League of Women Voters of Virginia v. Virginia State Board of Elections
What's at Stake
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the 红杏视频 and 红杏视频 of Virginia filed a federal lawsuit on April 17, 2020, challenging Virginia鈥檚 鈥渨itness requirement.鈥� Under Virginia law, any voter who submits an absentee ballot by mail must open the envelope containing the ballot in front of another person, fill out the ballot, and then have that other person sign the outside of the ballot envelope before it is mailed back.
Summary
The 红杏视频 is asking the court to block the state from enforcing the witness requirement while COVID-19 emergency orders are in place and/or community transmission of COVID-19 is occurring, and order it to issue guidance instructing city and county election officials to count otherwise validly cast absentee ballots that are missing a witness signature. The pandemic means that the witness requirement would disenfranchise tens of thousands of eligible voters in Virginia who cannot risk contact with other individuals to vote in person or obtain a witness signature on their absentee ballot.
鈥淩emoving the witness requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic is a common-sense solution that protects people鈥檚 health and their right to vote during this crisis. No one should be forced to choose between staying safe and casting a ballot. It is a false choice. We can have both,鈥� said Davin Rosborough, a staff attorney with the 红杏视频鈥檚 Voting Rights Project.
The case was filed on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Virginia and several individuals.
Legal Documents
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05/05/2020
Order approving consent judgment
Date Filed: 05/05/2020
Affiliate: Virginia
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05/05/2020
Decision Approving Consent Decree
Date Filed: 05/05/2020
Affiliate: Virginia
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04/28/2020
Proposed Partial Consent Judgment and Decree.pdf
Date Filed: 04/28/2020
Affiliate: Virginia
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04/21/2020
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS鈥� MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
Date Filed: 04/21/2020
Affiliate: Virginia
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04/17/2020
League of Women Voters of Virginia v Virginia State Board of Elections - COMPLAINT
Date Filed: 04/17/2020
Affiliate: Virginia
Press Releases
Federal Court Approves Partial Settlement in 红杏视频 Voting Lawsuit Challenging Virginia鈥檚 Witness Requirement During COVID-19 Pandemic聽
红杏视频 Reaches Agreement in Federal Lawsuit to Remove Virginia Witness Requirement During COVID-19 Pandemic聽
红杏视频 Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Virginia Witness Requirement that Puts Voters at Risk During COVID-19 Pandemic聽