A federal judge has upheld Ohio’s stringent voter ID law, including its photo provision, dismissing a challenge brought by a Democratic law firm that targeted various provisions, such as photo ID requirements and ballot deadlines.
U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent, appointed by President Clinton, deemed the photo ID requirement to impose minimal, if any, burden on voters, rejecting claims of discrimination raised by the Elias Law Group on behalf of various groups.
Despite objections from Democrats and advocacy groups, Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed the legislation into law, supported by Nugent’s ruling.
Nugent also addressed concerns over mail-in and early voting options, highlighting Ohio’s revised absentee ballot timetable as more accommodating compared to many other states.
He dismissed arguments regarding the restriction of ballot drop boxes, emphasizing that the single-drop box provision was enacted after considerable debate within the GOP-controlled legislature. Despite previous criticisms from Democrats and voting rights organizations, Nugent found no evidence to suggest undue burdens on Ohio voters regarding drop-box rules.
Additionally, a recent poll reveals a significant shift in support favoring former President Donald Trump over President Joe Biden and other potential Democratic contenders for the 2024 presidential election.
According to an Emerson College survey, Trump leads in hypothetical matchups against Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. With 45 percent of respondents supporting Trump in a race against Biden, the poll suggests a narrowing margin between the two candidates, indicating growing anticipation among voters for Trump’s potential return to office.