Despite the local Board of Elecitons’ President in Fayette County ordering poll workers to stay home tomorrow, the election is back on.
It is a convoluted mess that stemmed from a Monday afternoon legal battle in Franklin County.
The afternoon started with Governor Mike DeWine saying that he recommended Election Day be moved to June 2 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, DeWine said it would take a judicial ruling to make the move.
A civil filing was made in Franklin County asking for the change Monday afternoon, but at around 7 p.m., a Judge denied the request saying he did not feel comfortable granting the request.
But that did not stop the Board of Elections in Fayette County from calling poll workers at around 7:15 p.m. and telling them not to report to work Tuesday morning.
The Guardian spoke with Board President Robyn Beekman at around 7:25 p.m., who said that the order was given to poll workers after she received a directive from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to tell them to stay home. The Secretary of State’s office did not return calls or messages to the Guardian Monday evening seeking comment.
By 8:55 p.m., Beekman was placing a second round of calls to all poll workers telling them that her previous call was being rescinded and that they should report to work tomorrow. It is not clear to the Guardian why Beekman changed course.
The Guardian has calls into Governor Mike DeWine’s office, as well as numerous messages with LaRose’s office seeking clarification on exactly what happened in Fayette County.