Supreme Court rejects appeal over Ohio provisional ballots

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from advocates for the homeless and the Ohio Democratic Party to ensure that more absentee and provisional ballots are counted.

The court on Monday did not comment in refusing to block election rules that could disqualify thousands of absentee and provisional ballots because of minor mistakes or omissions.

The high court rarely imposes last-minute changes on election procedures. The appeal was filed less than two weeks before Election Day.

Earlier this month, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted ordered elections boards to count provisional ballots with some minor mistakes if voters’ identity and eligibility can otherwise be verified.

But the appeal to the Supreme Court said Husted’s order did not go far enough and could itself be overturned by a state court.