On Friday, two Montgomery County, Ohio election board officials bucked Secretary of State Jon Husted’s statewide directive to ban early voting on the weekends before Election Day. Today, their decision and their jobs are on the line.
The Columbus Dispatch has more on the story:
“On Friday, the Montgomery County board met and members Dennis Lieberman and Tom Ritchie Sr. voted to continue weekend voting hours, as the board had already approved in December. The two Republican board members voted against the motion, so it tied.
Husted, who is responsible for breaking tie votes, ordered the board to return to session and rescind the motion, but the Democrats refused. That prompted Husted to begin the process to remove Lieberman and Ritchie from the board.”
This morning, about 100 people showed up at Husted’s office in support of Lieberman and Ritchie.
“I feel I have done the right thing for the voters of Montgomery County,” Ritchie said at the rally.
According to a Dayton Daily News report, “Lieberman said he believes Husted’s directive violates civil rights and voting rights laws because it denies access. He defended his vote to keep weekend hours saying he takes an oath to the board rules and the constitution”