The Latest: Early-voting ruling upsets Ohio elections chief

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Latest on a federal judge’s decision related to voting laws in Ohio (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Ohio’s elections chief is disappointed by a federal judge’s ruling that the state’s law trimming early voting is unconstitutional.

At issue in the case is a series of Republican-backed voting changes that included the elimination of a week of early voting. During the so-called golden week, Ohioans could register to vote and cast a ballot.

The state’s Democratic Party was among the plaintiffs who sued Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO’-sted) over the changes.

Democrats claimed the early-voting cut disproportionately burdened black voters.

On Tuesday, a federal judge sided with Democrats on that claim but ruled in the state’s favour on other challenged policies in the case.

Husted says he will consult with legislative leaders before deciding how to proceed.

Democrats called the ruling a win for voters.

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2 p.m.

A federal judge has ruled that a law trimming early voting in swing-state Ohio is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.

The state’s Democratic Party was among the plaintiffs who sued Ohio’s elections chief over a series of Republican-backed voting changes.

Such policies included the elimination of a week of early voting in which Ohioans could also register to vote — a period known as golden week. Democrats claimed the change disproportionately burdened black voters.

U.S. District Judge Michael Watson sided with Democrats on that claim. He ruled Tuesday that the early voting cut violates the Voting Rights Act and voters’ equal protection rights. But he sided with the state on other challenged policies in the case.

The state argued the changes were minor and Ohioans had many opportunities to vote.