ACLU of Louisiana Asks Orleans Court to Stop Secretary of State from Blocking Ballot Drop-Off Sites

NEW ORLEANS – In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today, the ACLU of Louisiana asked the Orleans Parish Civil District Court to prevent Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin from prohibiting local registrars from establishing additional drop-off sites for voters to return their absentee ballots.

Last week the New Orleans City Council sued Secretary Ardoin after he expressed his opinion that Louisiana’s Election Code does not permit registrars to collect absentee ballots via drop-off sites. While the Council dropped its request for a temporary injunction against the Secretary yesterday, the Council is continuing to ask the court for a judgement that additional drop-off sites other than the registrar’s office are permissible under state law.

“Not only is Secretary Ardoin’s interpretation of state law incorrect, it also represents an unreasonable, unwarranted restriction on the right to vote that would disproportionately impact Black voters,” said Alanah Odoms, ACLU of Louisiana executive director. “Unfortunately, the Secretary’s effort to restrict absentee ballot drop-off sites is part of a pattern of voter suppression attempts that has forced too many Louisianans to choose between their health and their right to vote during a pandemic. We’re asking the Court to affirm that registrars have the authority under state law to establish additional sites, other than their offices, for voters to safely and securely drop off their absentee ballots.”

A copy of the friend-of-the-court brief filed today is online at: https://www.laaclu.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/20201022_council_v._ardoin_amicus_brief.pdf

This release is at: https://www.laaclu.org/en/press-releases/aclu-louisiana-asks-orleans-court-stop-secretary-state-blocking-ballot-drop-sites