Oral Arguments Tomorrow: Anti-Voter Law in Kansas Must Be Struck Down
KANSAS CITY, KS – Tomorrow, Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and Simpson Thacher are presenting oral arguments at 1 p.m. Central Time in the Kansas City Courthouse before District Judge Kathryn H. Vratil in VoteAmerica v. Schwab, a legal challenge to Kansas law, H.B. 2332. That law restricts the distribution of mail ballot applications to voters by nonprofit organizations that work to promote higher levels of voting.
The plaintiffs filed suit in federal court on June 2, 2021 to block anti-voter provisions in H.B. 2332, which are set to go into effect in January. CLC and Simpson Thatcher are representing VoteAmerica and the Voter Participation Center, two nonprofits that work to promote voting and would suffer greatly if the law takes effect.
“America saw record voter turnout in last year’s presidential election. That is a sign of a healthy democracy,” said Paul Smith, vice president at Campaign Legal Center (CLC. “It’s a shame that politicians in Kansas see voting as a threat to their power. The court should allow our clients, nonpartisan organizations, to engage with voters and help people navigate confusing systems and facilitate voting by mail. H.B. 2332 is unconstitutional, and the court should strike it down.”
Earlier this year, the Kansas legislature overrode the governor’s veto and passed H.B. 2332, an omnibus elections bill that prohibits out-of-state entities from mailing advance mail ballot applications to any voter in the state, in violation of the organizations’ ability to engage in voter engagement efforts that constitute political speech protected by the First Amendment.
H.B. 2332 also criminalizes the mailing of advance mail ballot applications personalized with the voter’s name, address and other information, even if the voter provided that information and specifically requested an advance mail ballot application.
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