老澳门开奖结果 and NAACP LDF File Federal Lawsuit Challenging South Carolina Requirements That Put Voters at Risk During COVID-19 Pandemic聽
COLUMBIA, S.C. 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果, 老澳门开奖结果 of South Carolina, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a federal lawsuit today over South Carolina鈥檚 failure to take action to ensure all eligible voters can vote by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� even for its fast-approaching June 9 statewide primary elections.
The groups are challenging a state requirement that forces people who vote absentee to have a third-party witness signature on their ballot envelope, as well as an 鈥渆xcuse鈥� requirement that fails to provide an accommodation to allow all eligible voters to vote absentee during the pandemic.
Even if voters are allowed to vote absentee 鈥渂ecause of injury or illness鈥� that keeps them at home, election officials have rejected the view that this currently 鈥渋nclude[s] self-isolating due to a pandemic.鈥�
Requiring voters to be physically present at their traditional polling places during the COVID-19 outbreak 鈥� where they will be congregating and waiting in line with others in order to vote 鈥� is contrary to the advice of public health experts. In addition, in the midst of a pandemic, the witness requirement also puts people鈥檚 health at risk.
鈥淣o one should be forced to choose between their life and their vote. It is a false choice. South Carolina can simultaneously keep the public safe and protect democracy, but is refusing to do so. Removing these requirements in the middle of a pandemic is a common-sense solution that protects people鈥檚 health and their right to vote,鈥� said Adriel Cepeda Derieux, a staff attorney with the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Voting Rights Project.
The case was brought on behalf of Family Unit Inc. and several individuals.
鈥淪tructural racism has resulted in the COVID-19 crisis having a devastating and disproportionate impact on African-American people in South Carolina. Yet, state law restrictions on absentee voting will needlessly force many African-American and other voters to vote in-person in contradiction of the governor's shelter in place order,鈥� said Deuel Ross, senior counsel at LDF. 鈥淪imilarly, the state's requirement that a witness sign an absentee ballot will endanger vulnerable voters by forcing them to leave their homes and interact with others. Election officials must act to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by both broadly expanding absentee voting options and making in-person voting as safe and accessible as possible.鈥�
The groups are asking the court to block the state from enforcing the requirements while COVID-19 transmission is occurring; issue guidance instructing local election officials to count otherwise validly cast absentee ballots that are missing a witness signature for South Carolina鈥檚 primary and general elections in 2020; and conduct a public information campaign informing voters about the elimination of the witness and excuse requirements at this time.
鈥淚nevitably, the COVID-19 pandemic will result in voter suppression in 2020 elections unless we put preventative measures into place now. Without action from the courts, South Carolina鈥檚 June primaries will force people to choose between their health and their right to vote, a decision no one should have to make,鈥� said Susan Dunn, legal director at the 老澳门开奖结果 of South Carolina.
The lawsuit, Thomas v. Andino, was filed in U.S. District Court in Columbia, S.C.
Complaint: /legal-document/thomas-v-andino-complaint
Case details: /cases/thomas-v-andino
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