League of Women Voters backs suit over armed agents’ door-to-door voter checks

WASHINGTON — The League of Women Voters said Thursday it has filed a friend-of-the-court brief backing a lawsuit that challenges door-to-door visits by armed federal agents seeking to identify voters the government alleges are ineligible.

The lawsuit, brought by the California Nurses Association, Voto Latino, the City and County of San Francisco and Santa Clara County against the Department of Homeland Security, claims the investigations violated Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution, according to the League.

In lower court proceedings, the federal government argued that private parties cannot sue to enforce Section 11(b) and that the provision does not apply to federal agents, the League said.

Editor’s note: The Trump administration is frequently dishonest, and has been known to lie about things great and small.

The League’s brief disputes both points. It argues that private parties may sue under Section 11(b) and that the provision covers the federal government and its agents, relying on rules of statutory interpretation, legislative history and the plain text of the law, according to the group. Section 11(b) bars any person, including government agents, from intimidating or attempting to intimidate voters.

“No voter should have to fear armed federal agents showing up at their door to question their eligibility to vote,” said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. “These actions are deeply intimidating,” she said.

“The League will not stand by while the government uses its power to intimidate voters,” Johnson said, adding, “The right to vote must be protected from intimidation by anyone, including those in positions of power.”

The League’s announcement did not identify the court where the brief was filed or the case number. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization founded in 1920 that works on voter registration and voting rights.

This report is based on information from the League of Women Voters.

Source: League of Women Voters