DeWine to appeal Economus ruling

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced he will appeal the ruling for a preliminary injunction issued today by United States District Judge Peter Economus in Obama for America v. Husted.

"With all due respect to the Judge, we disagree with his ruling today," said Attorney General DeWine.

"We have always allowed distinction for military voters, and to say this violates equal protection is wrong.

"My job as the Attorney General is to defend the laws of the State of Ohio and defend the right of Ohio to set its own law based on the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions. We believe states should have the right to set the hours of election and the time of election.

"There is already ample opportunity for everyone to vote. Voters in Ohio will be able to vote absentee beginning 35 days in advance of the election, and, for the first time, the Ohio Secretary of State is mailing out absentee ballot applications to every registered voter in Ohio.

"Further, under Secretary Husted's previous directive, voters would have been able to vote in person at their Board of Elections beginning Oct. 2 through the Friday before Election Day."

The appeal is expected to be filed Tuesday.