WHEN WE ALL VOTE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY: A roundup of recent voting news

Hi John,

Welcome back to "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly," your go-to source for the latest voting news and what lies ahead. In today’s edition, we cover the Ohio ruling to decriminalize assisting voters with disabilities, a Georgia judge's decision to uphold the absentee ballot application deadline, and Mississippi’s state ban on voting for life for nearly 50,000 residents with felony convictions.

So, buckle up and join us as we navigate the world of voting — where The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly all meet. 😉

😃 THE GOOD: In Ohio, a federal judge has struck down a law that made it a crime for anyone other than a narrow set of people to assist voters with disabilities in returning their absentee ballots, ruling it violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The law, enacted in January 2023, restricted assistance to election officials, postal workers, or close family members, making it a felony for people like neighbors and community members to help. The judge ruled that the law violated Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act [[link removed]], which allows voters with disabilities to receive assistance from anyone they choose, excluding employers or officers. The ruling ensures broader assistance options for voters with disabilities in the upcoming election.

😠 THE BAD: In Georgia, a federal judge declined to temporarily block the state's shortened absentee ballot application deadline, leaving the current law in place. Union workers argued that a Georgia law shortening the absentee ballot application window violates the Voting Rights Act, which allows voters to cast absentee ballots in presidential elections if they apply seven days before the election. However, Georgia state law permits absentee ballot applications only up to 11 days before the election, making it more difficult for union workers, who often travel for work, to vote. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs likely did not have standing, and even if they did, the Purcell Principle, which discourages courts from making changes close to an election, would prevent the court from temporarily blocking the deadline. As a result, Georgia's absentee ballot application deadline remains 11 days before an election.

😡 THE UGLY: In Mississippi, a federal appeals court upheld the state's practice of banning residents with felony convictions from voting for the rest of their lives. This ban disproportionately impacts Black residents. An estimated 50,000 people from 1994 through 2017 have lost their voting rights through conviction in state court. Nearly 60% of people who lost their right to vote are Black, while making up just 36% of the state’s adult population. The decision by the full Fifth Circuit overturns a previous ruling that deemed permanent disenfranchisement unconstitutional as "cruel and unusual punishment." The 13 to 6 decision rejected the claim, maintaining the lifetime voting ban. As the November elections approach, this ruling continues to prevent many individuals, some of whom have not voted for decades, from participating.

As we continue to update you on what’s happening in the voting world, it's important to remember that democracy must work for all of us, not just some of us. Today, our fight for voting rights continues, and this year alone, more than 300 bills that make it harder to vote have been proposed in statehouses across the country. John, our vote and our voice are more important than ever. Will you chip in today to help us continue registering voters ahead of the 2024 general election? >>> [[link removed]]

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I’ll be back soon with more important voting news and updates.

— Beth

Beth Lynk
Executive Director
When We All Vote 🗳️

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