Less than 24 hours before voters were set to head to the polls in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine recommended in-person voting in the state’s primaries be postponed.
The Republican governor tweeted Monday afternoon that he was recommending that Tuesday’s primaries, which include presidential and congressional contests, be postponed until June 2.
“We cannot tell people to stay inside, but also tell them to go out and vote,” DeWine wrote. He also cited concerns about the health of poll workers.
DeWine noted in a Twitter thread that a lawsuit will be filed to postpone the election, and the ultimate decision would be made by a judge. The governor said that voters are still able to request absentee ballots and that votes already cast will be counted.
Ohio is one of four states holding elections Tuesday. Illinois is also scheduled to hold its presidential and congressional primaries, and Arizona and Florida are holding presidential primaries.
Meanwhile, Kentucky became the latest state to postpone primary elections this year, with state officials announcing Monday that their May 19 presidential and congressional contests would be delayed until June 23.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said in a video posted on Twitter that both he and Gov. Andy Beshear agreed to postpone the elections, as required by state law.
“Postponing the primary was not an easy decision. But the Republican secretary of state and Democratic governor are in agreement, and so are the county clerks of both parties, and they are our frontline election administrators,” Adams said.
Adams said there could be more changes, while describing Monday’s decision as “a first step to buy us time and keep our citizens as safe as possible.”
Louisiana and Georgia have already postponed their upcoming presidential primaries. Wyoming Democrats have canceled the in-person portion of their April 4 presidential caucus.
At a White House news conference Monday, President Donald Trump said he thought postponing elections was unnecessary.
“I’d leave that up to the states. It’s a big thing postponing an election. I think, to me, that really goes to the heart of what we’re all about,” he said.
Trump added that states were working at “spreading people out.”
“I think they’ll do it very safely. I hope they’ll do it very safely. But I think postponing elections is not a very good thing. … I think postponing is unnecessary,” he said.
Kate Ackley contributed to this report.
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