The Latest: Elections chief questions ruling on voter purge

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on a federal appeals court ruling on Ohio’s process for removing voters from its registration rolls (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

Ohio’s elections chief says a federal appeals court ruling effectively forces the swing state to place voters who have died or moved on its registration lists.

Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO’-sted) defended the state’s process for maintaining its voter rolls on Friday after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati found the procedure violates federal law.

Husted says the ruling overturns 20 years of practice.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the public advocacy group Demos challenged the state’s process, saying it illegally drops registered voters based on their failure to vote.

The ACLU says in a statement that it’s “very happy” with the ruling.

The appeals court returned the case to a lower court to determine a remedy for voters improperly removed.

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Noon

A federal appeals court says Ohio’s elections chief has been wrongfully removing eligible voters from the swing state’s registration list.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the public advocacy group Demos had challenged the state’s process for maintaining its voter rolls, claiming it illegally drops registered voters based on their failure to vote.

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Friday that Ohio’s process violates the National Voter Registration Act.

Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO’-sted) has said the process used by Ohio for more than 20 years is constitutional and fully complies with state and federal laws.

In a July court brief, the Justice Department urged the appeals court to reverse the district judge’s decision.