Tuesday, May 13

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North Carolina Supreme Court Justice finally sworn in

• North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs (D) has been sworn in after a six-month legal battle against Republican Jefferson Griffin, who sought to overturn the 2024 election by disenfranchising over 65,000 voters.
  
  
• “While I am forever inspired by the commitment of North Carolinians to protect our rights,” Riggs said, “it doesn’t have to be this way. Voters should not have to fight tooth and nail to have their lawful votes counted.”

Judges could crack down on anti-voting group’s mass voter challenges

• At a hearing today, a federal appeals court appeared open to protecting voters by reversing a lower court ruling that dismissed a pro-voting lawsuit targeting mass voter challenges in Georgia. 
  
  
• The lawsuit could make it harder for anti-voting groups to challenge the eligibility of large numbers of voters — and could even offer a rare chance to strengthen the Voting Rights Act at a time when it’s under threat.
  
  
• This case could also help expose MAGA’s voter suppression machine. Fair Fight’s Max Flugrath, in a new article for Democracy Docket, explains how right-wing groups are targeting Black and brown voters with mass challenges and bad data. 

Montana’s new voting restrictions challenged in court

• The Montana Federation of Public Employees filed a lawsuit challenging two newly enacted state laws that restrict voting access. SB 490 shortens the time window for same-day registration and voting on Election Day from thirteen hours to five, while SB 276 eliminates a critical declaration form for voters lacking ID and tightens identification requirements. 
  
  
• The plaintiffs argue these laws violate Montana’s constitution and seek to block their enforcement. Over the last 20 years, more than 73,000 Montanans have depended on Election Day registration. 

Lawsuit demands more polling sites in New Jersey

• A pro-voting lawsuit has been filed against the Hudson County Board of Elections, seeking more polling locations in New Jersey’s growing waterfront communities. The lawsuit argues current polling access is inadequate and disenfranchises roughly 8,000 residents. The plaintiffs are asking the court to mandate at least three additional polling sites and one early voting location before the 2025 primary.