A Dane County Circuit Court judge determined this week that Wisconsin’s absentee voting procedures violate the rights of disabled voters by requiring paper ballots exclusively. Judge Everett Mitchell found that the current system denies disabled individuals “the equal opportunity to vote absentee privately and independently,” according to the ruling issued Tuesday.
The lawsuit was initiated in 2024 by Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters, and four disabled voters who contend that the absence of electronic absentee voting options violates their right to independence and privacy under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mitchell had previously issued a temporary injunction in 2024 directing that disabled voters be given electronic voting options, but an appeals court reversed that decision, determining that such an order would have substantially altered the existing voting system.
Despite finding discrimination in the absentee process, the judge declined to mandate that election officials provide electronic ballots to qualified disabled voters at this time. Mitchell cited ongoing disputes between the parties regarding whether electronic voting constitutes a reasonable solution, pointing to implementation challenges and potential risks associated with establishing such a program. Under his earlier ruling, voters who self-certify their inability to read or mark a paper ballot without assistance would qualify to request electronic absentee ballots.
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature has opposed the lawsuit. Neither the plaintiffs nor the Wisconsin Elections Commission provided estimates of how many disabled voters might utilize electronic absentee voting if implemented. A hearing is scheduled for August 12, where a trial date may be established. Election officials said the matter will almost certainly not be resolved before the November election.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI