COVID-Related Election Litigation Tracker

Case Details

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

 

National Urban League v. DeJoy

Active

National Urban League v. DeJoy, No. 1:20-cv-2391 (D. Md.)

  Case Summary USPS enacted operational changes in July 2020 that reduced postal service worker hours, forbade overtime, and directed mail-carriers to leave mail behind under certain circumstances. Plaintiffs claim that USPS (1) intentionally delayed the mail and threatens to unconstitutionally burden voters' fundamental right to vote; (2) unconsitutionally burdens first amendment free speech rights; (3) implemented these changes without the statutorily required notice and comment; and (4) that these changes exceeded the USPS's statutory mandate and fails to give highest consideration to the timely delivery of letter mail. Plaintiff further claims that these changes will delay delivery of election mail if still in place in November. Plaintiffs seek (1) declarations that the USPS's actions were unlawful, and (2) injunctions halting operational changes and reinstating past USPS practices.
Filed 08/18/2020
State Maryland
Type of Court Federal
Circuit Fourth Circuit
Status Active
Last Updated 02/18/2021
Issue Tag(s) Vote-by-Mail (US Postal Service, US Postal Service)
Authority To Act (Other)
Intentional delay of mail that burdens fundamental right to vote
Changes to USPS operations outside of authority
Complaint(s) 08/18/2020: Complaint filed.
Dispositive Ruling(s) 10/29/2020: Order/Ruling, The court denies plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction on the grounds that plaintiffs have failed to establish that they will suffer irreparable harm absent the injunction. The court notes that seven other court orders have been issued in similar cases, and these orders already address the relief the plaintiffs seek. Further, plaintiffs' request for preliminary injunction comes too late for a court order to be effective, as it would likely do more to cause chaos and confusion than it would to provide relief.
12/14/2020: Other, Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss the action without prejudice.
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