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Supreme Court Allows Early Voting in Ohio to Proceed

The Supreme Court allowed early voting in Ohio to remain intact.

In a move that was applauded by Democrats, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a lower court decision that would prevent voters from casting their ballots early.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn federal court rulings that every Ohioan be allowed to vote during the weekend and Monday before the election," Obama campaign general counsel Bob Bauer said, in a statement. 
"This action from the highest court in the land marks the end of the road in our fight to ensure open voting this year for all Ohioans, including military, veterans, and overseas voters."
The state's Republican-controlled legislature passed a law that barred early voting during the weekend before the election for everyone except military personnel and voters living overseas.
Officials of President Obama’s campaign filed a suit, contending that the state could not allow overseas and military voters to cast ballots during that period unless they allowed all voters the same opportunity.
Democratic officials contend that roughly 100,000 people voted in the three days prior to the 2008 election and that many voters would be adversely affected by the law.
Leaders of Ohio’s legislature had argued that the law would not cause the state’s voters to be disenfranchised. They contended that the Obama campaign's lawsuit was in conflict with the concept of state sovereignty.

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(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

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