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Arizona's 'Ballot Harvesting' Ban Upheld

A divided federal appeals court has upheld Arizona's law that bars any person from collect the voted or unvoted ballot of anyone else, finding the state's need to hold orderly elections outweighs any unproven impact it might have on minority voters.

A divided federal appeals court has upheld Arizona's new ban on "ballot harvesting," finding the state's need to hold orderly elections outweighs any unproven impact it might have on minority voters.
 
"This case is not one in which 'qualified voters might be turned away from the polls,'" two of the judges wrote for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling Friday. "Rather, it is one in which voters are precluded from giving their ballots to third party ballot collectors and organizations must use an alternative means of mobilizing their voters."
 
The 2-1 ruling applies to Arizona's House Bill 2023, a law passed by the Legislature earlier this year. It requires ballots that are dropped off to be delivered by the voter or a family member or caregiver.
 
Democrats and other critics said the law disproportionately affects minorities who may rely on transportation from others to cast their ballots. Two of the appeals court's judges, Carlos T. Bea and Sandra S. Ikuta, were not persuaded. 

Elizabeth Daigneau is GOVERNING's managing editor.