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Suit to Reopen Polling Places on an Indian Reservation

Robert Timothy Reagan, Margaret S. Williams, Marie Leary, Catherine R. Borden, Jessica L. Snowden, Patricia D. Breen, Jason A. Cantone
October 25, 2023

Spirit Lake Tribe v. Benson County (Ralph R. Erickson, D.N.D. 2:10-cv-95)
Approximately one month before election day, a tribe filed a federal complaint challenging a county decision the previous year to close seven out of eight polling places to promote voting by mail. The district judge issued a preliminary injunction reopening the two polling places on the tribe’s reservation on evidence that both traveling to the remaining polling place and voting by mail were especially difficult for members of the tribe. The parties converted the preliminary injunction into a consent decree.
Subject: Voting procedures. Topics: Poll locations; section 2 discrimination.

One of many Case Studies in Emergency Election Litigation.

Downloadable file:
PDF icon Case Study 1 page

Tags:
Election Litigation | Poll Location | Section 2 Discrimination | Voting Procedures | Voting Rights Act | Emergency Proceedings | U.S. District Courts | D.N.D.