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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder assailed Ohios early voting law as a major step backward, saying it will significantly reduce opportunities in a voting system that has been used heavily in the past by African-Americans.

In his first public comment since the U.S. Supreme Court last week struck down a federal judges order that Ohio provide 35 days of early voting instead of 28, Holder complained Monday that the early voting times targeted for cancellation including weeknight and Sunday hours previously provided critical opportunities for many people to get to the polls.

Holder, who announced last week he would leave the Justice Department as soon as the Senate confirms his successor, said that in 2012 tens of thousands of Ohio voters cast their ballots during the voting days that Ohio has now eliminated.

Holder delivered his criticism of the Ohio law in a video message released by the Justice Department. He said the public should be demanding the state officials who seek to impose these restrictions to justifyclearly, factually, and empiricallywhy they are necessary.

Ohio Republicans have been infuriated by Democratic criticism of their early voting law. They pointed out that 41 states across the country provide fewer early voting days than Ohio.

Early voting in Ohio begins today.

U.S. District Judge Peter Economus last month had ordered the state to allow 35 days of early voting, which would have created 259 hours of early voting compared to 197 allowed under the directive issued by Secretary of State Jon Husted.

The state appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and last week the five conservative justices blocked Economus ruling for 90 days, pushing it well past next months election.

EARLY VOTING IN OHIO STARTS TODAY

* Weeks One and Two of Voting (beginning Oct. 7)

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Holder blasts Ohios voting law