ACLU Supporter,
As Election Day nears, challenges to voting rights and attempts at voter suppression and election sabotage are ramping up across the country. But so is the ACLU’s battle to challenge them. Our lawyers, advocates, and activists are working overtime to ensure that everyone can vote our values on November 5 and all votes will be protected once they’re cast. And we’re succeeding.
Ahead of this critical election, we’re coming to you with in-depth updates of what’s happening on the ground as the ACLU protects the right to vote. Dive into these updates:
GEORGIA
Challenging Georgia’s New Hand Counting Rule
A coalition of civil rights organizations, represented by the ACLU, ACLU of Georgia, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and partners, intervened in a lawsuit against the Georgia State Election Board’s new rule requiring ballots to be hand counted in the upcoming November election. Our clients argue that the rule could delay results, complicate the certification process, and risk leaving votes uncounted. We’re asking the court to declare the rule unlawful, prevent its implementation, and continue the standard, established, and secure procedures that govern Georgia’s elections. Read more.
NEBRASKA
Awaiting a ruling from the state Supreme Court
The ACLU and the ACLU of Nebraska are awaiting a ruling in our lawsuit demanding that local election commissioners follow state law and allow Nebraskans with past felony convictions to register to vote if they have completed all the terms of their sentence and are otherwise eligible to vote. The lawsuit is in response to Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen directing county election officials to disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters by refusing to register Nebraskans with past felony convictions. Read more.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Challenging one of the most restrictive anti-voter laws in the nation
An anti-voter bill in New Hampshire could make it nearly impossible for thousands of citizens to vote. H.B. 1569 would require voters to present documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. In addition, under current state law, a person registering to vote but lacking certain documentation can sign a sworn statement at the polls to cast their ballot. Under H.B. 1569, that option would be removed, leaving eligible voters unable to vote. These changes violate the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution – so the ACLU and the ACLU of New Hampshire are taking H.B. 1569 to the federal courts. Read more.
MICHIGAN
We’ll take election subversion to court
The ACLU of Michigan and ACLU took a county election official to court after he reportedly said he would refuse to certify the election if it unfolded in the same way as the 2020 election – subverting election results in violation of state law and the state constitution. The official has since signed a sworn affidavit pledging to certify the November presidential election results and we’ve dropped our case. This win sends a message to election officials throughout the country that any attempts to infringe on voters’ rights will be met in court. Read more.
TEXAS
Major victory against voter suppression law
In a major win for voting rights, a federal judge just struck down a key provision of Texas’ voter suppression bill, S.B. 1. The provision would have criminalized “get out the vote efforts,” voter assistance, and voter education. We’ve been fighting this bill since 2021 – and this ruling is a major victory for Texan voters just in time for this year’s election. The win makes it safe for voter outreach organizers to speak to mail ballot voters about issues on the ballot and urge voters to support improvements to their communities. Read more.
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