ACLU Moves to Block Wisconsin Voter ID Law Following Supreme Court Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2015
CONTACT: Inga Sarda-Sorensen, 212-284-7347, isarda-sorensen@aclu.org
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency motion with a federal appeals court to keep Wisconsin’s voter ID law from immediately taking effect. The action occurred after the U.S. Supreme Court today declined the ACLU’s request to review a lower court ruling that upheld the law.
The voter ID law was struck down by a federal trial court in April 2014, but that decision was overturned by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Until today, the law had been placed on hold by the Supreme Court while it considered whether to hear the case. Given today’s action, the ACLU is asking the appeals court to extend the stay in order to prevent a sudden change in requirements while voting is underway in the April 7 general election. Absentee ballots have already been sent to voters, and early in-person voting began this morning.
Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said:
“Although the Supreme Court has declined to take this case, it previously made clear that states may not impose new requirements for voting in the weeks before Election Day. The situation is even more compelling here because absentee ballots have already been mailed out for the April election, and early in-person voting has begun. Imposing a new restriction in the midst of an election will disenfranchise voters who have already cast their ballots. It is a recipe for disaster.”
The ACLU is challenging the law on behalf of numerous Wisconsin voters, charging the measure violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ACLU, the ACLU of Wisconsin, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, and Dechert LLP are co-counsel in this case, Frank v. Walker.
The Supreme Court petition was jointly filed with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), represented by Arnold & Porter and the Advancement Project. LULAC has also joined the ACLU’s motion to put Wisconsin’s ID law on hold through the April 7 election.
The emergency motion is at: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/emergency-motion-block-wisconsin-voter-id-law-march-2015
More information is at: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/frank-v-walker-fighting-voter-suppression-wisconsin
Related Documents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2015
CONTACT: Inga Sarda-Sorensen, 212-284-7347, isarda-sorensen@aclu.org
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency motion with a federal appeals court to keep Wisconsin’s voter ID law from immediately taking effect. The action occurred after the U.S. Supreme Court today declined the ACLU’s request to review a lower court ruling that upheld the law.
The voter ID law was struck down by a federal trial court in April 2014, but that decision was overturned by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Until today, the law had been placed on hold by the Supreme Court while it considered whether to hear the case. Given today’s action, the ACLU is asking the appeals court to extend the stay in order to prevent a sudden change in requirements while voting is underway in the April 7 general election. Absentee ballots have already been sent to voters, and early in-person voting began this morning.
Dale Ho, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said:
“Although the Supreme Court has declined to take this case, it previously made clear that states may not impose new requirements for voting in the weeks before Election Day. The situation is even more compelling here because absentee ballots have already been mailed out for the April election, and early in-person voting has begun. Imposing a new restriction in the midst of an election will disenfranchise voters who have already cast their ballots. It is a recipe for disaster.”
The ACLU is challenging the law on behalf of numerous Wisconsin voters, charging the measure violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The ACLU, the ACLU of Wisconsin, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, and Dechert LLP are co-counsel in this case, Frank v. Walker.
The Supreme Court petition was jointly filed with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), represented by Arnold & Porter and the Advancement Project. LULAC has also joined the ACLU’s motion to put Wisconsin’s ID law on hold through the April 7 election.
The emergency motion is at: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/emergency-motion-block-wisconsin-voter-id-law-march-2015
More information is at: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/frank-v-walker-fighting-voter-suppression-wisconsin
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
The Latest in Voting Rights
-
ACLU Announces Sophia Lin Lakin as Director of the Voting Rights Project
-
In Win for Black Voters, Supreme Court Rejects Alabama’s Appeal in Milligan and Reaffirms State Must Draw Second Opportunity District
-
Florida’s Statewide Prosecution of Voting with a Past Conviction is Unlawful
-
ACLU Applauds the Introduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to Restore and Strengthen the Landmark Voting Rights Act
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Voting Rights
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. The ACLU works to protect and expand Americansʼ freedom to vote.