voting in battleground states · • pennsylvania agreed to a change proposed in a lawsuit and...

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VOTINGINBATTLEGROUNDSTATESKeyinformationonwhenandhowtovote

Thismemoprovidesup-to-dateinformationonvoterregistrationdeadlines,earlyandabsenteevotingpractices,potentialchangesinvotinglaws,andthestatusofCOVID-19inkeySenateandpresidentialbattlegroundstates.Theintroductionhighlightsthenewestandmostimportantchangesinvotinglawsaswellasdefinesimportantvotingrulesthatwillbereferencedthroughoutthedocument.Somelegislationandcourtcasesareongoingandthetimingsubjecttochange,sotheirexpectedtimelinesarereflected.ThisinformationisupdatedasofSeptember24th,2020.

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INTRODUCTIONRecentchangesinvotinglawsandpractices

• AjudgeinWisconsinissuedanorderextendingthemail-inballotreceiptdeadlineinthestatetoNovember9thforballotspostmarkedonorbeforeElectionDay

• AjudgeinMichiganissuedarulingextendingthestate’smail-inballotreceiptdeadlinetoNovember17thforballotspostmarkedonorbeforeNovember2ndandalsoauthorizedvoterstoallowanythirdpartytoreturntheirballotsfromOctober30thtoNovember3rd

• ThePennsylvaniaSupremeCourtissuedrulingsthatextendedthemail-inballotreceiptdeadlineandauthorizedtheuseofdropboxesforreturningmail-inballots

• Pennsylvaniaelectionofficialsissuedguidancestatingthatcountiescannotrejectamail-inballotduesolelytoaperceivedmismatchbetweenthesignatureonthereturnenvelopeandthesignatureonthevoter’sregistrationrecord,thusstrikingdownsignaturematching

Definitionsofvotingrules(positiveforvotingrights/negativeforvotingrights/mixed)

• Noexcuseabsenteevoting–votersneednotprovideaspecificreasontovoteabsentee;withoutthisrule,voterscanonlyqualifyforanabsenteeballotundercertainconditions

• Earlyvoting–castingavoteinpersonaheadofelectionday• In-personabsenteevoting–droppingoffanabsenteeballotata

designatedlocation• Samedayvoterregistration–voterscanregisteronthedayofthe

election• Permanentabsenteelist–onceavoterisaddedtothelist,theywill

automaticallyreceiveanabsenteeballotforallfutureelections

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• Automaticvoterregistration–eligiblevotersareautomaticallyregisteredtovoteandhavetheoptiontooptoutinsteadofhavingtooptintothevoterregistry

• Curbsidevoting–apollworkerbringsaballotouttoavoter’scar,wherethevoterfillsitout,andthenthepollworkercollectstheballot

• Voterassistance–athirdpartyhelpingvotersgettothepollsorfilloutballots

• Ballotcollection–volunteersgatheringandsubmittingabsenteeballots

• Postmarkdeadline–countingallballotsthatweresentafteracertainday(usuallyElectionDay)insteadofrejectingthosereceivedafterElectionDay

• Signaturematching–requiringthesignatureonaballottoexactlymatchthesignatureonvoterregistrationdocuments;ifthesignaturedoesnotperfectlymatch,assignaturesoftendonot,theballotisrejected

• VoterIDlaws–requiringaformofidentificationtoverifyavoter’sidentityinordertovote,sometimesonlyallowingspecificgovernment-issuedformsofphotoID

• Witnessrequirement–whenawitnessmustsignanabsenteeballotinorderforittobecounted

• Postagerequirement–requiringvoterstopayforpostageontheirabsenteeballot

• Transportationban–makingitillegalforvolunteerstotakevoterstothepolls

• Voterpurge–removingvotersnamesfromthevoterroll,makingthemunabletovoteintheelectionbecausetheyarenolongerregistered

