Federal judge blocks Mississippi law restricting help for absentee voters – By Julia Shapero (The Hill) / July 17, 2023
A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked a Mississippi law restricting the groups of people permitted to assist voters with casting their absentee ballots.
U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate barred Mississippi officials from applying the law in the state’s primary elections next month and general elections in November and required that the Mississippi secretary of state help with the “dissemination of information to the public” about the court’s order.
The law, which went into effect July 1, restricts people from delivering another person’s ballot unless they are an election worker, a member of the U.S. Postal Service, a common carrier, or a family member, household member or caregiver to the person.
Disability Rights Mississippi, the League of Women Voters of Mississippi and three Mississippi voters sued state officials in late May, alleging that the law violates the Voting Rights Act. Under the 1965 law, those who need assistance with voting due to physical disabilities, blindness or language barriers have a right to seek help from “any person they want.”
