Federal judges deal double blows to Democrats' challenges of Arizona voting laws
Federal judges dealt double blows to Democrats' efforts to challenge Arizona election laws Tuesday, with an appeals court panel refusing to block a new law prohibiting get-out-the-vote groups from collecting early ballots and a U.S. District Court judge declining to order Arizona to count votes cast in the wrong precinct.
The rulings came in different parts of the same lawsuit filed by Democratic voters and national and state Democratic groups, along with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. It was filed after major problems with long lines during the March presidential primary election and the signing of the new ballot collection law by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.
In the ballot collection portion, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to overturn a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Rayes that kept the new law in effect. It means people who collect ballots for delivery to the polls in most cases face a felony charge.
Democratic groups challenged the law under the Voting Rights Act and argued it disproportionately affected minority voters. Republican backers argued it was needed to prevent voting fraud.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/10/12/judges-deal-double-blows-to-democrats-voting-challenges/91947778/
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