On August 24, the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed the case State ex rel Quinn v Lorain County Board of Elections, 2011-1124. The case had been filed by an independent candidate for Mayor of Elyria, a city which uses partisan elections. The candidate, Tim Quinn, was kept off the general election ballot because he had voted in the primary. The election law does not say that independent candidates must not have voted in the primary. Sometimes Ohio election officials keep independent candidates off the ballot because they voted in the primary, and sometimes they don’t. It is very disappointing that the Supreme Court dismissed this case without even writing an opinion. See this story.
First the Secretary of State throws out ballot access for qualified third parties illegally. Then, the Supreme Court throws out an independent’s case without even giving an opinion. Looks like Ohio is really hating on third parties and independent candidates… >:-( Perhaps John Kasich has got something to do with it all (to ensure that he can stay in power and not have a third party challenger come elections)?