• Absenteeballotreturndeadline–requiringabsenteeballotstobereceivedattheelectionofficebythedateoftheelection,rejectingvotesmailedbeforeelectiondaybutreceivedafterthedeadline

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ALABAMA:SENATERegistrationDeadlines

• October19th:Voterregistrationdeadlineonlineorbymail(mailmustbereceived)

• October29th:Deadlinetorequestanabsenteeballot• November2nd,5:00pm:Deadlinetoreturnanabsenteeballotin-

personorpostmarkamail-inballot• November3rd,12:00pm:Mail-inballotmustbereceived• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto7:00pm

EarlyandAbsenteeVotingRules

• Excuserequiredforanabsenteeballot,butCOVID-19willbeacceptedasanexcuse

• Noearlyvoting• Noin-personabsenteevoting• Absenteeballotreturndeadline• Witnessrequirement• PhotoIDrequirement• Banoncurbsidevoting

LegalChallengestoVotingRules

• ThesecretaryofstateextendedanemergencyruletoallowpeopletovoteabsenteeduetoCOVID-19throughthegeneralelection

• TheSupremeCourtruledthatfornowAlabamadoesnothavetoabidewithlower-courtdecisionsthatallowedcurbsidevotingandmadeiteasiertocastamail-inballot,allowingAlabama’sstrictmail-inballotrulestoremaininplace

• Billintroducedtoenactnoexcuseabsenteevoting(AlabamaLegislaturenotscheduledtomeetuntilthespringof2021)

• Billintroducedtoexpandearlyin-personvoting

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• AfederalappealscourtruledthatAlabama’sphotoIDlawcanremaininforce,buttheACLUispetitioningforarehearingofthecase

COVID-19

• Justexperiencedaseverespikeincasesanddeaths,butcasesareslowlydecreasing

• Retailstores,restaurants,bars,hairsalonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenues,andgymsareallopen,butfurtherreopeningshavepaused

• GovernorhasissuedamaskrequirementuntilOctober2nd

ARIZONA:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October5th:Registrationdeadline• October30th:Deadlinetorequestanabsenteeballot• November3rd,7:00pm:Deadlinetoreturncompletedabsenteeballot

àthestatehasagreedtoreviewballotsachievedafterelectionday• ElectionDayHours:6:00amto7:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Canrequestballotsbymailwithorwithoutjoiningthepermanent

absenteelist• Nowitnessrequirement• Earlyvoting• Noabsenteeballotreturndeadline• Noin-personabsenteevoting• Signaturematching

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• Noballotcollectionexceptforbyfamilymembersandcaregivers


• TheSecretaryofStateagreedtoexpandvotingopportunitiesforminoritiesthroughoutthestateinasettlementagreement

• DNCsuingtheSecretaryofStatetoallowvotersfivebusinessdaysafterfederalelectionstocorrectballotsthatmayberejectedforlackingasignature

• Billintroducedtoimplementautomaticvoterregistration(ArizonaStateLegislatureadjournedfortheyear,butmayreturnforspecialsessions)

• Billintroducedtoexpandearlyin-personvoting• BillintroducedtoprohibittheuseofschoolIDsforvoterverification

andeliminatetheabilitytouseotheridentityverificationdocuments• ArizonaRepublicans,backedbyArizonaGov.DougDuceyandseveral

RepublicanSenators,askedtheSupremeCourtforpermissiontoreviveapolicythatallowsadministratorstothrowawaymiscastballotsandanotherthatbansballotcollection.Theseruleswerestruckdownbyalowercourtasraciallydiscriminatory,andiftheSupremeCourtagreestotakeuptheappeal,thenArizonawilllikelybeabletocarryoutitsrestrictionsinNovember(decisionlikelytoarriveinfall)

COVID-19

• Casesandhospitalizationshavedrasticallydeclinedsincetheirpeakinearlysummer,althoughthey’veseenaslightuptickrecently

