COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a new trial is necessary to determine whether discussions by the Stark County Board of Elections about purchasing voting machines were conducted legally behind closed doors.
In a unanimous decision released Thursday, the court overturned lower court rulings that had allowed private executive sessions under the Ohio Open Meetings Act to discuss the purchase of public property, including voting equipment. The ruling clarifies that such closed sessions are permissible only when early disclosure of information could unfairly advantage private interests over the public.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy, writing for the court, emphasized that the state law restricts closed-door discussions to situations where premature release of information could harm the public’s competitive or bargaining position.
The case stems from 2020 and 2021 discussions by the Stark County Board of Elections regarding the purchase of Dominion Voting Systems equipment. Critics, including the nonprofit Look Ahead America and local resident Merry Lynne Rini, alleged that these closed-door meetings violated transparency requirements.
The Supreme Court’s decision mandates a retrial to apply the clarified interpretation of the law, although it does not affect the county’s prior decision to purchase Dominion equipment, which was resolved in a separate legal proceeding.
The ruling underscores ongoing scrutiny over public transparency in electoral processes, particularly regarding the sensitive issue of voting equipment procurement.
