Center for Public Integrity: In Ohio, Voter List Purges and Strict ID Law Could Suppress Turnout

Center for Public Integrity: In Ohio, Voter List Purges and Strict ID Law Could Suppress Turnout

Christine Turcer, the executive director of Common Cause Ohio, said even if the court allows additional drop boxes in coming weeks, it might be too late. “We are already voting. People already have their ballots,” Turcer said. ... “It hits different parts of the population harder than others. And clearly, when it makes it harder for people who are struggling to pay their bills, then it’s just not right,” Turner said. “It’s unfair, and people should not have unequal access to the ballot.”

Ohio voters are requesting absentee ballots at a rate that’s already more than double the total for the entire 2016 election, but must overcome a series of barriers put into place by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature and secretary of state.

And obstacles to voting in Ohio go beyond absentee voting. The state has purged thousands of voters from the rolls for not voting frequently enough and has a strict voter ID law in place.

Ohio’s role as a potential battleground state in this fall’s presidential election has led to an array of lawsuits and appeals over these provisions. …

LaRose argued that he did not have the legal authority to allow multiple drop boxes in each county, but a panel of appeals court judges disagreed. Following the ruling, LaRose issued a directive on Oct. 5 to clarify that it’s up to county election officials to decide the number of drop boxes — but they must be located at the board of elections’ property.

But a federal judge blocked LaRose’s directive, saying location restrictions on where drop boxes can be placed are “arbitrary.”

LaRose appealed the ruling at the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has agreed to allow his directive to remain in effect while the case is decided.

Christine Turcer, the executive director of Common Cause Ohio, said even if the court allows additional drop boxes in coming weeks, it might be too late.

“We are already voting. People already have their ballots,” Turcer said.