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🧵TODAY is a Supreme Court order day that could have huge implications for democracy.
This morning, we’ll be watching to see if the Court decides to take up four cases that could dramatically change the future of voting rights.
Here’s what you need to know👇
💼Turtle Mountain Band
The 8th Circuit ruled voters and civil rights orgs in 7 states can’t bring lawsuits under Sec 2 of the VRA to challenge racially discriminatory voting practices. If upheld, voters nationwide would lose the ability to do so too.
Trump asked the Court to uphold his order to end birthright citizenship for certain American-born children. The admin argues that the 14th amendment only applies to children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
There are currently 4 lawsuits over Jefferson Griffin's (R) 60,000 ballot challenges to overturn the results of the North Carolina Supreme Court (NCSC) election.
Here's where they all stand as of Jan. 15: 🧵
1. Griffin v. North Carolina Board of Elections (NCBOE)
This case is before the NCSC, which blocked certification of the race as litigation continues. Parties are filing briefs until Jan. 24 before the NCSC about whether the ballots should be rejected. democracydocket.com/cases/north-ca…
At the same time, the NCBOE is asking the 4th Circuit to take the case from the NCSC. NCBOE argues that Griffin's ballot challenges deal with federal law and the federal court is the proper venue, not the state court. Oral argument is scheduled before the 4th Circuit for Jan. 27.
It was a busy day for election and voting news in the courts. Here's a recap of what happened that you might have missed today.
🧵
The pro-Trump members of the Georgia State Election Board passed a rule requiring election workers to hand count ballots cast on Election Day despite warnings from GOP state officials that it violates state law. The move could significantly delay results. democracydocket.com/news-alerts/ge…
Arizona's 2022 voter suppression law was reinstated due to a ruling from the 9th Circuit. Among its provisions, the law requires county recorders to cancel certain voter registrations and makes it a felony to help some mail voters cast their ballots. democracydocket.com/news-alerts/9t…
Democracy is on the docket in courtrooms across the country today. Here’s what’s going on in Florida and Minnesota.🧵
A district court in Florida will begin trial in a federal challenge voter suppression law SB 7050 which limits mail-in voting assistance and imposes penalties on voter registration organizations. Trial is expected to last 10 days. democracydocket.com/news-alerts/fl…
In July 2023, a federal judge blocked certain provisions of the law for violating the U.S. Constitution. democracydocket.com/news-alerts/fe…
STARTING NOW: A federal appeals court is hearing arguments in a critical lawsuit that could potentially impact thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election.
Today's arguments will revolve around whether Pennsylvania's rule of not counting mail-in ballots for simply missing a handwritten date, or containing an “incorrect” date, on the outer envelope violates federal law. More background can be found here.👇
TODAY: The 3rd Circuit is holding oral argument in a case challenging Pennsylvania's rule of not counting mail-in ballots for simply missing a handwritten date, or containing an “incorrect” date, on the outer envelope.
Pennsylvania voters must handwrite the date they completed their mail-in ballot on the outer return envelope in order for their ballot to be counted. This handwritten date serves no administrative purpose as mail-in ballots are time-stamped by election offices when received.
Since the time stamp determines if a ballot was received on time, a federal district court ruled that rejecting otherwise valid ballots simply due to a missing or incorrect date violates the Materiality Provision of the Civil Rights Act.