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Judge: 17-Year-Olds Can Vote In Ohio Presidential Primary

An Ohio judge has granted a request to let 17-year-olds vote in the state's presidential primary. 
Ohio allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 before the fall election to vote in a primary, but with some limits. 

For instance, they can't vote on ballot issues, but may decide on congressional, legislative and mayoral contenders. Whether the teens can vote in the presidential primary race had been under dispute.  The state's Republican elections chief had said Ohio rules do not allow it. He says the 17-year-olds can only nominate candidates --- not "elect" delegates to a presidential nominating convention. Nine teen voters had sued over Secretary of State Jon Husted's interpretation. Shortly after a judge temporarily halted a similar federal lawsuit, a Franklin County judge granted the teens' request to block Husted's instructions. Husted says a county court shouldn't have the power to change election law so close to a primary. Husted initially said he would appeal the ruling, then said for the sake of good elections, he wouldn't.

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.