Ohio Secretary of State Fires 2 Officials Who Sought to Extend Voting Hours

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has fired two local election officials who voted to extend early voting to weekends in Montgomery County. The two officials were suspended earlier this month for extending the voting after Husted, a Republican, announced all counties would follow uniform hours for early voting on weekdays.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has fired two local election officials who voted to extend early voting to weekends in Montgomery County. The two officials were suspended earlier this month for extending the voting after Husted, a Republican, announced all counties would follow uniform hours for early voting on weekdays. But since his order only applied during the week, the now fired officials, Thomas Ritchie and Dennis Lieberman, moved to expand voting times on the weekend. Critics have said the state's uneven hours benefit white Republicans, while disenfranchising people of color. President Obama won Montgomery County in 2008.

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