Judge denies Native American effort to stop North Dakota voter address rule

A federal judge denied a last-minute emergency request to prevent North Dakota's new street address requirement for voting from applying to Tuesday's midterm election.

Corey Goldstone, a spokesman for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit representing some of the plaintiffs, responded via email: "While we are disappointed with the order, Judge Hovland was correct that the evidence indicates that disenfranchisement will be 'certain.' We are considering our options."

The requirement presents difficulties for some Native Americans in the state who have traditionally used post office boxes, loose locators or even vouching from poll workers to vote. It's been estimated as many as 5,000 of the state's tribal citizens, who overwhelmingly vote Democrat, have identification with a post office box address. Under the law, they'll have to get state-issued or tribal identification with a valid street address.

Read the full article