Decision upholds two Arizona anti-voter provisions: banning third-party ballot collection and invalidating any ballot accidentally cast in the wrong precinct
ATLANTA — Today, Fair Fight Action, the voting rights group founded by Stacey Abrams, responded to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee. In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld two Arizona anti-voter provisions: banning ballot collection by third parties and allowing for any ballot cast in the wrong precinct to be thrown out entirely.
The ban on third-party ballot collection will disproportionately harm Native American voters and voters who live in rural Arizona, many of whom do not have access to reliable mail services. Arizona was previously covered by federal preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and has shuttered at least 320 polling locations between 2012 and 2018—disportionately impacting Latino and other voters of color in Arizona.
The decision comes on the heels of a slate of over 400 anti-voter bills being pushed in 48 state legislatures across the country in the last six months alone—all part of a coordinated, nationwide effort by the Republican Party to stifle the political power of voters of color who turned out in historic numbers in 2020 and 2021.
Fair Fight Action Chair Stacey Abrams issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision is an affront to voters of color and underscores the urgent need for federal action to protect the freedom to vote. The erosion of our democracy is gaining speed, and without minimum national voting standards, we will all be the victims of its demise. Fair Fight Action will never cease in our efforts to protect the right of every individual voter to be heard, especially voters of color targeted by state legislation. The patriotic work of forming a more perfect union requires us to stand together and demand equal access to the ballot box for every eligible voter across America. The time has never been more urgent for Senators to come together to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”
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