Monday, September 30

Democrats sue Georgia election board over ballot hand counting rule

• The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Georgia Democrats sued the State Election Board today to block a new rule passed by MAGA board members that requires poll workers to hand count Election Day ballots. Democrats argue that the rule violates state law and could delay results.

  
  

• The DNC and state Democratic Party also filed a lawsuit against the board last month over two rules that could delay election certification. A bench trial in the case is set for tomorrow.

California governor signs law to ban local voter ID requirements

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill to bar local governments from imposing voter ID rules that go beyond the state's requirements. The move is in response to a local Huntington Beach ID law, which state officials are challenging in court.

Arkansas city will have an early voting site after today’s ruling

• An Arkansas judge ordered West Memphis to open an early voting site at a local church after county officials failed to establish any early voting locations in the city for elections this fall. The voters in the majority-Black city initially requested at least two early voting locations.

THE SCOREBOARD

Since Jan. 1, 2023

Pennsylvania voter challenges state’s voter roll maintenance

• A Pennsylvania voter filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging the state is violating the National Voter Registration Act by not properly maintaining its voter rolls ahead of the November election. This case is the 31st lawsuit filed this year targeting voter rolls.

Pro-voting groups defend Nevada counties from right-wing lawsuits

• Pro-voter organizations stepped in to defend four Nevada counties from right-wing lawsuits trying to require the counties to process tens of thousands of voter challenges, saying the move would cause “electoral chaos” as ballots are already being sent out.

SCOTUS could review GOP challenge to Biden’s executive order

• The U.S. Supreme Court began its “long conference” and is reviewing petitions submitted since the end of the last term, including the Pennsylvania GOP's challenge to President Joe Biden's executive order expanding ballot access.

  
  

• The Court could announce Monday whether it will decide to weigh in on this case and others that have been filed over the summer.

Meet candidates running against election deniers

• At least 42 candidates across six battleground states have been recruited by Contest Every Race to challenge far-right extremists in local elections this November — all united by a sense of obligation to protect democracy.

  
  

• Emily Tseffos is running against Wisconsin Rep. Dave Murphy (R), who has served in the General Assembly since 2013 and is a known election denier. Read here to meet the other candidates.