Second Election Appeal Reaches High Court

Nov 2, 6:30 PM EST

Second Election Appeal Reaches High Court

By ANNE GEARAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans won a late victory in federal court Tuesday in the confusing fight over their ability to challenge the qualifications of voters in largely minority areas of battleground Ohio. Lawyers for a black voter immediately appealed to the Supreme Court.

A federal appeals court allowed the GOP to mount challenges at the polls to people on a list of 23,000 potentially suspect Ohio voters. The ruling reversed a lower court order that had been in effect for most of Tuesday while thousands of Ohio voters cast ballots.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not explain its reasoning.

Lawyers for a 20-year-old Cleveland woman, Ebony Malone, filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that it was too late to change the rules. The Democratic National Committee, which was also part of the case, declined to appeal, spokeswoman Jenny Backus said.

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Nov 2, 7:43 PM EST

High Court Won't Take Up Election Appeal

By ANNE GEARAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court refused to intervene in a last-minute court fight Tuesday over whether Republicans may challenge the qualifications of voters in largely minority areas of battleground Ohio.

Justice David Souter denied a request from a black voter in Cleveland, who argued that the GOP challenges were unfair to minorities. Souter said Ebony Malone's request was essentially moot because she has since successfully voted without facing a Republican challenge.

Earlier Tuesday, a federal appeals court allowed the GOP to mount challenges at the polls to people on a list of 23,000 potentially suspect Ohio voters. The ruling reversed a lower court order that had been in effect for most of Tuesday while thousands of Ohio voters cast ballots.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not explain its reasoning.

(more)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ELN_CAMPAIGN_LEGAL?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Souter? You shit-weasel!