High Court to Hear GOP Bid to Reimpose Arizona Voting Restrictions

October 2, 2020 by Dan McCue
High Court to Hear GOP Bid to Reimpose Arizona Voting Restrictions
Outside the U.S. Supreme Court building. (Photo by Dan McCue)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a bid by Arizona Republicans to overturn a lower court ruling that struck down recently imposed voting restrictions in the state.

In January, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated the restrictions, holding they disproportionately burdened Black, Hispanic and Native American voters, and therefore violated the Voting Rights Act.

The underlying dispute stems from a Republican-backed 2016 state law that made it a crime to hand someone else’s completed early ballot to election officials, with the exception of family members or caregivers.

The issue is ballot collection, which is legal in most states, with some limitations.

Twenty-six states allow voters to designate someone to return their ballot for them, 10 allow family members to do so, while the rest require voters to return their own ballot or are silent on the issue.

Advocates for the practice, including the plaintiff Democratic National Committee and the Arizona Democratic Party, say it increases voter participation, but critics maintain it dramatically increases the odds of fraud.

The Arizona restrictions on the practice will remain in effect for the Nov. 3 presidential election because the 9th Circuit put its ruling on hold pending the state’s appeal to the Supreme Court.

The second issue in the case revolves around a longstanding state policy that discards provisional ballots cast in-person at a precinct other than the one to which a voter has been assigned.

In some places, a voter’s precinct is not the closest precinct to their home. Provisional ballots are those cast when a voter does not appear on that precinct’s voter rolls.

Nearly 30,000 out-of-precinct ballots were tossed out during the 2008, 2012 and 2016 presidential elections in Arizona, according to court filings.

As is their custom, the justices did not explain their rationale for taking up the case.

A+
a-
  • Arizona
  • Supreme Court
  • Voting restrictions
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Elections

    Republican Vince Fong Advances to Runoff to Complete Term of ex-House Speaker McCarthy

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican state Legislator Vince Fong advanced to a May election in California to decide who will... Read More

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican state Legislator Vince Fong advanced to a May election in California to decide who will complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which runs through January. It was not yet clear Tuesday night who will... Read More

    Tuesday's Primaries Include Key Senate Race in Ohio and Clues for Biden-Trump Rematch

    NEW YORK (AP) — Five states will hold presidential primaries on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and former President Donald... Read More

    NEW YORK (AP) — Five states will hold presidential primaries on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump continue to lock up support around the country after becoming their parties’ presumptive nominees. Trump is expected to easily win GOP primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois,... Read More

    Climate, a Major Separator for Biden and Trump, Is a Dividing Line in Many Other Races

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The race for the White House isn’t the only one with big stakes for climate policy.... Read More

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The race for the White House isn’t the only one with big stakes for climate policy. In campaigns for Congress and for governor around the country, candidates are talking about how green the grid should be, too. Voters are increasingly feeling the impacts... Read More

    Fake Images Made to Show Trump With Black Supporters Highlight Concerns Around AI and Elections

    WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people smiling and laughing seem nothing out of the ordinary, but a look closer is telling. Odd lighting and too-perfect details provide clues to the fact they... Read More

    February 29, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    White House Steps Up Effort to Get Voting Information to the Public

    WASHINGTON — Emails, new signage and three “national days of action” are all part of a stepped up effort by... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Emails, new signage and three “national days of action” are all part of a stepped up effort by the Biden-Harris administration to ensure voters know their rights and are able to participate in 2024 elections. The initiatives are part of the administration’s ongoing effort... Read More

    February 29, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Cornel West Secures Spot on South Carolina Ballot for November

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dr. Cornel West, who is waging an independent campaign for the presidency under the banner of his... Read More

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dr. Cornel West, who is waging an independent campaign for the presidency under the banner of his Justice for All Party, has secured a spot on the November ballot in South Carolina. West, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer professor of Philosophy and Christian practice at... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top