• Retailstores,restaurants,barbershopsandsalons,housesofworship,casinos,andpoolsandspasareallopen,buttheGovernorhasreversedtheopeningofcertainbusinesses,closingbars,movietheaters,gyms,andwaterparks

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COLORADO:SENATERegistrationDeadlines

• October26th:Lastdaytoregisterforamail-inballot,earlyvotingbegins

• Same-dayvoterregistration• November3rd,7:00pm:Deadlinetoreturncompletedabsenteeballot• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto7:00pm


• Allregisteredvotersautomaticallyreceiveaballotinthemail,noapplicationneeded

• Earlyvotingavailable• Nowitnessrequirement• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline


• None

COVID-19

• Casesaremoderatelyincreasing• Retailstores,restaurants,salonsandpersonalservices,housesof

worship,entertainmentvenueslikemuseums,fairs,androdeos,outdoorrecreation,gyms,offices,andmanufacturingareallopen,buttheGovernorreversedsomereopenings,closingsomebarsbutallowingotherstoremainopen

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FLORIDA:PRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October5th:Registrationdeadline• October24th:Absenteeballotrequestmustbereceivedbymail,start

ofearlyvoting• October31st:In-personabsenteeballotrequestdeadline,endofearly

voting• November3rd:Deadlinetoreturncompletedabsenteeballot• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto7:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Earlyvotingavailable• Nowitnessrequirement• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline• Voterassistanceban


• AfederalappellatecourtstayedalowercourtrulingthatremovedFlorida’srequirementthatformerfelonspaytheirlegalfeesbeforetheirvotingrightsarereinstated,givingnotimelineastowhenthecourtwouldhearthecase

• ProgressivegroupssuingGovernorDeSantisandstateelectionofficialsovermail-invotingrules(scheduledtobeheardinlateJuly)

o Postagerequiremento ElectionDayreceiptdeadlineo Voterassistanceban–makesitamisdemeanorforany

individualpaidbyanorganizationtoassistwithreturningmorethantwomail-inballotseachelection

• Suittoexpandearlyvotingfromtwoweekstothree

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• Billintroducedtoinstitutesame-dayvoterregistration(FloridaLegislaturedoesnotmeetuntil2021)

• Billintroducedtoimposefurtherrestrictionsonvoterassistance• Billintroducedtomakeitafelonytoregisterorattempttoregisterto

voteiftheapplicantisnotaUScitizen• ProgressivegroupsagreedtodropalawsuitchallengingFlorida’s

mail-invotinglawsinexchangeforassurancesthatthestatewilleducatevotersonmail-invotingoptions

• TheSupremeCourtruledagainstwaivingtherequirementthatconvictedfelonsinFloridapaytheircourtfinesbeforeregainingtheabilitytovote

COVID-19

• Casescontinuetodecreasesinceanintensespikeoverthesummer• Retailstores,restaurants,bars,salonsandtattooparlors,housesof

worship,entertainmentvenueslikesportingeventswithoutspectators,movietheaters,andconcerthalls,beaches,andgymsareopen

• Schoolsarereopening

GEORGIA:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October5th:Voterregistrationdeadline• October12th:Earlyvotingbegins• October30th:Absenteeballotrequestmustbereceived,lastdayof

earlyvoting• November3rd:Absenteeballotsmustbepostmarked• November6th:Absenteeballotsmustbereceivedby7:00pm

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• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto7:00pmo Inallcitieswithapopulationof300,000ormore,pollingplaces

stayopenuntil8:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Earlyvotingavailable• Nowitnessrequirement• Dropboxesforabsenteeballotcollection• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline


• Significantissueswithlongwaittimesinprimaryelection• FairFightissuingthestateovervotingpracticeslikevoterpurges,

registrationapplicationsputonhold,andsignaturematching(lawsuithasbeenongoingsince2018)

• TheStateElectionBoardagreedtoextendtwoemergencyrulesallowinglocalelectionofficestocontinueofferingdropboxesforabsenteeballotsandtoagainstartprocessingballotsearly

