The Indiana Republican Party just lost what looks like its last chance to shut down early voting centers in three heavily Democratic cities in Lake County.
A state appeals court judge has ruled, as expected, that the centers can stay open — backing an earlier ruling by a county court.
County Republicans had sued to shut down the centers, arguing that a unanimous vote – rather than a simple majority — of the county election board was required to open them.
The centers at issue are located in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and Hammond, all of which are heavily Democratic, and crucial to Barack Obama’s hopes of victory in the state.
Early voting has been proceeding at the centers for the last few weeks.