Daily Docket — Friday, Feb. 9

Here are some updates out of Arizona.

  • The Arizona Legislature passed a crucial bill to move up the state's primary and ensure military ballots are sent on time and certification isn't delayed. However, the bill shortens the cure period for early ballots. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed the bill earlier today.
     
  • Voto Latino and the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans asked to intervene and defend Maricopa County, Arizona's election practices from a right-wing lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by former Trump advisor Stephen Miller’s legal group.
  • The Republican National Committee and Arizona Republicans filed a new lawsuit today challenging Arizona’s 2023 Election Procedures Manual, as Republicans continue their attack on election procedures in the state.

Here are some other updates.

  • In a win for voters, a federal judge struck down Louisiana's state House and Senate districts for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power. The Louisiana Legislature is ordered to draw new districts.

  • Wisconsin Republicans are considering passing legislative maps originally proposed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). But some Democrats are concerned that the maps could set off a major legal battle and leave Wisconsin stuck with gerrymandered districts.

    • "If we get these new maps, the governor’s maps, signed by the Republicans, it’s more than likely that there’ll be a challenge in the 7th Circuit Court," U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D) told Democracy Docket, "We can assume that this is not done because of the idea of good government."

    • Also in Wisconsin, Progressive groups and a voter asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review their lawsuit challenging three restrictive rules regulating absentee voting procedures in Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleges that the rules violate the state constitution.

  • A lawsuit challenging the election system for Santa Monica, California's city council is returning to the trial court. The state Supreme Court found that lower courts did not appropriately apply the California Voting Rights Act in this case.

Here’s what to expect coming up on Monday.

  • The deadline for former President Donald Trump to appeal a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling that he is not immune from criminal prosecution.

  • Oral argument will be held in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a lawsuit challenging part of the Uniform and Military Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act that precludes former U.S. state residents from voting absentee for president in their former state if they are currently living in Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa or Puerto Rico.  

A new episode of our podcast Defending Democracy is here! In today’s episode, Marc and Paige listened to the Supreme Court’s oral argument on Trump's ballot eligibility so you don't have to. Get the biggest takeaways and what this might mean for the 2024 elections in our latest podcast episode. Listen on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, or watch it on YouTube.
 

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