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Judge: 17-Year-Olds Can Vote in Ohio Presidential Primary
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
Update 6:50 p.m.
Ohio’s elections chief says he won’t appeal a judge’s ruling that allows 17-year-olds to vote in the swing state’s presidential primary.
The move from Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted comes after a state appeals court had set a Monday hearing in the case ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Husted spokesman Josh Eck tells The Associated Press that does not leave enough time for officials to properly administer the election for the 17-year-old voters. He says, for the sake of good elections, the secretary of state won’t appeal the ruling.
Ohio lets 17-year-olds who will be 18 before the fall election vote in Tuesday’s primary, with some limits.
Whether the teens can vote in the presidential primary race had been under dispute and the focus of a lawsuit by nine teen voters.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – An Ohio judge has granted a request to let 17-year-olds vote in the swing state’s presidential primary.
Ohio allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 before the fall election to vote in Tuesday’s primary, with some limits. For instance, they can’t vote on ballot issues, but can decide on congressional, legislative and mayoral contenders.
Whether the teens can vote in the presidential primary race had been under dispute.
The state’s Republican elections chief had said Ohio rules don’t permit it. He says the 17-year-olds can only nominate candidates, and not “elect” delegates to a presidential nominating convention.
Nine teen voters had sued over Secretary of State Jon Husted’s interpretation.
On Friday, a Franklin County judge granted the teens’ request to block Husted’s instructions that forbid the 17-year-olds from voting in the presidential primary.