I mentioned the other day that two lawsuits were filed this week in Arizona to put an end to right-wing goons harassing voters dropping off their ballots at drop boxes. As has been documented, armed thugs wearing bulletproof vests are hanging out by ballot boxes, following voters and harassing them, accusing them of being “mules,” even filming their license plates. Marc Elias’s Democracy Docket and the Democracy Project both filed lawsuits intended to stop the harassment.
Two separate lawsuits have been filed aiming to stop extremist groups from surveilling drop boxes in Maricopa and Yavapai and counties. The lawsuits sought to bar three groups — the Arizona chapter of the Oath Keepers, the Yavapai County-based Lions of Liberty, and Clean Elections USA, which is run by QAnon-linked Melody Jennings — from continuing to surveil drop boxes.
A trump-appointed federal judge in Phoenix just rejected the two lawsuits, ruling that “while there are serious questions implicated, the Court cannot provide preliminary injunctive relief without infringing core constitutional rights.”
Judge Michael Liburdi essentially ruled that because the wingers actually believe people are conducting illegal activities at the drop boxes, they have a right to monitor the supposed crimes. He also ruled that the defendants have a First Amendment right to film voters and their vehicles.
This ruling won’t encourage more “poll watcher” harassment, especially on election day—oh no, not at all! Fearing a court battle, Prescott-based Lions of Liberty had said after the lawsuits were filed that they’d cease monitoring ballot boxes. Wanna bet they won’t be at it again today?
Bueller? Bueller? DOJ? DOJ? Anyone? Anyone?
On Friday, Arizona nonprofit Activate 48 sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Justice Department to investigate instances of voter intimidation in the state.
Just as I hit “publish” on this diary today’s snail mail arrived, including a letter from the Center for Voter Information in Phoenix. Among other election facts, the letter reminded me: Voting is free of intimidation of any kind. Really, “of any kind”?
