Vet Voice Foundation v. Hobbs
Civic organizations and voters allege that Washington’s signature verification process for vote-by-mail ballots disproportionally disenfranchises minority voters, young voters, military personnel, voters with disabilities, and non-native English speakers, in violation of state constitutional voting rights protections. The plaintiffs and the state defendants are appealing their respective denials of summary judgment. The Washington Supreme Court will address what standard of judicial review should be used for the state constitutional challenges and whether, under the appropriate standard of judicial review, any party should have been granted summary judgment.
The Brennan Center submitted an amicus brief in support of neither party, arguing that the Washington Constitution provides stronger protections for voters than the federal Constitution, and that the court should use strict scrutiny — the most rigorous form of judicial review — when evaluating laws and practices that burden voting.
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