The Supreme Court reinstated a restriction in South Carolina on Monday requiring absentee voters to provide a witness signature along with their ballot.
The decision was a victory for Republicans who asked judges to revive the rule to mitigate possible electoral fraud, although electoral law experts say their concerns are not based on reality and that postal voting is safe.
The order largely reversed a first instance court that sided with the contesters, who said that the need to obtain a witness’s signature created an unconstitutional burden on voting rights during the pandemic. But the order does not apply to votes already issued or received in the next two days.
The restriction is likely to have a greater impact on Democratic candidate supporters Joe Biden
Joe BidenPostal Service reports profits after increased holiday deliveries Night defense: Pentagon presses to eradicate extremism in the ranks | Chief Admiral condemns extremism after tie, hate speech discovered that Republican Party senators send a clear signal: Trump is being acquitted MORE, which are more likely than President Trump
Donald TrumpSchoen says the Trump team will be “very well prepared” after criticism that Iowa Republicans seek to cut funds for schools with 1619 Project on the curriculum Capitol protest seen smoking in the imprisoned Rotunda MOREsupporters to vote by mail.
The development comes at a time when recent polls show that Trump and Biden are in a statistical tie in South Carolina, which has not been elected by the Democratic candidate for more than 40 years.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Michael Kavanaugh Central Democrats pose a major problem for progressives. The Supreme Court has lifted some restrictions on California’s religious services. Undoing Trump will require more than executive orders MORE, one named by Trump, said that restoring the restriction is appropriate because it is supported by state election officials and could help prevent disturbances that may accompany the lifting of the witness requirement just a few weeks before the vote.
“For many years, this Court has repeatedly emphasized that federal courts should not normally change state electoral rules in the run-up to an election,” wrote Kavanaugh.
The most conservative members of the court – judges Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas Supreme Court raises some restrictions on California’s religious services. Supreme Court denies review of former NY lawmaker’s corruption conviction Undoing Trump will require more than executive orders MORE, Samuel Alito
Samuel AlitoAlito ‘is not surprised’ at the reaction to comments on virus restrictions Undoing Trump will require more than executive orders Biden’s official removes Trump’s last-minute LGBT memo MORE and Neil Gorsuch
Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court raises some restrictions on California religious services So much for Joe Biden, moderate Supreme Court denies review of former NY lawmaker’s corruption conviction MORE – would have gone further by demanding that those who have already voted absent without the signature of a witness must vote again.
There were no notable differences in order.