There is no Ohio Primary today as the Ohio Supreme Court denied a legal challenge to the State delaying the primary.
Only four justices participated in the ruling which was issued without an opinion.
A candidate in Wood County, Ohio filed the action alleging the delay of the primary violated election laws.
The ruling capped a stressful 12 hours in which the election was off, back on, and then off again.
Late Monday night, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton ordered Tuesday’s polls closed as a health emergency.
The order stated:
“To avoid the imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to COVID-19 with a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of the people in the general population, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and chronic medical conditions.
“To conduct an election at this time would force poll workers and voters to face an unacceptable risk of contracting COVID-19.”
During a press conference Monday afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Secretary of State Frank LaRose said they didn’t have the legal authority to delay or call off an election. Thus they sought a court order, through a part of private plaintiffs who sued the state.
Whether those powers extended to shutting down an election will be further tested in court.
