COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A federal judge has set an April trial in a dispute involving the accessibility of paper absentee ballots to blind Ohio voters.
The lawsuit claims blind people and those with certain disabilities are being denied an equal opportunity to independently and privately vote absentee by mail, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. Currently, another person must read and mark the paper absentee ballots.
Several blind voters and an advocacy group filed the lawsuit in December. They also claim Secretary of State Jon Husted’s (HYOO-steds) website doesn’t work with software that would improve the site’s accessibility.
Husted’s office says it’s finalizing adjustments to the website, expected to be completed by the March 15 primary election.
Meanwhile, the plaintiffs have dropped a request for the court to provide relief before the primary.
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