Federal Judge Delivers a Crucial Ruling on Photo ID Requirement
A federal judge has determined that Ohio's stringent voter ID law, which includes a requirement for photo identification, is constitutional, rejecting a challenge against it.
The decision dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Democratic law firm that contested the provisions concerning photo ID, "drop box restrictions, and tightened deadlines related to absentee and provisional ballots."
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent, appointed by Clinton, concluded that the Ohio photo ID requirement, specifically, "imposes no more than a minimal burden, if any, for the vast majority of voters."
The report added: "Nugent also rejected the other claims brought by the Elias Law Group, whose lawsuit filed last year on behalf of groups representing military veterans, teachers, retirees, and the homeless, argued the law imposed 'needless and discriminatory burdens' on the right to vote. The suit was filed on the same day Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the legislation despite objections from voting rights, labor, environmental, and civil rights groups who had been urging a veto."
The judge stated that there is no constitutional right for voters to access mail-in or early voting options. Additionally, he noted that Ohio’s updated schedule for obtaining and submitting absentee ballots remains more flexible than that of 30 other states.
He highlighted that the claim suggesting that restricting ballot drop boxes to one location negatively impacted voters was incorrect, as the 2023 law marked the state's first use of such boxes.
It's noteworthy that the provision enacted by the GOP-controlled legislature to formalize the single-drop box restriction per county came after years of heated debate on the issue.
Before the 2020 election, three different courts criticized Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose for his order that established the single-box restriction, calling it unreasonable and arbitrary.
Democrats and voting rights groups had pushed for multiple drop boxes, especially in densely populated counties, to facilitate voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats filed a lawsuit in 2020, and a state appellate court eventually ruled that Secretary of State Frank LaRose had the authority to increase the number of drop boxes without additional legislative approval. However, it emphasized that he was not required to do so. The 2023 law, by formalizing the single-box restriction, resolved the matter for the first time.
Nevertheless, Nugent said opponents of the law did not make a compelling case.
A new poll presents a potential challenge for Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
A recent survey by Suffolk University/USA Today indicated that nearly one-third of voters are more inclined to support former President Donald Trump following the first presidential debate. Additionally, most respondents believe that Democrats should consider replacing President Joe Biden as their nominee.
While 51% of voters think Trump should be replaced as the Republican nominee, dissatisfaction with Biden is more evident, especially among Democrats. Over 40% of Democrats believe Biden should be replaced after his debate performance.
Trump’s support base appears stronger in comparison. Only 14% of Republicans and 12% of Trump supporters think the GOP should consider a different candidate. Moreover, the debate seemed to strengthen Trump’s position, with 31% of respondents saying his performance made them more likely to support him, the survey found.
Conversely, only 10% of all voters said Biden’s debate performance increased their likelihood of voting for him, while 9% indicated that the debate made them more likely to support a third-party candidate. Biden’s critics raised concerns about his mental sharpness, using terms such as “confused” and “incoherent” to describe his performance.
Meanwhile, Trump supporters used terms like “coherent” and “articulate” to praise him.
“The findings, taken three days after the [June 27] debate, highlight the significant challenge for the Biden campaign as it tries to recover and move past this debate amid calls for the president to withdraw,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.
The survey also found that, by a 5-to-1 margin, voters from both parties believe Trump won the debate.