TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Chancellor Shames State for Violating Absentee Voting Order

Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 11, 2020

Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle has called out state officials for not following a court order on mail-in absentee voting, the Daily Memphian reports. Last week, Lyle ordered the state to give all registered voters the option to vote by mail and to create forms allowing voters to check one of two boxes if they have concerns about catching COVID-19 at a polling location or are taking care of someone who could be affected by the virus. This week Lyle determined that the state has violated her initial order by putting COVID-19 voters’ applications on hold until the matter is finished in court. She has directed them to put up a new form by noon tomorrow and to instruct county election officials to comply with it by 5 p.m. tomorrow or the state could face contempt charges. “Shame on you for not following that procedure and just taking matters into your own hands,” Lyle said. A representative with the Attorney General’s Office argued the state is trying to comply with orders, but admitted the state had instructions on its website contrary to the chancellor’s order, but has now removed them.

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