• Lawsuittorequirethestatetocoverthecostofpostageformail-inballots

• AjudgeinGeorgiaissuedanorderextendingthereturndeadlinesforabsenteeballots,sothestatemustcountanyballotspostmarkedbyElectionDayandreceivedby7:00pmonNovember6th

COVID-19

• Caseshavebeensteadilydecreasingsincetheirpeakinlatesummer,althoughtheyremainsomewhathigh

• Retailstores,restaurants,hairsalonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenues,bars,nightclubs,andgymsareallopen

• Schoolsarereopening

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IOWA:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October24th:Voterregistrationdeadline• October30th:Absenteeballotrequestdeadline• November3rd:Absenteeballotreturndeadline• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto9:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Nowitnessrequirement• In-personabsenteevotingavailable• Nosignaturematching• Noearlyvoting• VoterIDlaws• Absenteeballotreturndeadline


• ChallengestovoterIDlaws(ajudgeupheldIowa’svoterIDlawinlate2019)

• Billintroducedtoimplementautomaticvoterregistration(IowaLegislaturecurrentlyinsession)

• TheGovernorofIowasignedanexecutiveordergrantingconvictedfelonstherighttovote

• AvotingrightsgroupsuedIowaoveralawthatbarselectionofficialsfromusingexistingvoterregistrationdatatofilloutincompleteabsenteeballotrequests

o TheTrumpcampaign,theRepublicanPartyofIowa,andothergroupsfiledamotionaskingthecourttodismissthelawsuit

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• Iowalawmakersapprovedofthesecretaryofstate’sproposaltosendapplicationsformail-inballotstoallactiveregisteredvoters

COVID-19

• Justexperiencedasharpspikeincases,andafteramodestrecovery,casesareagainincreasing

• Retailstores,malls,restaurants,spas,salonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenueslikemovietheaters,casinos,andamusementparks,outdoorrecreation,andgymsareallopen,andtheGovernorhasallowedbarsinallbuttwocountiestoopen

• Schoolsareopen

MAINE:SENATERegistrationDeadlines

• Voterregistrationdeadlinevariesbylocality• October12th:Startofin-personabsenteevoting• October19th:Deadlineforpostmarkofin-personvoterregistration

requestorpostmarkofmail-invoterregistrationdeadline• October29th:Endofin-personabsenteevoting• October31st:Absenteeballotreturndeadline• ElectionDayHours:6:00amto8:00pm

o Pollingplacesinmunicipalitieswithapopulationoflessthan500openbetween6:00amand10:00am

o Thosewithapopulationof500ormoreopenbetween6:00amand8:00am


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• In-personabsenteevoting• Earlyvoting• Samedayvoterregistration

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• Voterscanonlyrequestballotsstarting90daysbeforetheelection• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline


• Challengetorankchoicevoting• Governorsignedanautomaticvoterregistrationbillintolaw,

scheduledtobeimplementedin2022• Alawsuitischallengingseveralvotinglawsandpracticesthatrestrict

absenteevoting,includingfailuretoacceptonlinevoterregistrationapplications,aphotoIDlaw,apostagerequirement,criminalizationofballotcollection,witnessrequirements,ballotreturndeadline,andsignaturematching(filed6/25)

• Maine’sgovernorsignedanexecutiveorderextendingthemail-invoterregistrationdeadlinefromOctober13thtoOctober19th

COVID-19

• Fewcasesanddeathsoverall,andcaseshavebeenfairlylevel• Retailstores,restaurants,barsforoutdoorservice,hairsalonsand

barbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenueslikemovietheatersandcasinos,outdoorrecreation,andgymsareallopen,butsomereopeningshavebeendelayed,includingindoorserviceatbars

