The state of Ohio has appealed to the Supreme Court for a stay in a US appeals court decision that allowing members of the military -- but no one else -- additional time to vote is out of bounds. "While there is a compelling reason to provide more opportunities for military voters to cast their ballots, there is no corresponding satisfactory reason to prevent nonmilitary voters from casting their ballots as well.” The state is asking the Supreme Court specifically to grant a stay on the appeals court's decision.
Although the state has permitted early voting on the weekend before the election in the past — long lines on Election Day in 2004 prompted the change — the Republican-controlled legislature ended weekend voting this year, saying local boards of election needed the time to prepare. The state made an exception for military voters, who it said could be deployed at any time and thus miss the chance to vote.
Such decisions, Ohio says, are for each state to make. The 15 states supporting that position — all, like Ohio, have Republican attorneys general — told the court that the Constitution’s “genius” is to allow states “to consider and implement creative, novel efforts to widen the ability of citizens to vote.” ...WaPo
Of course the "genius" here is the Republican-dominated state government giving preference to a largely Republican-voting group over everyone else. Similar efforts are being made in a dozen other states who are joining Ohio in taking this matter to the Supreme Court.
But will the Supreme Court, burned by its 2000 decision, be willing to grant a stay this case?
A decision on whether to grant the stay could come anytime. Ohio’s plea was sent to Justice Elena Kagan, who is assigned to the 6th Circuit, and she called for the response from the Obama campaign.
Kagan could rule on her own, but in such cases the designated justice usually refers the matter to the entire court. ...WaPo
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