Promoting Access to the Ballot
Republican National Committee v. Wetzel (Amicus)
In 2020, in a nearly unanimous bipartisan vote, Mississippi joined eighteen other states in accepting mail ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrived after Election Day (in Mississippi’s case, up to five business days). This lawsuit by partisan actors seeks to disenfranchise these voters whose ballot is mailed by Election Day but—through no fault of their own—does not arrive until afterwards. In Mississippi, this harm will fall disproportionately on voters with disabilities, older voters, and other communities that rely upon absentee voting. Twisting the words and meaning of Congress, the RNC argues that three longstanding federal laws that set a uniform election day for federal races require that ballot may only be counted if they are received by election officials by Election Day. If accepted, this radical argument would not only disenfranchise thousands upon thousands of voters in Mississippi and eighteen other states, but also upend election administration in every state.
Status: Ongoing
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20 Promoting Access to the Ballot Cases
South Carolina
Sep 2020
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Thomas v. Andino
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Carolina, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a federal lawsuit on April 22, 2020, over South Carolina’s failure to take action to ensure all eligible voters can vote by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic — even for its fast-approaching June 9 statewide primary elections.
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South Carolina
Sep 2020
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Thomas v. Andino
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Carolina, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a federal lawsuit on April 22, 2020, over South Carolina’s failure to take action to ensure all eligible voters can vote by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic — even for its fast-approaching June 9 statewide primary elections.
Tennessee
Aug 2020
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Lay v. Goins
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tennessee
Aug 2020
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Lay v. Goins
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Hampshire
Feb 2019
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Casey v. Gardner
On February 13, 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed a federal lawsuit challenging a New Hampshire law that unconstitutionally restricts the right to vote for students, young people, and those new to the state.
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New Hampshire
Feb 2019
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Casey v. Gardner
On February 13, 2019, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Hampshire filed a federal lawsuit challenging a New Hampshire law that unconstitutionally restricts the right to vote for students, young people, and those new to the state.
Court Case
Sep 2017
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Voting Rights Trial in Ferguson
On December 18, 2014, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s at-large electoral system used to elect school board members.
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Court Case
Sep 2017
Promoting Access to the Ballot
Voting Rights Trial in Ferguson
On December 18, 2014, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s at-large electoral system used to elect school board members.