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State Appeals Federal Court Ruling That Declared Elimination Of "Golden Week" Unconstitutional

Secretary of State Jon Husted
Statehouse News Bureau
Secretary of State Jon Husted

The state is appealing a decision handed down by a federal judge this week that would have restored the week when Ohioans could both register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day. Listen to the story here.

Secretary of State Jon Husted is appealing Republican Judge Michael Watson’s initial order to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The order said elimination of the so called “golden week” was unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 because mostly African American voters chose to cast ballots during that time. In Husted’s appeal, he argues the elimination of the golden week has bipartisan support and was eliminated because it had become an administrative problem and voter integrity issue. He claims out of state voters were illegally registering to vote and casting ballots during this time period.

Copyright 2016 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.