Federal Judge Rules Ohio Election Law Unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that Ohio's new election laws violate the rights of voters with disabilities, stating that only allowing certain family members to return absentee ballots is discriminatory. This ruling, which stems from a lawsuit by the League of Women Voters of Ohio, means that the law can no longer be enforced, as it contradicts the federal Voting Rights Act. Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to review a case concerning whether state legislators can be questioned about private discussions with lobbyists, highlighting ongoing legal disputes regarding legislative privileges. Additionally, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld open meetings laws by rejecting a lower court's ruling that permitted closed-door discussions by the Stark County Board of Elections regarding voting machine purchases. This decision emphasized the importance of transparency in governmental proceedings. Ohio Secretary of State Frank Larose has expressed disagreement with the election law ruling and is considering a challenge.