Rose Law Group Regulatory Attorney Thomas Galvin Weighs In On SCOTUS Taking Up Arizona ‘Ballot Harvesting’ Law

By Madelaine Braggs, Chief Digital Officer | Rose Law Group Reporter

The Supreme Court of the United States is getting involved in Arizona elections. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today that SCOTUS will be reviewing a state law forbidding someone from turning in another voter’s early ballot. The only exceptions being a care giver or someone in that person’s family.

“This will be a fascinating case to watch. The Supreme Court will now be deliberating on a ballot collection matter that detractors call “ballot harvesting.” The Arizona law permits only certain persons, including family and household members and mail carriers, to handle your early ballot. The law was challenged in federal court and was upheld by a district court and upheld by a Ninth Circuit panel. However, the Ninth Circuit, en banc, reversed the rulings. The questions presented to the Supreme Court are whether Arizona’s ballot-harvesting law violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and/or the Fifteenth Amendment? This will be a case of an argument for voting rights on one side and preservation of the ‘sanctity of the ballot’ on the other side.”

Rose Law Group Regulatory Attorney Thomas Galvin