Gaunt Ex Rel. Gaunt v. Brown

OPINION

PORTER, District Judge:

In this case 17-year-olds (who will be 18 at the time of the general election) contest the right of a State to keep them from voting in a primary and thus having a voice in the selection of candidates for whom they may vote later. Specifically, plaintiffs attack the constitutionality of recently amended Ohio Revised Code 3513.19, effective March 23, 1972. This provides, in part, as follows:

“At a primary election every qualified elector who is eighteen or more years of age . . . shall be entitled to vote such ballot at such primary election. . . .”

Plaintiffs claim…