The League of Women Voters of Alabama Responds
to the Dismissal of Vote Safe Lawsuit
#VoteSafeAL
Mobile, Alabama - On Wednesday, a Circuit Court Judge in Montgomery dismissed the League of Women Voters’ lawsuit which asked him to order Governor Ivey and Secretary of State Merrill to exercise their emergency powers to protect Alabama voters as recommended by the CDC during the COVID pandemic. League President Barbara Caddell issued the following statement in response:
“COVID 19 is a very real threat, not only to voters’ physical health but also to the health of Alabama’s electoral process. We are profoundly disappointed by the judge’s decision, which allows elections to proceed in their current state.”
“The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. This case was filed to do just that. It was filed in the Alabama court system based on the Alabama Constitution and the Alabama Emergency Management Act which protect the right to vote in times of “tumult” and give the Governor and the Secretary of State emergency power to protect citizens during emergencies. This pandemic certainly qualifies as “tumult” requiring additional emergency assistance.”
“Since the Judge ruled that he did not have the authority to require the Governor and Secretary of State to use their emergency power, we are appealing to the Governor for help. In the past, Governor Ivey has demonstrated her concern for Alabamians in a variety of ways, and we encourage her to address our concerns for election safety by using her emergency power to order such common-sense voter protections as:
- Suspend the requirement that a copy of the voter’s photo ID be included with the voter’s application for an absentee ballot
- Suspend the requirement that the absentee ballot be notarized or signed by two witnesses;
- Provide adequate personal protective equipment for clerks and poll workers and disinfecting polling equipment;
- Require in-person voters to wear masks and maintain social distancing;
- Authorize local election officials to provide early voting at least fourteen days before each election day;
- Authorize local election officials to provide drive-through or curbside voting where practicable, to establish vote centers and relax restrictions on wrong-precinct voting;
- Provide local election officials the financial resources to implement these emergency measures; and
- Adequately notify all Alabama voters of these emergency measures. This includes either notifying voters that no box need be checked to vote absentee or modifying the absentee application and ballot forms to inform voters explicitly which boxes to check.
The League of Women Voters does not want Alabamians to have to choose between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health and safety. We encourage voters to contact Governor Ivey today and urge her to order these protections for electoral safety.
###
About the League of Women Voters of Alabama
The League of Women Voters of Alabama is a nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation in government, increased understanding of major public policy issues, and which seeks to influence public policy through education and advocacy
If you do not wish to receive LWVAL media releases, opinion editorials, or announcements, please notify Jean Johnson at jjohnson@lwval.org or contact the League at 205 871-8194.
Connect with us!
World Wide Web: https://lwval.org
Facebook: https://facebook.com/lwval
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lwval
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LWVAlabama
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwval |
