Sanders campaign sues Ohio for not allowing youth votes in primary

[Lodestar]

Source: Reuters

Bernie Sanders' Democratic presidential campaign has sued Ohio's secretary of state in federal court over what it calls an unconstitutional attempt to prevent young people from voting in the state's March 15 primary election.

“It is an outrage that the secretary of state in Ohio is going out of his way to keep young people – significantly African-American young people, Latino young people – from participating,” the U.S. senator from Vermont said in a statement released on Tuesday.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Columbus and joined by six Ohio 17-year-olds, alleged that a directive by Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted would "arbitrarily discriminate" against young voters.

Citing U.S. Census figures, it said such voters were more likely to be black or Latino than older groups of voters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-sanders-ohio-idUSMTZSAPEC39QZ70OY

[IdaBriggs]

1. You mean a Democratic candidate is actually FIGHTING FOR VOTERS?

Go, Bernie, Go!

[Nitram]

6. Both candidates want to increase turnout among young minority voters.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/hillarys-unlawful-plan-to-overrule-voter-id-laws-1434063299

[IdaBriggs]

7. So, is she co-signing on as a Plaintiff in the lawsuit?

Because when a candidate starts paying lawyers to back a citizen's right to vote, that is when I call it "fighting" not just discussing.

The Democrats were not helpful back in 2004. It was the third parties that led the charge for voters in Ohio. Senator Clinton was in office back then, and nary a word was heard from her office about the "results" there (among other issues) so frankly not expecting her to treat it as anything other than "just the way things are" while Bernie appears to Actually Be Fighting.

The difference matters. This isn't appearance - it is Real Life. Will these young people be allowed to vote? Hillary has the power to participate in the lawsuit to show she cares (and as a leader, could have started it when the problem was first presented).

Is she doing it?

[Nitram]

8. On May 29, Marc Elias, the lead lawyer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign...

...was among those who filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin challenging the state’s voter-ID law.

The right wing view of the suit: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419519/2016-nears-hillary-clinton-aims-dismantle-voter-id-expand-early-voting-julia

[IdaBriggs]

11. Now that's what I wanted to hear! Thank you for sharing it!

[KentuckyWoman]

2. Ohio changed the ballots this year.

Instead of a non-binding opinion vote from registered party members, Ohio's primary now "elects" delegates for whatever candidate.

Since 17 yr olds don't qualitfy for elections votes, they are being cut from the primary. And yes, IMHO it's BS.

[PeoViejo]

3. Turn up the Bern

Go git 'em.

[jpak]

4. Feel the Bern GOP stooges

yup

[merrily]

5. YES! About time the Sanders' campaign started suing over some of these shenanigans!

Lawyers cost. I am going to contribute right flocking now!

If anyone wants to join me:

DU link https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/duforbernie

JPR link: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/jackpineradicals4bernie

[pampango]

9. I am a poll worker in Ohio. Just had training again last week. 17 year olds are voting as they alway

have in the presidential primary, AFAIK. We were given no new instructions on how to handle 17-year-olds. They can only vote for candidates in the primary of one party or the other because the process selects the nominees they can vote on when they are 18 by election day. They cannot vote on tax levies and other ballot issues, just as in the past.

Not sure what is going on with the news in this OP.

[Maeve]

10. Same here---they have to vote paper ballots that are put in specific envelopes

so that only the votes for the candidates are counted. I have the official training manual right here--it's a nominating process and 17 year olds (whowill be 18 by the election) can vote candidates only in the primary.