Wisconsin judge rules that paper absentee ballots violate rights of certain disabled people
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Absentee voting in Wisconsin discriminates against disabled voters, a judge ruled Tuesday, siding with groups that are seeking to force election officials to allow for electronic casting of ballots. But Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell…
On Tuesday, Madison Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell ruled that Wisconsin's paper absentee ballot system discriminates against disabled voters, siding with Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters, and four disabled individuals who filed the lawsuit in 2024. The plaintiffs argued that the absence of electronic absentee voting options violated their rights to independence, privacy, and the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In 2024, Mitchell issued a temporary injunction, asserting that disabled individuals should be allowed to vote electronically. However, an appeals court overturned this decision, sending it back to the lower court for further proceedings. The judge emphasized that the current paper ballot system poses challenges for disabled voters, including the difficulty of completing and returning ballots and the risks associated with electronic voting.
While the judge declined to mandate electronic ballots, he noted that voters who self-certify their inability to read or mark paper ballots without assistance would still be eligible to request electronic options. The Republican-controlled state legislature remains opposed to the lawsuit. The trial on the issue of electronic voting is expected to continue beyond the November election.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