MICHIGAN:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October20th:Mail-invoterregistrationmustbereceived• October30th:Lastdaytoapplyforamail-inballot,startofthirdparty

ballotreturnperiod

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• November2nd:In-personabsenteevoting,absenteeballotsmustbepostmarked

• November3rd:Thirdpartyballotreturndeadline• November17th:Absenteeballotreturndeadline• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto8:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• In-personabsenteevoting• Samedayvoterregistration• Canapplyforasingleabsenteeballotand/orjointhepermanent

absenteelist• Absenteeballotapplicationsautomaticallysenttoallregisteredvoters• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline• Voterassistanceandtransportationban


• Challengestomail-invotingrulesincludingabsenteeballotreturndeadline,postagerequirement,voterassistanceban,andtransportationban(lawsuitcurrentlybeingheardincourt)

• ConservativegroupsuingtheMichiganSecretaryofStateoverdecisiontoautomaticallysendabsenteeballotapplicationstoallregisteredvoters

• AjudgeinMichiganissuedarulingextendingthestate’smail-inballotreceiptdeadlinetoNovember17thforballotspostmarkedonorbeforeNovember2ndandalsoauthorizedvoterstoallowanythirdpartytoreturntheirballotsfromOctober30thtoNovember3rd

COVID-19

• Caseshaveplateauedsinceanuptickinmid-summer,buttheyhavenotdecreasedtotheirlowlevelpriortoreopening

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• Retailstores,restaurants,barsforoutdoorservice,hairsalonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenuesliketheaters,nightclubs,andcasinos,outdoorrecreation,gyms,manufacturing,construction,andofficesareopen,buttheGovernorhasreversedsomereopenings,limitingindoorgatheringsto10peopleandclosingbarsforindoorservice

• Governorhasissuedamaskmandate

MONTANA:SENATERegistrationDeadlines

• October5th:Regularin-personvoterregistrationdeadline,mail-inrequestpostmarked

• October8th:Postreceivedformail-invoterregistration• October13th:Startofin-personabsenteevoting• November2nd:Lastdaytoapplyforamail-inballot,lastdayofin-

personabsenteevoting• November3rd:Absenteeballotreturndeadline,cansame-dayregister

in-personatcountyelectionoffice• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto8:00pm

o Somelocationsopenatnoonandcloseonceallregisteredvotershavevoted


• Almostentirelymail-invoting• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Canjointhepermanentabsenteelist• In-personabsenteevotingavailable• Samedayvoterregistrationforin-personvoting• Signaturematching• Absenteeballotreturndeadline

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• AMontanacourttemporarilyblockedalawthatrestrictedballotcollectioneffortsonNativeAmericanreservations,allowingexpandedaccesstovotingduringtheprimary(pendingfurtherhearingsforgeneralelection)

• GovernorSteveBullockofMontanaissuedadirectivepermittingcountiestoconductthegeneralelectionentirelybymailandexpandearlyvotingopportunities

• TheRNCandtheTrumpcampaignfiledalawsuitagainstMontanaoveritsimplementationofuniversalmail-invoting

COVID-19

• Veryfewcasesanddeathsoverall,butnewcasesanddeathsaredrasticallyincreasing

• Retailstores,restaurants,bars,salonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenueslikemovietheaters,concertvenues,andcasinos,outdoorrecreation,andgymsareallopen

• Schoolshavereopened• Governorhasissuedamaskmandateincertaincountiesandin

schools

NORTHCAROLINA:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October9th:Voterregistrationdeadline• October15th:Startofearlyvoting• October27th:Lastdaytoapplyforamail-inballot• October31st:Lastdayofearlyvoting

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• November3rd,5:00pm:In-personabsenteeballotreturndeadline,absenteeballotpostmarkdeadline

• November6th:Mail-inabsenteeballotreturndeadline• ElectionDayHours:6:30amto7:30pm

o Thehourscanbeextendedifpollingtimesaredelayedorinterruptedbymorethan15minutes


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• Earlyvoting• In-personearlyvoting• AbsenteeballotsmustbepostmarkedbyElectionDayandreceived

threedaysafterelectionday• Witnessrequirement• Signaturematching• Noballotcollection• Nopermanentabsenteelist• VoterIDlaw


