About feckin' time: Ohio gets sued for its voter-suppression activities.

[riqster]

I have been asking for this for quite some time. Glad it is finally happening!

Ohio's 100% Republican-controlled government has been actively involved in disenfranchising minorities, young voters, seniors and the poor, ever since Kasich took office. Motherfuckers.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/05/01/aclu-lawsuit-voting-hours.html

Snips:

“Voting should be designed for the convenience of voters, not for the ability of politicians to use elections as part of their voting strategy,” said Freda Levenson, managing attorney for the ACLU of Ohio. “These were cuts that had a disproportionate impact on certain classes of voters."

Ohio Democrats have argued that those voters — particularly lower-income and African-American voters — tend to support their candidates.

The groups estimate 157,000 voters cast ballots in 2012 on days that would not be available this November. “From a voting-rights perspective, it makes absolutely no sense to slash these opportunities,” said Carrie Davis, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio.

Lots more at the link.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I'm glad to see this happening too. Yes indeed: About time. n/t

[riqster]

2. It's been insane here, trying to get this filed.

Other states like Wisconsin already have court rulings, but we won't have anything in place in time for next week's primary.

At least we have a shot at relief by this year's general election.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Actually, this might be good strategy...

If they'd filed last year, it would be "last year's news" so to speak.

By filing this year, it will still be in the courts, and hopfully in the news cycle, closer to the election, and in people's minds.

Perhaps a good GOTV strategy is to focus on the other side's efforts to suppress it. It's a corrollary to the NRA tactic. After all, all you have to do is whisper, "They're coming for your guns" and RWNJs and FGNs will be crawling out of the wood work. Now, if we can shout "They're coming for your votes!" maybe people will listen. IAE it will be good to hopefully see the RW bozos forced to justify their actions.

[riqster]

4. Viewed in isolation, you could well be correct.

Perhaps I was letting my frustration with Ohio's Dem Party and other allied groups' usual "late to the party" tendencies color my view.

Thanks!

[winter is coming]

7. I'm hoping this gets a lot of coverage. It certainly merits it. n/t

[progressoid]

5. 157,000 !!!

Jebus H!!!

[riqster]

6. Yep. This is what happens when a state is 100% controlled by Repubs.

One reason for my militant attitude around GOTV: I constantly see the GOP trying to take our voting rights away.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Been sued before. Multiple times. Including the last presidential election.

Here's an example:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/08/obama-sues-over-ohio-early-voting-rules/1#.U2P8P_ldXTo

[riqster]

9. Oh yeah.

But then, we had a convicted criminal serve out his full term as governor, and we've been operating in an unconstitutional manner WRT school funding for decades now.

Pish tosh on those silly little laws.

[bearssoapbox]

10. It is about time!!

Kashits and the rethugs have been doing their best to fuck up voting rights.

While at the same time defunding schools, towns, cities and counties while big businesses and corps get their tax breaks.

My wife and I vote absentee. We get them in the mail after filling out the form then she drops them off at the Board of Elections on one of her trips to town.

Kashits reminds of Bush the Lesser by the way he acts and carries himself. He seems like a sneaky, little weasely thing.