Supreme Court delays early voting in Ohio

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court, voting along party lines, delayed early voting in Ohio in a decision Monday that reversed a lower court's order.

Under a ruling issued by U.S. District Court Judge Peter C. Economus earlier this month, voting for the November election had been scheduled to start Tuesday. Economus extended the early voting period from 28 days to 35 and added evening and weekend hours.

In the 5-4 decision, all justices named by Republican presidents supported Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's argument that the ruling is unfair to state election officials. DeWine and Secretary of State Jim Stansted, both Republicans, said the 28-day schedule was set in February and changing it at the last minute would be almost impossible.

The four justices named by Democrats voted to uphold the judge's decision.

DeWine also argued that the plaintiffs in the case, including the Ohio chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of Women Voters, were responsible for the "time crunch." He said they waited to file a lawsuit.

A three-judge appeals panel upheld Economus's decision last week. The state has asked for an en banc hearing by the 12 judges on the Sixth Circuit. The Supreme Court decision to stay the ruling will stand until the case is finally settled.