Judge Blocks Ohio Election Law that Purged Thousands from Voter Rolls

Introduction

In a significant legal victory for voting rights advocates, a federal judge has blocked an Ohio election law that would have purged thousands of people from voter rolls if they did not respond to a notice with proof of residency. The law, known as Senate Bill 238, was challenged by several voting rights groups who argued that it would disproportionately impact minority voters and other groups who experience barriers to voting.

Background on Senate Bill 238

Senate Bill 238 was passed by the Ohio legislature in 2021 and signed into law by Republican Governor Mike DeWine. The law required voters to respond to a notice from the county board of elections with proof of residency within 30 days, or they would be placed on an "inactive" voter list. After an additional two years of non-voting, they would be removed from the voter rolls entirely.

Critics of the law argued that it placed an undue burden on voters, particularly minority voters who are more likely to move frequently and may not have access to the required documentation. They also argued that the law was redundant, since Ohio already has a process for removing ineligible voters from the rolls.

Judge's Ruling

On September 29, 2022, Judge Timothy Black of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio issued a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of Senate Bill 238. Judge Black ruled that the law was likely to violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which prohibits states from implementing voting laws that have a "discriminatory effect" on minority voters.

Judge Black wrote in his ruling that "the record evidence in this case demonstrates that Senate Bill 238 is likely to have a discriminatory effect on minority voters in Ohio. ... The evidence shows that minority voters are more likely to move frequently and thus are more likely to be targeted by the notice and removal process."

Impact of the Ruling

The ruling by Judge Black is a major victory for voting rights advocates. It prevents Ohio from implementing a law that would have likely suppressed the vote of minority voters and other groups who experience barriers to voting.

The ruling is also a reminder of the importance of the NVRA, which has been used to block numerous discriminatory voting laws in recent years. The NVRA was passed in 1993 in response to a wave of voter suppression laws that were enacted in the aftermath of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Conclusion

The ruling by Judge Black is a significant step forward in the fight for voting rights in Ohio. It prevents the implementation of a discriminatory law that would have made it more difficult for thousands of people to vote.

However, the battle for voting rights in Ohio is not over. There are still a number of other laws on the books that make it difficult for people to vote, including a strict voter ID law and a ban on voter registration drives at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Voting rights advocates will continue to fight to ensure that every eligible voter in Ohio has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

Effective Strategies for Preventing Voter Purges

In addition to legal challenges, there are a number of effective strategies that can be used to prevent voter purges. These strategies include:

• Educating voters about their rights: Many voters are not aware of their rights under the NVRA. Educating voters about these rights can help them to protect themselves from being purged from the voter rolls.
• Challenging voter purges: If you receive a notice from your county board of elections indicating that you have been placed on the inactive voter list, you have the right to challenge the decision. You can do this by providing the board with proof of residency or by filing a complaint with the Department of Justice.
• Supporting organizations that fight voter suppression: There are a number of organizations that are working to fight voter suppression, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Brennan Center for Justice. You can support these organizations by donating your time or money.

Pros and Cons of Voter Purges

Pros:

• Can help to prevent voter fraud: Voter purges can help to prevent voter fraud by removing ineligible voters from the rolls. This can help to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
• Can save money: Voter purges can save money by reducing the number of people on the voter rolls. This can lead to lower costs for elections.

Cons:

• Can suppress the vote: Voter purges can suppress the vote by removing eligible voters from the rolls. This can disproportionately impact minority voters and other groups who experience barriers to voting.
• Can be inaccurate: Voter purges can be inaccurate, leading to the removal of eligible voters from the rolls. This can undermine the integrity of the electoral process.

FAQs

1. What is a voter purge?

A voter purge is a process by which a state removes ineligible voters from the voter rolls.

2. What are the different types of voter purges?

There are two main types of voter purges:

• Passive purges: Passive purges use data from other sources, such as the Social Security Administration, to identify and remove ineligible voters from the rolls.
• Active purges: Active purges require voters to respond to a notice from the county board of elections with proof of residency. If they do not respond, they are removed from the voter rolls.

3. What are the concerns about voter purges?

Critics of voter purges argue that they can suppress the vote by removing eligible voters from the rolls. They also argue that voter purges can be inaccurate, leading to the removal of eligible voters from the rolls.

4. What can I do to protect myself from being purged from the voter rolls?

You can protect yourself from being purged from the voter rolls by:

• Making sure that your voter registration is up to date: You can check your voter registration status online or by contacting your county board of elections.
• Responding to any notices you receive from your county board of elections: If you receive a notice that you have been placed on the inactive voter list, you have the right to challenge the decision.
• Supporting organizations that fight voter suppression: You can support organizations that fight voter suppression by donating your time or money.

Call to Action

Every eligible voter deserves the right to participate in the electoral process. We must all work together to ensure that voter purges do not suppress the vote and undermine our democracy.

Here are some things you can do to help:

• Educate yourself about voting rights: Learn about your rights under the NVRA and how to protect yourself from being purged from the voter rolls.
• Share your knowledge with others: Talk to your friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of voting and how to protect their rights.
• Get involved in your community: Volunteer with a local organization that is working to fight voter suppression.
• Support organizations that fight voter suppression: Donate your time or money to organizations that are working to fight voter suppression.

Together, we can ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

Tables

Table 1: Voter Purges in Ohio

Table 2: Impact of Voter Purges on Minority Voters

Table 3: Pros and Cons of Voter Purges