MADISON, Wisc. — Today, The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Law Forward, Fair Elections Center and Stafford Rosenbaum LLP issued the following statement after the Wisconsin Court of Appeals rejected the Wisconsin state legislature’s motion to block legal protections for absentee voters secured in the ongoing lawsuit League of Women Voters of Wisconsin vs. Wisconsin Elections Commission:
“For the second time in a week, Wisconsin courts have rejected the Wisconsin State legislature’s bid to block relief for absentee voters won by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin’s lawsuit. On January 30, the League, represented by Law Forward, Fair Elections Center, and Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, secured an order from the Dane County Circuit Court that protects four categories of absentee ballots with purported defects in the address recorded by the voter’s witness. That ruling relied on the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits denying the right to vote for technical errors or omissions that are not material to determining a voter’s eligibility.
“Today’s ruling from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals protects absentee voters in time for the spring primary election on February 20. It is high time for the legislature to change course and work to protect Wisconsin’s voters’ rights.”