(TruthAndLiberty.com) – On Monday, a federal judge struck down portions of Ohio’s election law changes made in 2023.
Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan ruled on Monday that the state’s 2023 law no longer be enforced, stating federal election law supersedes Ohio’s law.
In her ruling, Brennan pointed to Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, noting it enables a disabled voter “to select a person of their choice to assist them with voting,” which includes returning their ballot.
The Ohio law had been challenged by the grassroots voter organization, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, arguing many of the state’s disabled voters could not travel to their polling place or access their mailbox or drop box and didn’t have relatives on the approved list residing close by to assist them.
The state authorized the voter’s spouse, children — including adopted children — parents, in-law parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces to assist. However, it didn’t include other possible helpers disabled voters might have relied on, like professional caregivers, grandchildren, or roommates.
The law, which went into effect in April 2023, prohibited anyone but a few qualifying family members from assisting disabled voters to mail or deliver their absentee ballots. The law also prohibited anyone except election officials, mail carriers, and the specified families from possessing or returning the disabled person’s absentee ballot.
In a statement, the League of Women Voters of Ohio wrote the law, “HB 458 prohibited… voters with disabilities from turning to other trusted people in their lives.”
However, proponents of the law argue the provisions were implemented to guarantee election integrity and increase voter confidence.
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