Nation's first punch-card trial postponed until Nov. 1
The nation's first trial challenging punch-card voting was postponed Wednesday, ending the possibility of a ruling before the upcoming presidential election. The American Civil Liberties Union had wanted an Akron judge to rule Ohio's punch-card system unconstitutional even if it meant no chance of change before November. The trial opened on Monday. But U.S. District Court Judge David D. Dowd decided to postpone the it until Nov. 1 - one day before the presidential election - to allow the ACLU time to examine an expert report the state filed Friday. The ACLU claims punch-card machines are not uniform and in several counties are antiquated and don't allow voters to correct mistakes. The group also claims the state violates the voting rights of blacks, who live predominantly in punch-card counties.
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