Jessie Balmert

jbalmert@enquirer.com

COLUMBUS - Ohio doesn't need an extra "golden week" of early voting, a split panel of judges decided Tuesday – in a blow for Democrats who say the week helps African Americans vote during a presidential year.

Voter registration ends Oct. 11. Under the "golden week" provision, people could register to vote and cast an early, in-person ballot at the same time, for the last week of that registration period.

A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Ohio's Republican lawmakers didn't violate any constitutional rights by axing that extra week of in-person voting. Even without the week,Ohio already allows early, in-person voting for 29 days before the election, a number that the court called "quite generous."

"The undisputed factual record shows that it’s easy to vote in Ohio. Very easy, actually," according to the decision, which overturned federal Judge Michael Watson's May ruling to keep the extra week in place.

About 80,000 people voted during that week in 2012 before Republican lawmakers eliminated the week in 2014. Watson, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, argued that eliminating the week violated the Voting Rights Act by disproportionately affecting black voters.

"Eliminating ‘golden week’ in Ohio will negatively impact low-income and minority voters," said Rep. Alicia Reece, D-Roselawn, who is president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus. "The ability for Ohioans from all walks of life to exercise their most fundamental freedom should not hinge upon whomever happens to hold the secretary of state’s office during any given election cycle."

Some African-Americans prefer voting in-person on Sundays or voting after work. But the appeals court judges argued that doesn't mean it's a burden to them to eliminate an extra week of voting.

“Ohio offers a generous number of days, hours and ways to vote – making us one of the easiest states in which to cast a ballot," Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said in a statement. “I hope the Democrats will end their wasteful lawsuits so we can all move forward with this election.”

Ohio is ground zero for several election lawsuits this year because of its importance as a swing state.

Democrats could appeal the decision to the full 6th Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court, but they are still weighing their options. Absent an appeal, voting would start Oct. 12.

"Given the current time frame, we need to decide very quickly," Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper said.

Both judges who supported eliminating the week, David W. McKeague and Richard Griffin, were appointed by President George W. Bush. The judge who dissented, Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, was appointed by President Barack Obama.