Judge denies request to delay Ohio primary election until June over coronavirus

[Julian English]

Source: Cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye denied an attempt to delay Ohio’s primary election due to coronavirus Monday night.

Frye was asked to preside over the case around 6:30 p.m. Monday -- just hours after Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state’s chief elections official, said that they wanted the election delayed to June 2. Since they didn’t have the authority to do so, they were waiting for it to go before a judge.

Frye said that he wasn’t going to grant a temporary restraining order to two Ohio voters who wanted the election extended to June 2, due to health concerns during COVID-19 outbreak. He said it was too late -- 12 hours out from polls opening -- to make such a momentous decision, especially since the state couldn’t guarantee that June would be any safer.

The ruling -- and DeWine’s and LaRose’s earlier statements -- threatens to plunge the primary into chaos. Not only are people confused whether the election is tomorrow, state officials were adamant the election could put poll workers’ and voters’ health at risk.

Read more: https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/03/judge-rules-ohio-election-is-on-for-tomorrow.html

[James48]

1. I would argue to keep the polls open longer.

And let those voters vote an extra 3 days, so that you can reduce or eliminate lines at the polls.

[More_Cowbell]

2. Yes, that sounds like a better idea than postponement

As long as their aren't hours-long lines, I think the risk isn't severe. Especially since, as the story notes, there's no guarantee that June will be any safer.

[LisaL]

5. I don't expect long lines, at least where I am at.

But DeWine going to court the evening before the election likely created a huge confusion.
Poll workers already told to not show up, before judges decision was made to deny the request.

[MFGsunny]

10. + 1000 n/t

[Maeve]

3. Poll worker here

I've been told not to report, but the judge says the vote is on. So I get up at 5:30 and drag out anyway because that is what the judge says.

Oy

[More_Cowbell]

4. I hope you stay safe!

This must be a trying time.

[Maeve]

6. BOE now says the vote is on

My day will go from 6:30 am till 10:00 pm ( roughly) but very little actual work time (small precinct and I'm paper judge).
Taking my crochet and a book.

[LisaL]

7. Put on some gloves!

[Maeve]

8. Probably won't see 100 voters all day

And will come in contact (6 feet) with much fewer. Appreciate the thought tho!

[potone]

9. This is another reason why vote by mail is a better system.

People shouldn't have to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote.

[TomCADem]

11. Close to 20 Percent Of Ohio Votes Are Cast Absentee

So, the election is already about 20 percent complete. Ohio is on the lowside because many states are moving away from one-day, in person voting given all the lines and headaches that have been caused.

[LisaL]

12. The problem with absentee voting is that OH is really strict and disqualifies such ballots all the

time for any tiny little error.

[lark]

13. Florida does the same thing with all mail in ballots. They do signature (mis)matching BS.

Since people's handwriting almost always changes as they age, this was sufficient to disallow tens of thousands of votes in FL. Without this asshole procedure, Scott would most likely have won and even perhaps Gillum? In my state, early voting is by far the safest method for ensuring your vote is counted. Early voters can make your mark at any precinct that's open, don't just have to go to your own, so it's really good for people who have recently moved, have work timing issues, or who have aged and their signature cards will no longer match their current version. Also there is early voting on weekends - so convenient.

[LisaL]

14. Well, in OH early voting is not very convenient, because there is only one early voting place

per county, regardless how big the county is.

[lark]

15. Not good!

That's a lot worse than in FL. Here all libraries and the downtown office are open 7 days a weeks (think it's still 7), 10-6 for 2 weeks prior to the election. No lines, no big signature matching effort, not precinct specific - it's great here.

[LisaL]

16. Yep, early voting is not very convenient in OH, but I expected to vote quickly on election day.

In and out, I didn't expect lines or many people because many polling places should have been open on election day.
But of course that didn't happen.

[lark]

17. So even though the Governor said the election is delayed, it's still happening in some places there?

How very confusing that is and what a freaking cluster fuck!

[LisaL]

18. No. All polling places are closed in OH.

Some people still showed up to vote and couldn't.

[lagomorph777]

19. Wish we had that in VA - my spouse has iffy health and sometimes can't get out.

Fortunately we were both able to vote this primary.

But we need to get this going before November!!!