On October 17, 2024, significant court rulings in Alabama, Nebraska, and Georgia have reversed measures that would have limited voter access in the upcoming U.S. elections.
In Alabama, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco issued a preliminary injunction against a voter purge program initiated by Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen. This program aimed to remove individuals deemed 'noncitizens' from the voter rolls, but studies indicated that claims of noncitizen voting were exaggerated. The court's decision protects the voting rights of many citizens who could have been disenfranchised by the program.
Meanwhile, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a law allowing felons who have completed their sentences to vote, rejecting arguments from Secretary of State Robert Evnen that the law violated the state constitution. This ruling is expected to enable thousands of citizens with felony convictions to register and vote.
In Georgia, a judge ruled that seven new election rules passed by the Republican-dominated State Election Board were illegal and unconstitutional. Among the struck-down rules was a requirement for poll workers to count ballots by hand on election day, which voting rights advocates argued would slow the counting process and increase errors. The judge emphasized that local officials must certify election results, countering concerns that they could refuse certification based on unsubstantiated fraud claims.
These rulings are part of ongoing legal battles surrounding voting access in the United States, as the November 5 general election approaches.