Ohio Supreme Court Allows Polls To Be Closed On Tuesday In Chaotic Fight

Mike DeWine (Photo by Toya Sarno Jordan/Getty Images)
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After a chaotic 24 hours, polls will be closed in Ohio for Tuesday’s primary.

Late Monday night, Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton declared coronavirus a health emergency and ordered polls closed.

And on Tuesday morning, the Ohio Supreme Court denied a legal challenge to the state’s attempt to delay the election.

The decision came after Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced on Monday night Acton’s upcoming declaration.

Shortly before DeWine’s announcement, Franklin County Judge Richard Frye had blocked the governor’s lawsuit to postpone the election. That case is still pending.

Earlier Monday, DeWine recommended that the election be moved to June 2, and absentee voting take place in the meantime, as a safety measure against COVID-19. He admitted that he did not have the power to unilaterally delay the election, and he announced his intention to file a lawsuit in Franklin County in conjunction with sick and/or old voters who argued they were unable to go to the polls on Tuesday.

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