Ohio
Ohio Supreme Court: Drop box restrictions for voters with disabilities allowed
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that voters with disabilities cannot have their designees deliver their ballots to drop boxes
A divided Ohio Supreme Court ruled that individuals can’t use drop boxes when delivering ballots for voters with disabilities. Instead, they must go inside the county board of elections and fill out a form.
The Ohio Democratic Party and two voters filed a lawsuit challenging Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s directive that required individuals delivering ballots for voters with disabilities to fill out a form at a county board of elections during business hours. This rule prevented them from using drop boxes stationed outside the county boards of elections.
LaRose’s directive came after a federal judge ruled in July that Ohio’s election law violated the rights of people with disabilities by limiting who could drop off their ballots. LaRose said the rules are needed to prevent ballot harvesting, which is when a third party collects and returns multiple ballots.
Democrats argued that LaRose’s rule made it harder for individuals with disabilities to vote by removing the drop box option. But the Ohio Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that Democrats waited too long to make their legal argument.
“As a general matter, courts should refrain from ordering changes to the rules governing elections during or close to the start of an election,” according to the majority’s opinion, joined by Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy, Justices Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine and Judge Stephen Powell, of the Twelfth District Court of Appeals.
The majority worried about confusing election officials and voters. “(W)e will not endorse a scenario in which boards of elections send voters incorrect instructions and unavoidably create voter confusion.”
Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner dissented, writing that LaRose had overreached.
“Good judgment by this court would be to tell the secretary that he has violated his constitutional duties rather than followed them,” wrote Brunner in a decision joined by Judge Pierre Bergeron of the First District Court of Appeals and Judge J. William B. Hoffman of the Fifth District Court of Appeals.
Bergeron, who was filling in, wrote that LaRose’s directive would disenfranchise some of Ohio’s most vulnerable voters. “That is a travesty beyond description,” he wrote. “The directive issued by Secretary LaRose, and the decision by the majority allowing it to persist, sends the message that marginalized citizens may be safely relegated to the sidelines in our democracy.”
More: Ohio Supreme Court election has 6 candidates running for 3 seats
Three justices running for election this year, Democrats Michael Donnelly and Melody Stewart and Republican Joe Deters, recused themselves from reviewing the case.
Read the decision here:
Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at March 30, 2025, results for each game:
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 9-9-2
Evening: 2-9-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 6-2-0-2
Evening: 8-9-7-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 4-7-9-1-8
Evening: 3-9-4-9-9
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
09-14-19-25-35
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lucky For Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.
19-20-27-36-39, Lucky Ball: 06
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
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Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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The Ohio State Buckeyes have definitely undergone some major changes on both sides of the ball this offseason, but perhaps their biggest change has been defensively.
Ohio State has lost a plethora of players to the NFL Draft, particularly along its defensive front, which spearheaded the nation’s No. 1-ranked defense in 2024.
Fortunately, the Buckeyes have a great group of young players ready to hit the field in 2025, and that includes four-star freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn.
Pettijohn was the No. 2-ranked linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class, so big things are expected of him next season, and he knows it.
In preparation for his debut campaign in Columbus, Pettijohn has already gained 12 pounds, going from 215 to 227 pounds over the last few months.
As a result, Pettijohn is becoming a more versatile threat along Ohio State’s front seven.
“I think I can do a little bit of everything,” Pettijohn told reporters. “I can cover, I can rush the passer, I can play the run, too. I think those are all my strengths. But I think my speed plays a factor.”
Pettijohn probably won’t be a starter right off the bat, as Arvell Reese is projected to begin the season at middle linebacker. But Pettijohn may see some snaps, and he is excited for the opportunity.
“It’s a responsibility, getting everybody lined up, getting the call,” Pettijohn said. “Knowing my assignment, I did it in high school, but it’s just upscaled a little more, so it’s going to take some getting used to. But I know I’m ready.”
We’ll see if the McKinney, Tx. native can make an impact in Year 1.
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MORE: Ohio State Buckeyes Suffer Brutal Transfer Portal News
Have more comments, questions? Reach out to me at bwhite1@dispatch.com. Letters are lightly edited for clarity.
On Ohio State basketball
To the editor: I have such an empty feeling. It feels like I lost someone. The best few weeks in sports. I sit on the sidelines left out of the dance. I watched Michigan yesterday, a team that won only eight games last year. Their bigs dominated. What a turnaround. BIG BUCKS bring BIG BUCKS, I hope.
Marty Osmond
To the editor: SHAME ON YOU! What a terrible title for the hard playing, very successful OSU women’s basketball team. They played their hearts out but did not win the Tennessee game. But they did amass a tremendous record of 26-7 against many great teams. With that record they were given a No. 4 seed in their bracket. And they won their first game. Give them credit. Find a better title that doesn’t suggest they were losers.
Maybe … Came up a little short … OSU women put together a great season.
Next time do a little more thinking about how readers will react to the title of an article.
Pete Kienle, Powell
To Pete: I thought the headlines on Mike Arace’s column were fair for a team that was upset at home for the second year in a row. In print, it was “Diminishing returns: OSU runs out of gas, again falls in second round in tournament.” On Dispatch.com, the headline was “Buckeyes can’t find their way from Columbus to Sweet 16.” It was a fine season by the Buckeyes, but a disappointing ending.
On Michigan
To Brian: What do Voldemort, MacBeth and Michigan have in common?
Harry Potter’s nemesis was Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard so powerful and frightening that it was dangerous to even say the name out loud. Instead, everyone referred to him as “He Who Must Not Be Named.”
In the theatre world, “Macbeth” is considered a play so powerful and strange that it is thought to be unlucky to say the name out loud and is therefore called only “The Scottish Play.”
Here in Buckeye Nation, and especially, I imagine, even more so within in the football program, Michigan is referred to as “That Team Up North (TTUN).” Is this because Michigan is a team so powerful and frightful that it is unlucky or dangerous to say the name out loud? Maybe not intentionally.
This irrational fear to name something actually has a formal name: The Voldemort Effect. (Google it!) Well, Harry’s triumph over Voldemort began with saying the name out loud, and we know that “Macbeth” is regularly performed successfully on stages worldwide, with most characters speaking the name “Macbeth” out loud. So, what about Ohio State and Michigan?
Perhaps this irrational reluctance to say the name has become a psychological stumbling block leading to unlikely losses by OSU teams that were more talented than Michigan. It certainly seems like something negative is playing with their heads.
As spring training gears up, I have a suggestion for coach Day: Get it out of your head – SAY THE NAME!
Harry Campbell, Columbus
Buy Ohio State books, posters, gear from CFP title win
On politics in sports letters to the editor
Hi Brian: You state politics should not be in the sports section, but the sports section of The Columbus Dispatch publishes columns by Nancy Armour that contain criticisms of the president of the United States. Is criticizing our president not political?
Bob Jacobs
To Bob: Actually, I never said politics should not be in the sports section. I said, and I quote myself in last week’s Mailbox, “All sports discussions are best without any political accusations, leaning or segmentation.” Also, in my personal life, I get up and walk away from any sports discussion that delves into politics. In fact, I get up and walk away from any discussion of any sort that delves into politics. It didn’t used to be that way, but now it’s a key to a happier life.
More from the Mailbox
Was Ohio State right to skip the men’s basketball postseason?
Why can’t Ohio State basketball reach football’s elite status?
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Did Ohio State football players’ religious actions become ‘tiresome’?
Ohio State football’s Ryan Day might be more like Woody Hayes than you think
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