This database consolidates and tracks litigation concerning the effect of the pandemic on election law. The purpose of this tool is to provide an interactive list of relevant cases that can be searched by issue, court, status, and jurisdiction.
Case Details
Vote Forward et al v. DeJoy et al
Closed
Vote Forward et al v. DeJoy et al, No. 1:20-cv-02405 (D.D.C.) |
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| Case Summary | The lawsuit brings claims focusing on: (1) the delay in the delivery of mail ballots caused by the policy changes, which will place unconstitutional burdens on the right to vote during the ongoing pandemic; and (2) the Postmaster General’s failure to seek approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, as required by law, before unilaterally implementing policy changes that have a significant nationwide impact. The lawsuit seeks a narrow remedy that would get the Postal Service to return service back to its normal pace ahead of the election this November and appoint an independent monitor to oversee service. | |
| Filed | 08/28/2020 | |
| State | District Columbia | |
| Type of Court | Federal | |
| Circuit | D.C. Circuit | |
| Status | Closed | |
| Last Updated | 03/13/2021 | |
| Issue Tag(s) | Vote-by-Mail (US Postal Service, US Postal Service) Intentional delay of mail that burdens fundamental right to vote Changes to USPS operations were improperly approved |
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| Complaint(s) | 08/28/2020: Complaint filed. | |
| Dispositive Ruling(s) | 09/28/2020: Order/Ruling, The DC Circuit enjoined defendant USPS and its agents from implementing the policy changes that are causing mail delays. | |
| 11/01/2020: Order/Ruling, Judge Emmett Sullivan issued an order with several directives for the USPS with respect to election mail. These special processing instructions include the use of express mail for election mail and daily certifications to the judge that they have expedited the ballots. | ||
| 11/03/2020: Order/Ruling, Judge Sullivan, following his receipt of USPS election mail statistics, ordered that the USPS sweep its facilities to discover and mail out delayed ballots in Central Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Detroit, Colorado/Wyoming, Atlanta, Houston, Alabama, Northern New England, Greater South Carolina, South Florida, Lakeland, and Arizona. | ||
| 11/04/2020: Order/Ruling, Judge Sullivan, in light of the USPS's newest filings, ordered that Texas facilities conduct immediate sweeps for ballots and deliver them. | ||
