The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an 11th-hour move by the
Democratic Party in Ohio seeking to prevent Donald Trump supporters from
carrying out certain actions that could be considered voter
intimidation.
The legal battle, followed across the country because of its
potential implications, had stemmed from Trump’s assertions on the
campaign trail — without providing evidence — that the election was
likely to be “rigged” and that his supporters should watch polling sites
on Tuesday.
Fearing this call would lead to Trump supporters intimidating voters,
particularly minorities who are more likely to support Democrat Hillary
Clinton, the Ohio Democratic Party filed a lawsuit and initially won
their case in federal court on Friday.
US District Judge James Gwin had issued a ruling barring activities
including following, questioning or photographing voters or their
vehicles.
The Trump campaign appealed and won, with the Sixth Circuit US Court
of Appeals in Cincinnati on Sunday suspending Gwin’s order, saying the
Ohio Democratic Party had not sufficiently substantiated their
arguments.
On Monday, the shorthanded Supreme Court — with eight justices
instead of the usual nine as Republicans have blocked President Barack
Obama’s nominee to replace the late conservative justice Antonin Scalia —
sided with the appeals court.
In keeping with protocol, the high court is reluctant to intervene just before a national election.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in a statement that
she voted to deny the Democratic party’s case because Ohio already has
laws in place to stymie voter intimidation.
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