The Supreme Court will hear arguments related to two Arizona election policies today, including ballot collection restrictions (which bar the collection of absentee ballots by third parties, with some exceptions) and a rule that disavows votes cast in the wrong precinct. The case centers around Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting procedures that discriminate on the basis of race. A decision is expected by this Summer.
More context: Critics of the voting rules argue that they unfairly discriminate against minorities. Proponents have suggested that loosening restrictions could lead to fraud. Lower court rulings on the case have been mixed, with a district court upholding the policies in 2018 but the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturning that ruling last year.
The New Paper
This story is from the March 2, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
