Election Integrity Project Weighs In On Arizona’s Ballot Harvesting Law

[Photo from Cronkite News video]

PHOENIX – A potential landmark case involving Arizona’s election laws, including who can handle and deliver vote by mail ballots, is being considered for the next session of the United States Supreme Court.

The case, involving a National Voter Registration Act of 1993 issue, stems from a lawsuit by the Democrat National Committee. The Committee sued Arizona claiming its ballot harvesting law, which limits who may drop off ballots, interfered with the participation of eligible minority citizens as voters.

Arizona contends that it has the right to limit who can handle ballots.

The Election Integrity Project of Arizona (EIPAz) joined its parent company, EIPCa, and 13 other parties in filling amicus briefs in support of Arizona’s petition to have the Supreme Court take up the appeal.

At stake is Arizona’s right to protect the integrity of the electoral process, according to the group.

Ballot harvesting is the practice in which any person may collect, and possibly manipulate vote by mail ballots. Arizona’s law limits who may drop off ballots to family members, household members, and care givers.

Two federal courts have agreed that Arizona’s law did not harm minorities’ participation in elections; however, the Ninth Circuit Court has overruled the two lower courts.

Arizona’s Attorney General has been able to obtain a stay until SCOTUS decides to hear the case or let the Ninth Circuit ruling stand.

EIPCa’s and EIPAz’s brief, filed of their behalf by Landmark Legal Foundation, argues that:

• Voting by mail is vulnerable to fraud and requires special protections;
• California serves as a warning to the dangers of unlimited ballot harvesting; and
• The two lower Federal courts were correct when they ruled Arizona’s law does not violate Sec. 2

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