• Challengestoballotreceiptdeadline,ballotcollectionrules,signaturematching,witnessrequirement,andvoterIDlaw,andseektoextendthe17daysofearlyvotingto21days(beingheardincourtcurrently)

o Afederaljudgerefusedtoorderthesechanges,butthejudgetoldelectionofficialsthattheycannotrejectmail-inabsenteeballotsunlessthere’sawaythatvoterscanfixerrors

• Lawsuittorestorevotingrightstoformerfelons(pending)• TheACLUbroughtanewlawsuitthatseekstoblockthewitness

requirementformail-invoting(pending)• GeneralAssemblylawmakersaskedaNorthCarolinaSuperiorCourtto

liftaninjunctiononthestate’sphotoIDlawafteranewelectionslaw

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madethephotoIDrequirementlessstrict,removingthecourt’srationaleforblockingthelawinthefirstplace(pending)

• ProgressivegroupsfiledalawsuittochallengeNorthCarolina’ssignaturematchinglaw,askingthecourttosetasystemthatnotifiesvotersofanyissuesandallowsthemtocuretheirballotsoveremail,fax,orinperson(pending)

COVID-19

• Cases,hospitalizations,anddeathsallrecentlysurged,buthavebeguntodecreasefromtheirpeak

• Retailstores,restaurants,salonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,gyms,museums,andpoolsareopen,buttheGovernorhaspausedthestate’sreopeningsobarsandmovietheatersareclosed

• Onlyhybridorremoteinstructionallowedinschools

PENNSYLVANIA:PRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October19th:Voterregistrationdeadline• October27th:Lastdaytoapplyforamail-inballot• November3rd:Absenteeballotsmustbepostmarked• November6th:Absenteeballotreceiptdeadline• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto8:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• In-personabsenteevoting• Nosignaturematching• Ballotdropboxes• Noearlyvoting• Absenteeballotreturndeadline

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• Pennsylvaniaannouncedthatthestatewillpayforreturnpostageonallabsenteeballots

• Pennsylvania’sstateelectionsagencyisaskinglawmakerstorequirecountiestodistributemail-inballotsearlierinNovemberandforfutureelectionsandtocountballotsaslongastheyarrivebytheFridayaftertheelectionaslongastheywerepostmarkedbyElectionDay

• PennsylvaniaagreedtoachangeproposedinalawsuitandaskedacourttoextendtheballotreceiptdeadlineandcountanyballotpostmarkedbyElectionDayandreceivedbythethirddayfollowingtheelection

• Pennsylvaniaelectionofficialsissuedguidancestatingthatcountiescannotrejectamail-inballotduesolelytoaperceivedmismatchbetweenthesignatureonthereturnenvelopeandthesignatureonthevoter’sregistrationrecord,thusstrikingdownsignaturematching

• ThePennsylvaniaSupremeCourtissuedrulingsthatextendedthemail-inballotreceiptdeadlineandauthorizedtheuseofdropboxesforreturningmail-inballots

COVID-19

• Caseshaveplateauedafterarecentsurge,butarenotyetdecreasing• Retailstores,malls,restaurants,bars,hairsalonsandbarbershops,

housesofworship,casinos,theaters,outdoorrecreation,andgymsareallopen

TEXAS:SENATEANDPRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October5th:Voterregistrationdeadline• October13th:Earlyvotingstarts

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• October23rd:Absenteeballotrequestpostreceiveddeadline• October30th:Earlyvotingends• November3rd:Absenteeballotpostmarkdeadline• November4th,5:00pm:Absenteeballotpostreceiveddeadline• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto7:00pm


