TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Supreme Court Won’t Block Absentee Voting Expansion

Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 25, 2020

The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled yesterday that it will not block a judge’s order allowing a vote-by-mail option for all eligible voters during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessean reports. Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle earlier this month ordered that expansion to protect the health of voters during the pandemic. The majority of the justices voted against stopping the absentee voting expansion pending appeal, but agreed with the state’s wish to fast-track the appeal without a lower appellate court considering it. State officials have opposed the expansion, saying it wouldn’t be feasible due to lack of money, personnel and equipment. The high court wrote that it considered those issues, but found that the state “has not met its burden of demonstrating that the balance of the relevant factors weighs in favor of a stay pending appeal." Voters can apply for an absentee ballot until July 30.

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