The State of Ohio closed the polls last minute. Can I sue my city?
<p>Due to COVID-19, the Ohio governor's office issued a decision on March 16th that the polls would be closed on March 17th and voting suspended until June 2nd. To my knowledge, this was despite a Franklin County judge's refusal to allow the suspension. The Supreme Court of Ohio then refused to hear a case challenging the governor's decision.</p>

<p>Had I been able to vote today, the ballot would have included local issues. In my opinion, the polls should not have been closed to local-level issues due to a state-level decision. Does this give me any grounds to bring a lawsuit against my city?</p>

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  <p>Does this give me any grounds to bring a lawsuit against my city?</p>
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<p>Sovereign immunity shields municipalities from lawsuits seeking money damages in a case like the ones you contemplate, although suits for injunctive relief can be brought (i.e. to order a municipality to take particular actions to address your complaint).</p>

<p>Individuals involved in the process are only subject to suit for money damages if their decision is not legislative or judicial in character and constitutes an intentional violation of a clearly established constitutional right to vote, but can also be sued for injunctive relief in their official capacities.</p>

<p>But, any suit seeking injunctive relief would be moot as to the decision already implemented not to hold the election. A suit seeking injunctive relief could only seek prospective relief such as an order to hold a new election sooner than the date to which it was postponed.</p>

<p>Also, IIRC, election administration is vested in state agencies and in county governments in Ohio, and not in municipalities. You can't sue a city over something over which it had no control.</p>

ohio covid-19