Ohio’s “Golden Week,” the six-day period before an election when an individual could both register and vote early on the same day, was eliminated by the Ohio General Assembly in Senate Bill 238 but then promptly challenged in the federal courts. Last week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the legislation, reversing a lower court ruling. As a result, “Golden Week” is no more. Ohioans must first register to vote at least 30 days before an election. Properly registered voters can then take advantage of 29 days of early voting, including no-fault absentee voting, before an election.
In reaching its opinion, the Appellate Court took note of Ohio’s liberal voting laws, especially when compared to a number of states (like neighboring Kentucky and Michigan) that provide zero in-person early voting days. As the court observed in its ruling: “Ohio is a national leader when it comes to early voting opportunities.” The opinion clarifies that states like Ohio should have the discretion to provide more liberal voting laws without fear that federal courts will prohibit them from later tightening those laws in response to changing circumstances.
