The US Supreme Court has on Monday ruled in favor of a contentious early voting schedule in Ohio which cuts the early voting window in the state by about a week and also eliminates voting on weekends and evening.
In February, Jon Husted, the Republican Secretary of State of Ohio announced the new early voting schedule to the public amid much criticisms. Many civil rights groups and Afro-American churches were foremost among the dissenters. Democrats have also censured the changes as a ploy to systematically curtail the votes of blue-collar workers and minorities - who form an important part of the supporters of the Democratic Party.
A District Court had ruled against the impending voting schedule changes, which was described as a violation of the constitutional rights of poor voters. The ruling of the District Court was upheld by a Court of Appeals last week, before the case was forwarded to the Supreme Court by State officials.
Freda Levenson, the Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union - one of the chief litigants in the case - has noted that "While [the ruling is] not a final decision on the merits of the case, this is a real loss for Ohio voters, especially those who must use evenings, weekends and same-day registration to cast their ballot."
Meanwhile, Mr. Husted has released a statement saying the "ruling validates what I have long said, elections in Ohio should be run by the same rules in every country and Ohioans should have the right to make those tiles though their elected representatives."
"I plan to implement state law and the voting schedule established by Democrats and Republicans at the local level," he said, "meaning Ohioans will have 28 days of early voting, including two Saturday and a Sunday."
Many experts say the outcome of the ongoing battle in Ohio will define the country's stand on voting rights and access to ballots during the next electoral reform.
