Reply #7: OH: Judge Throws Out New Voter Registration Rules [View All]

[livvy]

Judge throws out new voter registration rules
BY M.R. KROPKO | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND - A federal judge threw out new state rules governing voter registration drives on Friday, saying they appear to violate the First Amendment and are hurting efforts to sign up new voters.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen O'Malley issued an order from the bench immediately halting the enforcement of the registration rules. She said she planned to issue a detailed written order sometime next week.

A coalition of voter advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers sued the state, asking O'Malley to throw out the regulations, which they claimed would hurt their registration drives because the rules carry potential criminal penalties.

The groups say the regulations are harsh and confusing.

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060902/NEWS01/609020380/1056