AG Mark Brnovich asks SCOTUS to review ruling on Arizona voting laws
Apr 28, 2020, 4:45 AM
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced he is asking the United States Supreme Court to review a ruling that struck down state laws aimed at restricting ballot harvesting and out-of-precinct voting.
Brnovich petitioned the nation’s highest court for a writ of certiorari on Monday that could result in the overturning of a January ruling issued by the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals, according to a press release.
The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in DNC v. Hobbs that banning ballot harvesting was done with discriminatory intent and that the practice of discounting ballots cast at incorrect precincts has disproportionate effects on minority voters.
In February, Brnovich obtained a stay from the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit which allowed the the ballot harvesting restrictions and voting precinct practices to remain in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court hears the appeal of the case.
Brnovich’s legal opposition has 30 days to respond to the petition for review. The Supreme Court will then decide whether or not to hear the case.
Arizona passed HB 2023 in 2016, thereby banning certain aspects of ballot harvesting. The law limits gathering ballots on behalf of other individuals to family members, caregivers or those who live in the same households.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
