{"id":2144663,"date":"2024-01-09T17:10:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T22:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-throws-out-challenge-to-ohios-voter-id-law-no-evidence-it-burdens-voters\/"},"modified":"2024-01-09T17:13:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T22:13:55","slug":"court-throws-out-challenge-to-ohios-voter-id-law-no-evidence-it-burdens-voters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-throws-out-challenge-to-ohios-voter-id-law-no-evidence-it-burdens-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio&#8217;s Voter ID Law challenge dismissed by court due to lack of evidence of voter burden"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcourt-throws-out-challenge-to-ohios-voter-id-law-no-evidence-it-burdens-voters%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2144663&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Ohio\u2019s 2023 \u200celection integrity law requiring\u200b residents to present a form of ID \u200bwhen casting their ballots \u2063is constitutional, a federal court ruled on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Writing for the U.S. District\u2064 Court for the Northern District of \u2064Ohio, Judge Donald Nugent, a Clinton appointee, <a href=\"https:\/\/riteusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/NEOCH-v.-LaRose-Summ-J-Opinion-Order.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruled<\/a> that\u200c Democrat-backed groups provided no evidence to justify\u2062 their claims that \u200bHB 458 \u200bplaces\u2064 an undue \u201cburden\u201d on Ohioans and their ability to vote. Specifically, plaintiffs \u2064\u2014 a coalition of\u200c left-leaning\u200d groups like the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio Alliance \u200cfor Retired \u2062Americans, the Union Veterans Council, and\u2063 a\u2063 group called Civic Influencers \u2014 alleged that the \u200dlaw would \u2064\u201cseverely restrict Ohioans\u2019 access to the polls \u2013 particularly those voters who \u200care\u200b young, elderly, and black, as \u200dwell as those serving in the \u200bmilitary and others living abroad.\u201d \u2063Plaintiffs\u2019 suit was filed \u200bby a\u2062 Democrat lawfare group founded by <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/marc-elias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marc Elias<\/a>, a \u2062Democrat operative \u200bwho\u00a0helped <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/01\/14\/federal-court-wont-back-down-after-sanctioning-russia-hoax-lawyer-marc-elias-for-deceiving-judges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spearhead<\/a> the debunked \u2062Trump-Russia collusion hoax.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[T]he Court finds that the challenged provisions of HB 458 are constitutional \u2064under the First and Fourteenth\u200c Amendments,\u201d Nugent wrote, granting a summary judgment to Ohio Secretary of State\u200c Frank LaRose, who was named as\u200c a\u2062 defendant in the \u200bcase,\u2062 with the Ohio Republican\u200c Party listed \u2063as an intervenor-defendant. Defendants\u200c were backed by Restoring Integrity \u200band Trust in Elections (RITE), an election\u200c integrity legal group.<\/p>\n<p>Signed into\u200d law\u2063 last \u2062year by Gov. Mike \u2062DeWine, HB 458\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/01\/09\/ohio-republicans-score-major-win-for-election-integrity-with-new-voter-id-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">requires<\/a> Ohioans to provide a valid \u201cOhio driver\u2019s license, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-house-passes-omnibus-election-reform-bill\/\" title=\"Georgia House Passes Omnibus Election Reform Bill\">state identification card<\/a>, or interim\u2062 identification form\u2063 issued by the \u200dregistrar of motor vehicles or a \u2063deputy registrar,\u201d a\u2062 U.S.\u200d military ID card, or \u200da U.S. passport or\u200c passport card, \u2063in\u2063 order to vote. The law also included provisions making the\u200d deadlines for requesting and\u2062 returning absentee ballot earlier,\u200c eliminating the ability to vote in-person the \u2062Monday before Election Day, limiting the\u2062 number \u2062of ballot drop boxes to\u200b one per county, \u200band \u2064shortening the time period after Election Day in which a voter may \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Cure_period_for_absentee_and_mail-in_ballots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cure<\/a>\u201d their ballot.<\/p>\n<p>In his Monday ruling, Nugent noted how \u2062the Elias Law Group was unable to provide evidence showing that\u2062 the \u200caforementioned provisions would \u201cburden\u201d an Ohioan\u2019s ability vote in person or by mail\u2064 and\u2063 detailed \u200chow \u201cthe changes brought about by\u200d HB 458 make rather minor changes to Ohio\u2019s \u2062voting laws, none of which meaningfully impacts anyone\u2019s ability to vote under Ohio\u2019s generous voting laws.\u201d Meanwhile, LaRose \u201cprovided\u2064 ample\u200b evidence that the changes to \u200bOhio\u2019s voting laws were enacted to help ensure and promote \u2063the smooth, prompt administration of elections, election \u200csecurity, \u200dand public confidence in elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOhio\u2062 is an example\u2063 of why \u2064it is crucial to confront activists\u2019 relentless efforts \u2063to undermine voting in America,\u201d RITE\u200b President Derek Lyons said \u200cin\u200b a <a href=\"https:\/\/riteusa.org\/court-backs-photo-id-drop-box-security-in-ohio-rejects-activists-arguments-of-voter-harm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. \u201cRITE is very proud to have helped defend Ohio\u2019s important\u200c and commonsense election\u200c law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/politics\/federal-judge-tosses-lawsuit-challenging-ohio-s-voter-id-law\/ar-AA1mEzUr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nc-lt-gov-mark-robinson-slams-liberal-media-outlet-for-cartoon-depicting-republicans-as-kkk-members-video\/\" title=\"NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Slams Liberal Media Outlet For Cartoon Depicting Republicans As KKK Members (VIDEO)\">local news outlet<\/a><\/a>, it remains unclear whether plaintiffs will appeal the decision.