Ohio governor, judge at odds on eve of primary

The coronavirus pandemic disrupted the 2020 presidential election as the Ohio governor announced late Monday that polls would not open “as a health emergency” despite a state judge’s ruling that the election must go on.

“During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a tweet. He also promised to push for a remedy through the courts “to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity.”

The announcement was sure to create more uncertainty as voters, poll workers and county election officials received yet another reversal regarding the fate of Tuesday’s presidential primary, with voting set to begin at 6:30 a.m.

Earlier Monday, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye rejected a temporary restraining order supported by DeWine to seek the delay, saying in a hearing late Monday that rescheduling the election would “set a terrible precedent.”

“There are too many factors to balance in this uncharted territory,” Frye said at a court hearing Monday evening.

It was unclear how quickly the status of the lawsuit would be resolved.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Diane Menashe, said via text that they will appeal Frye’s decision in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Columbus. It remains unclear whether they will appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court if necessary – or whether the suit has been rendered moot by DeWine’s announcement.

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The announcement and subsequent judge’s decision created new uncertainty for the two main Democratic White House contenders, former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Despite Biden’s victories in recent primaries, Sanders has shown no sign that he will concede soon, and the havoc created by the pandemic could slow Biden’s newfound momentum.

In three other states with presidential primaries Tuesday, officials contended with more poll workers announcing planned no-shows, more voting location closures and worries that the public would stay home. But officials in Arizona, Florida and Illinois said their primaries would proceed Tuesday.

“We’re not going to panic,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said during a news conference Monday.

Still, election officials acknowledged that voters were worried – and that they need to take precautions for their health. “The longer we wait the more difficult and dangerous this will become,” said Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. “My message to voters is: Stay informed and make a decision that is right for you.”

As they prepared for Tuesday’s vote, local officials confronted shortages of poll workers and cleaning supplies and the need to close some polling locations, many of which were in senior living facilities.