Ohio's early voting rules disputed

Associated Press

By ANN SANNER Associated Press

Updated: Aug 15, 2012 1:50 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge hearing arguments over Ohio's early voting rules says he'll take some time before making a decision in the case brought by President Barack Obama's campaign and Democrats.

The judge in Columbus heard from attorneys for the campaign and for Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted in a Wednesday hearing but didn't set a date for his ruling.

The case focuses on the legality of an Ohio law cutting three days out of the early-voting period for everyone except members of the armed forces and Ohio citizens living overseas.

Looser rules for early voting are seen by both political parties as an advantage for Obama because they may encourage minorities, young people and other harder-to-reach voters to cast a ballot. Military votes are thought to lean Republican.

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