COLUMBUS – 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.
“Our elections system needs more stability and less chaos. This last minute legislating from the bench on election law has to stop,” Husted said in a statement Eck released.
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.
Husted claimed the 17-year-olds can only nominate candidates, and not “elect” delegates to a presidential nominating convention.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign is praising the ruling. Brad Deutsch with Sanders’ campaign called the ruling “a huge victory for 17-year-olds across Ohio.”
The ruling might also provide a boost for the Sanders campaign. Younger voters are among his key supporters.