Voting rights advocates with several organizations will hold arguments on Thursday regarding a lawsuit filed earlier this month. The suit, Arctic Village Council v. Meyer, challenges an absentee ballot witness requirement that the plaintiffs claim puts Alaskans at an increased risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Alaska, Native American Rights Fund, and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
The aim of the lawsuit is to waive a provision of state law for the upcoming November general election that requires voters who submit a mail-in absentee ballot to have a witness sign their ballot return envelope, despite being in the midst of a highly contagious virus.
According to a release by the ACLU, Alaska’s witness requirement could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters in Alaska who cannot risk contact with other individuals to vote in person or obtain a witness signature on their absentee ballot.
The Anchorage Superior Court will hear oral arguments on Thursday, October 1, at 2:30 p.m. Because of safety precautious prompted by COVID-19 risks, arguments will take place telephonically. Members of the public can listen-in by calling-in at (800) 768-2983 using Access Code 2640561#.