COLUMBUS -- Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted is ordering all 88 Ohio county boards of election to keep the same early voting hours before the November election.

The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the first three weeks of early voting that starts October 2.

For the final two weeks, the hours will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., also Monday through Friday.

There will be no Saturday voting.

In July, Cuyahoga County's Election Board split along party lines trying to set the hours. Husted cast the deciding vote with Republican members against extended hours that included weekend voting before Election Day.

Democratic, civil rights and religious leaders blasted the decision as biased against older and minority voters likely to support President Barack Obama.

President Obama's campaign sued. A Federal court hearing was held Wednesday.

Many groups urged Husted to set uniform rules.

Husted had vowed to find a " thoughtul solution..."

The American Civil Liberties Union called Husted's decision a step in the right direction but called for Ohio leaders to recognize early voting including weekends is good for the electoral process.

House Democratic Leader, Rep. Armond Budish and State Rep. Sandra Williams still expressed disappointment because 21 counties that had weekend hours will see them cancelled.

"Secretary Husted's directive works against hardworking Ohioans who have difficulty taking time off from their jobs," they said.

State Senator Nina Turner said Husted's directive does not go far enough and claimed the ruling will disproportionately affect Cuyahoga County's African-American community.

WKYC-TV