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Shawn Fleetwood\u2064 is a staff writer\u2064 for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-american-freedom-convoy-set-to-launch-on-march-1\/\" title=\"Exclusive: \u2018American Freedom Convoy\u2019 Set To Launch On March 1\">state content writer<\/a>\u200c for\u2063 Convention of States\u2062 Action and his \u200cwork has \u2064been featured \u200din numerous outlets, \u200dincluding RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-image data-amount=\"5\">\n<h2>Popular<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How do proponents of voter ID measures \u200dargue that \u200crequiring voters to \u2062present identification\u200d helps prevent voter fraud and ensures the integrity of elections?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Mentioned groups\u200c would face undue burden in accessing\u2062 the polls due\u2063 to the voter ID law. \u200dHe\u200b stated, &#8220;Plaintiffs\u2019 evidence falls \u200cwell short of establishing \u2062that any identified group of potential\u200d Ohio voters is\u200d unable or substantially\u2064 disadvantaged by obtaining the requisite identification under HB 458.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The court&#8217;s ruling in favor of Ohio&#8217;s election integrity \u200dlaw comes as a victory for supporters of voter ID measures. Proponents argue \u2062that requiring \u2062voters to present \u200didentification\u200c helps prevent voter fraud and ensures \u2064the integrity of elections. \u2064Critics, on the other \u200dhand, contend that\u200d such laws disproportionately affect marginalized and minority communities, making it\u200d harder for them to exercise their right to vote.<\/p>\n<p>In response to \u200cthe court&#8217;s ruling, Secretary \u2063of State Frank LaRose praised the decision and emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity. He stated, &#8220;Ohio\u2019s voter ID law is\u200d straightforward, constitutional, and \u2064protects\u200b the integrity of our elections.&#8221; LaRose also expressed confidence in the\u2064 ability of Ohioans to comply with\u2062 the law, stating, \u200b&#8221;Our citizens are capable and\u2064 we\u2063 have \u2064every\u200d confidence that they&#8217;re going to be able to fulfill this requirement.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, opponents of the law expressed disappointment in the court&#8217;s decision. They argue that voter ID laws\u200c disproportionately impact certain\u2064 groups, particularly young, elderly, and minority voters. \u200dCritics also\u2064 believe that the additional provisions in the law, such\u200c as earlier deadlines\u2063 for \u200babsentee ballots and \u2064limitations on ballot \u200cdrop boxes, further \u2062restrict access to the ballot for vulnerable \u2062populations.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling in Ohio may have \u2064broader implications for the ongoing debate over voter ID laws across the United States. As multiple\u2064 states consider or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-s-aims-to-hobble-chinas-chip-industry-with-sweeping-new-export-rules\/\" title=\"U.S. aims to hobble China\u2019s chip industry with sweeping new export rules\">implement similar measures<\/a>, courts&#8217;\u2063 decisions on the \u200bconstitutionality\u200c of these \u2063laws will play a crucial role in \u200dshaping the \u200dfuture of election \u200cpractices.<\/p>\n<p>While the court&#8217;s decision \u2064is a significant \u2063win for supporters of the voter ID law in Ohio, \u2062the issue of\u2062 election integrity remains contentious. The debate between ensuring fair elections and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-blocks-law-taking-election-board-appointment-power-away-from-north-carolina-governor\/\" title=\"Court stops law stripping North Carolina governor of election board appointment power\">protecting individual voting rights<\/a>\u200d is likely to continue. It is essential for policymakers, advocates, and citizens alike to engage in constructive dialogue to address concerns \u200babout voter access while upholding\u2063 the principles\u200b of democracy and secure elections. Only\u200b through thoughtful and \u2062inclusive discussions can we strive towards a system \u200cthat both protects the integrity of our elections and ensures every eligible citizen can participate in the democratic process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ohio\u2019s 2023 election integrity law, mandating ID presentation during voting, was deemed constitutional by a federal court. Judge Donald Nugent, appointed by Clinton, stated that Democrat-supported organizations failed to substantiate their allegations against the law<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2144664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2144663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2144663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2144664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2144663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2144663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2144663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}