WASHINGTON – South Carolina officials are asking the United States Supreme Court to block a lower court decision that suspends the requirement that ballots be signed by a witness and also by the voter.
In adopting some adaptations for the coronavirus pandemic, the state legislature deliberately refused to suspend the requirement, considering it a tool to curb fraud. But in response to a Democratic lawsuit, a federal judge ordered the state not to comply and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.
State officials say more than 150,000 absentee ballots have already been sent.
“Every day that passes increases the risk that the ballots will be returned that, because they mistakenly trust the district court injunction, will not meet the requirement of witnesses,” the officials wrote in their motion.
His emergency appeal was addressed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who deals with the Fourth Circuit cases. He will likely ask for a response from Democrats in South Carolina and then refer the case to full court.
In August, the Supreme Court refused to block a decision by a court of first instance that lifted the requirement to sign two witnesses on ballots in Rhode Island. In this case, however, the Secretary of State defended the suspension of the requirement for witnesses. In South Carolina, election officials want to keep the demand active.
