The Latest: Secretary of state pleased by Ohio voting ruling

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on a federal appeals court’s decision that upholds a cut to early voting in Ohio (all times local):

1:45 p.m.

Ohio’s elections chief is praising a ruling from a federal appeals court that upholds a state law trimming a week of early voting in the presidential swing state.

Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO’-sted) says Ohio offers “generous” opportunities to cast a ballot. He says the issue has been dragged through the courts and produced the finding that Ohio’s laws are fair.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Tuesday that the law still allowed for “abundant” opportunities to vote.

Democrats had alleged that law was part of a series of Republican-backed changes that disproportionately burdened black voters and those who lean Democratic. The law had eliminated a week of early voting in which residents could also register to vote.

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1:15 p.m.

A federal appeals court has reversed a judge’s order that restored a week of early voting in swing-state Ohio.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Tuesday that the law that made the cut still allows for “abundant” opportunities to vote.

Democrats had alleged that a series of Republican-backed changes disproportionately burdened black voters and those who lean Democratic. Such policies include the elimination of a week of early voting in which residents could also register to vote. This was known as golden week.

Plaintiffs including the state’s Democratic Party claimed the burden on voters outweighed any benefit to the state.

But Ohio’s attorneys argued that the changes were minor and had already been in effect for two general elections.