In an unprecedented move, the director of the Ohio Department of Health ordered late Monday night that the state's 3,658 polling places not be opened Tuesday morning for Ohio's primary election. Now, with an active case before the Ohio Supreme Court and legislative action likely next week, the question becomes whether or not the polling places ever open and Ohio holds its first-ever all-absentee primary election.
WVXU Senior Political Analyst Howard Wilkinson believes that is exactly what will happen. He told News Director Maryanne Zeleznik Friday morning, either through a court order or legislation, the Ohio primary will wrap up - probably in late April - with no more in-person voting. It's likely that those who did not vote absentee by Tuesday will receive applications for absentee ballots in the mail. It is important, Wilkinson says, that winning candidates be declared in contested primaries so they can get on with the business of running a general election campaign.
