COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fifteen states have announced their support for Ohio's elections chief in a dispute over early voting in the presidential battleground being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) has appealed a lower court ruling that reinstates early voting on the three days before Election Day and returns discretion to local boards of elections. The Republican also has asked the Supreme Court to delay the lower court's decision while it decides whether to take the case.

Attorneys general for 15 states asked the Supreme Court Friday to side with Husted. The states are Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

President Barack Obama's campaign, which sued Husted, asked the Supreme Court on Friday to deny Ohio's appeal of the lower court's ruling.