Arizona Democrats want ballots cast in wrong precincts counted
PHOENIX — A claim by Democrats that refusing to count ballots cast in the wrong precinct is illegal racial discrimination met with a skeptical reaction Wednesday from a panel of federal judges.
Attorney Elisabeth Frost argued there is statistical data showing minorities are more likely to show up at the wrong polling place. And she said that is the result of historical patterns of housing discrimination in Arizona.
But Judge Sandra Ikuta of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said she’s not sure that’s enough to overturn existing Arizona laws that say that ballots turned in on election day are counted only when cast at the proper precinct.
Factors cited by the Arizona Democratic Party and its allies include things like minorities having a greater tendency to rent and being more likely to move more often. Frost said that results in minorities being more likely to not know where they are supposed to vote, turning up in the wrong precinct and casting a ballot that is not counted.
Read more: http://tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/arizona-democrats-want-ballots-cast-in-wrong-precincts-counted/article_db27f4f6-0434-5c36-a8c4-6560fed6df24.html
