The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari this week in a complex Ohio case challenging Ohio’s voter identification laws. Two organizations advocating on behalf of the state’s homeless population challenged Ohio Secretary of State directives regarding absentee and provisional voter identification requirements. At issue was the treatment of absentee and provisional ballots submitted by Ohioans who provided incorrect personal information about their birth dates, addresses, social security numbers or other identifying information. Homeless advocates and others argued that Ohio’s voter identification laws discriminate against illiteracy and mental illness, which are prevalent among the homeless. The protracted litigation began in 2006 and was shaped by a series of court rulings, statutory changes and revised policy directives along the way.
Most recently, the homeless rights advocates and other petitioners brought another challenge against Ohio’s 2014 revisions to its voter identification laws. However, the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio ruled, in part, that the petitioners could not bring a private lawsuit under federal law. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with that determination and the petitioners appealed. By refusing to accept the appeal this week, the U.S. Supreme Court has let Ohio’s current laws stand, siding with the State of Ohio and Secretary of State Jon Husted.
