updated or utilitzed since about 1953. It is a Jim Crow law that was intended to deny blacks the vote and is being used that way today. If you drop down to page 5, if a voter is challenged on the grounds she has not been a resident for 30 days, all of the election judges must ask eight questions. If challenged on the grounds she is not a resident of the county all of the election judges must ask three questions.
(more in Extended Entry)
While this process is taking place all voting stops because all of the election judges are required to question the challenged voter. The challenger may also request that all voting be stopped to insure they do not miss another potential challenge.
In addition, if a majority of the election judges do not accept the voters answers to their questions she is not allowed to vote. Their decision can not be appealed or over-ruled.
Because the statute is vague about the procedures and requirements for a challenge, Sec. of State Blackwell issued a Memorandum that also required the challenged voter to sign a two page affidavit. If they refuse to sign them may not vote. The affidavit warns in large, bold typeface Whoever Commits Election Falsification Is Guilty of A Felony In the Fifth Degree.
The rest of the complaint has additional details and provides some interesting history of Jim Crow laws in Ohio, but you get the point. What the Republican party is trying to do is blatant and disgusting. Have any of these details been covered by the media? All I've seen are "big picture" stories.
I can't believe the Circuit Court over ruled the District Court decisions. I'm looking forward to their rationale for re-instituting Jim Crow.