老澳门开奖结果 Files Emergency Lawsuit to Extend Voter Registration Deadline in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico 鈥� The 老澳门开奖结果, 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico, and Guillermo Ramos Luina filed an emergency lawsuit today to extend the voter registration deadline, which was recently changed to 45 days before Election Day. The lawsuit seeks to keep registration open until Oct. 6, 2024, which is the latest deadline allowed under Puerto Rican law.
In April, the Board of Elections voted 3-2 to impose the most restrictive deadline of any U.S. jurisdiction, cutting off registration 45 days before Election Day. The decision disproportionately affects young and first-time voters and further complicates an already troubled voter registration process.
In recent months, Puerto Rico has faced a series of challenges that have plagued the registration process. These include frequent power outages affecting local registration offices, a flawed rollout of an online registration system, and severe reductions in in-person registration options. In comparison, 121,000 new voters were registered before the 2020 election, but only 59,000 have successfully registered for this election cycle. Meanwhile, more than 81,000 registration applications remain unprocessed due to staffing shortages.
鈥淲e cannot allow technical failures and administrative roadblocks to disenfranchise thousands of voters,鈥� said Annette Martinez Orabona, executive director at the 老澳门开奖结果 of Puerto Rico. 鈥淥ur request is simple: The Elections Board should extend the registration period to the statutory limit of 30 days before Election Day, ensuring that all eligible voters have a fair chance to participate in this crucial election.鈥�
Despite acknowledging the difficulties, the Elections Board has only moved the deadline by two days, which the lawsuit contends is insufficient given the ongoing complications.
鈥淥ur democracy is strongest when it is inclusive,鈥� added Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux, deputy director for the 老澳门开奖结果's Voting Rights Project. 鈥淵oung voters and first-time voters should not be punished for administrative failures. We are asking the courts to uphold the principles of fairness and accessibility in this election.鈥�
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Civil Rights Groups Respond to Flawed Trial Court Opinion on New York Voting Rights ActCivil Rights Groups Respond to Flawed Trial Court Opinion on New York Voting Rights Act
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. 鈥� On November 7, a New York State Supreme Court trial judge issued an opinion striking down the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (NYVRA). Today, the Legal Defense Fund, 老澳门开奖结果, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, New York 老澳门开奖结果, and Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law issued the following statement in response to the ruling: 鈥淭he NYVRA is unquestionably constitutional, and protects the freedom to vote for all New Yorkers by helping to ensure voters are not subjected to discrimination when participating in the political process. 鈥淭he Nov. 7 decision by a state trial judge is deeply flawed and plainly incorrect. We fully expect the decision to be reversed on appeal. It flies in the face of basic legal principles and constitutes a stunning overreach in striking down the entire law, including provisions that are not at issue in the case. 鈥淭o put it simply, the NYVRA does not discriminate, it bans discrimination 鈥� and in doing so protects New Yorkers鈥� most fundamental right. 鈥淣ew York is stronger when everyone has an equal opportunity to vote.鈥