R.I. Parents for Progress v. Board of Elections

  • Filed: 03/28/2004
  • Status: Closed
  • Latest Update: Mar 28, 2004
Placeholder image

Lawsuit challenging the Board of Elections’ plan to disqualify the “provisional ballots” cast by voters who registered by mail after January 1, 2003 if they failed to provide acceptable identification at the polling place. Shortly after the suit was filed, the Board reversed its position and agreed to count those ballots.

Attorney(s):
John W. Dineen

State Settles ACLU "Provisional Ballot" Lawsuit; Ballots of Voters Without ID Will Be Counted

Responding to an ACLU lawsuit filed earlier this morning, the state Board of Elections has agreed to count all provisional ballots cast by voters who are unable to provide identification at their polling place. The Board had previously indicated that it would disqualify all such ballots cast by individuals who had registered to vote by mail since January 1, 2003 but who did not submit an identification document with their application. ACLU volunteer attorney John W. Dineen called the Board’s reversal of position “a vindication of the voting rights of hundreds of Rhode Island residents.”

Placeholder image

ACLU Files Suit Over Fate of Provisional Ballots

The ACLU of RI has this morning filed an emergency lawsuit against the state, seeking a court order requiring elections officials to count potentially hundreds of ballots to be cast tomorrow that the Board of Elections plans to reject as invalid. The suit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney John W. Dineen on behalf of RI Parents for Progress, a low-income advocacy organization engaged in voter registration activities, argues that the Board’s position is a violation of voter rights and a 2002 federal law known as the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

Placeholder image

Related News & Podcasts

News & Commentary
Nov 02, 2004
Placeholder image
  • Voting Rights

State Settles ACLU "Provisional Ballot" Lawsuit; Ballots of Voters Without ID Will Be Counted

Responding to an ACLU lawsuit filed earlier this morning, the state Board of Elections has agreed to count all provisional ballots cast by voters who are unable to provide identification at their polling place. The Board had previously indicated that it would disqualify all such ballots cast by individuals who had registered to vote by mail since January 1, 2003 but who did not submit an identification document with their application. ACLU volunteer attorney John W. Dineen called the Board’s reversal of position “a vindication of the voting rights of hundreds of Rhode Island residents.”
News & Commentary
Nov 01, 2004
Placeholder image
  • Voting Rights

ACLU Files Suit Over Fate of Provisional Ballots

The ACLU of RI has this morning filed an emergency lawsuit against the state, seeking a court order requiring elections officials to count potentially hundreds of ballots to be cast tomorrow that the Board of Elections plans to reject as invalid. The suit, filed by RI ACLU volunteer attorney John W. Dineen on behalf of RI Parents for Progress, a low-income advocacy organization engaged in voter registration activities, argues that the Board’s position is a violation of voter rights and a 2002 federal law known as the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).