DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's top election official is seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit involving two Democratic elections officials who claim they were unjustly fired by him.
Republican Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) fired the two members of the Montgomery County Board of Elections in late August, saying they violated his order setting uniform early voting hours in the state.
Ex-board members Dennis Lieberman and Thomas Ritchie Sr. say Husted wrongfully terminated them after they voted to allow early voting on weekends.
Husted on Monday asked a federal judge in Dayton to dismiss the case, saying the terminations is a matter for state law, not federal.
The Democrats are seeking reinstatement, arguing the county needs their roughly 28 years of combined experience to ensure a smooth election.