• Earlyvoting• Absenteeballotmustbepostmarkedbyelectionday,butcanbe

receivedthedayafter• Noin-personabsenteevoting• Excusenecessaryforabsenteevoting,exceptforvoters65andolder• PhotoIDrequirement• Noballotcollection• Signaturematching


• Texas’sgovernorissuedaproclamationextendingtheearlyvotingperiodbynearlyaweekandallowingmail-inballotstobedeliveredinpersonthroughElectionDay

• TheTexasSupremeCourtputonholdaproposedexpansionofabsenteevotingthatwouldmakelackingimmunitytocoronavirusavalidexcusetoobtainanabsenteeballot(lawsuitschallengingthisdecisionareongoing)

• TheSupremeCourtdeniedtohearonanexpeditedbasisacasechallengingthedenialofnoexcuseabsenteevotingtovotersunder65,essentiallyensuringthattherulewillstayinplacethroughNovember

• AlawsuitinTexasclaimsthatin-personvotingruleswilldisenfranchiseBlackandLatinovotersduringthepandemicandasksafederaljudgetorequireamonthofearlyvoting,amaskmandateatpollingplaces,asuspensionofrulesthatlimitcurbsidevoting,theopeningofadditionalpollingplaces,andatemporaryreprievefroma

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lawthatendedthepracticeofsettinguptemporaryandmobileearlyvotingsites

COVID-19

• Caseshavesignificantlydecreasedsinceasurgeoverthesummer,buttheyarecurrentlyplateauingatafairlyhighnumberofdailycases

• Retailstores,malls,restaurants,salonsandbarbershops,housesofworship,entertainmentvenueslikemovietheaters,museums,androdeos,outdoorrecreation,gyms,offices,andmanufacturingareopen,andbusinessescanoperateat75%capacity,butbarsareclosed

• Schoolsareopen

WISCONSIN:PRESIDENTIALRegistrationDeadlines

• October14th:Onlinevoterregistrationdeadline,mail-inregistrationmustbepostmarked

• October29th:Lastdaytoapplyforamail-inballot• October30th:In-personvoterregistrationdeadline,mail-in

registrationmustbereceived• November3rd:Absenteeballotsmustbepostmarked• November9th:Absenteeballotreceiptdeadline• ElectionDayHours:7:00amto8:00pm


• Noexcuseabsenteevoting• In-personabsenteevoting• Earlyvoting(datesvarybymunicipality)• Absenteeballotapplicationautomaticallysenttoregisteredvoters• Witnessrequirement• Absenteeballotreturndeadline• PhotoIDrequirement

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• Signaturematching


• TheWisconsinElectionsCommissionagreedtosend2.7millionregisteredvotersformstorequestanabsenteeballotforthepresidentialelection

• Disastrousprimaryelectionduringpandemicshowedseriousflawswithabsenteeballotsystem

• Lawsuitschallengingvoterpurges,signaturematching,andabsenteeballotreturndeadline,andseekingtorequirethestatetosendeveryvoteranabsenteeballotrequestform,hiremorepollworkers,andexpandvotereducation(decisionexpectedbyendofAugust)

• AcourtruledthatapersonwhohasmovedtoWisconsinmustestablishresidencyatleast28daysbeforevoting,upfrom10dayspreviously,andtherulingalsodeterminedthatballotscanonlybesentbymailandearlyvotingcannotbeginmorethan14dayspriortoElectionDay

• AjudgeinWisconsinissuedanorderextendingthemail-inballotreceiptdeadlineinthestatetoNovember9thforballotspostmarkedonorbeforeElectionDay(appealsexpectedwithinaweek)

COVID-19

• Newcasesaresteadilyincreasingandreachingall-timehighs• Retailstores,restaurants,bars,hairsalonsandbarbershops,housesof

worship,outdoorrecreation,andgymsareallopen• Governorhasissuedamaskmandate

voting in battleground states · • pennsylvania agreed to a change proposed in a lawsuit and...

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