CINCINNATI (AP) — Two fired Ohio Democratic county elections officials have sued the Republican secretary of state in federal court — the latest development in the battleground state's dispute over extended voting hours.
The former Montgomery County Elections Board members filed the lawsuit Monday in Dayton. They charge Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) unjustly fired them after they voted to continue to allow early voting on weekends.
Husted had directed Ohio's county election boards to have the same early in-person voting hours on weekdays and no weekend hours.
Dennis Lieberman and Tom Ritchie Sr. say Husted violated their constitutional right to free speech. They want a judge to order their immediate reinstatement.
A Husted spokesman says the men may say what they want but aren't allowed to break election law.
