Judge dismisses lawsuit filed over long election lines

[Kolesar]

Cleveland Plain Dealer
8/29/2005, 1:39 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed an Election Day lawsuit filed by the Ohio Democratic Party that sought paper ballots for people waiting in long lines at polling places on Nov. 2.

The party wanted the lawsuit to be thrown out once it became clear President Bush won re-election, but Republican state leaders kept the lawsuit alive to try to get the judge to rule the election did not violate voters' constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley's ruling on Friday said the election results made the case moot.

Some voters had to wait in line more than seven hours to vote, particularly at a polling place at Kenyon College in Knox County. Waits of three hours or more were typical at some precincts in Columbus in Franklin County. Those two counties were the targets of the Democrats' lawsuit.

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[wli]

1. what the heck? dems asked for dismissal? n/t