Charles Langston|Ohio Attorney General given until Monday to explain rejection of voting rights amendment to court

2025-05-05 05:45:34source:Charles Hanovercategory:Finance

COLUMBUS,Charles Langston Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s high court has given Republican Attorney General Dave Yost until Monday to respond to the legal claims of a coalition of civil rights organizations that is challenging his rejection of a package of voter protections they are working to place on November’s ballot.

The Ohio Supreme Court set the deadline Friday.

At issue is a Jan. 25 finding by Yost that the proposed constitutional amendment’s title — “Ohio Voters Bill of Rights” — was “highly misleading and misrepresentative” of the measure’s contents. He issued the decision even while acknowledging that his office had previously certified identical language. It certified a Nursing Facility Patients’ Bill of Rights in 2021 and another Ohio Voters Bill of Rights in 2014.

It was his second time declining to certify the group’s petition summary.

READ MORE A year on, a small Ohio town is recovering from a fiery train derailment but health fears persistNew videos show towers of fire that prompted evacuations after last year’s fiery Ohio derailmentFormer Ohio Senate President Stanley Aronoff dies at 91

The coalition behind the amendment — which includes the NAACP’s Ohio chapter, A. Philip Randolph Institute and Ohio Organizing Collaborative — filed suit Thursday.

Their complaint asks justices to direct Yost to certify their petition and send it along to the state Ballot Board, on the grounds that he had no reviewing authority over its title, let alone the power to reject it based on that.

In his rejection letter, Yost cited “recent authority from the Ohio Supreme Court” giving him the ability to review petition headings, as well as text summaries. He pointed to the high court’s decision in a legal dispute last year over the title that appeared on petitions for a local drag ban.

The push for election law changes follows Ohio’s enactment last year of a host of election law changes, including tougher photo ID requirements and shortened windows after Election Day for returning and curing ballots.

The Ohio Voters Bill of Rights would enshrine in the state constitution the right for all Ohioans to vote safely and securely and require automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration and expanded early voting options and locations.

More:Finance

Recommend

As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest

CONECUH COUNTY, Ala.—At the confluence of the Yellow River and Pond Creek in Alabama’s Conecuh Natio

These top stocks could Join Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia in the $3 Trillion Club

The U.S. Senate is sometimes called "the most exclusive club." However, I can think of a club that's

Maren Morris Reacts to Her NSFW Wardrobe Malfunction With Help From Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion

When the bones are good, a wardrobe malfunction doesn't matter—just ask Maren Morris.The country sin