Priorities USA Funds Legal Intervention Against GOP-Sponsored Effort to Limit Ballot Drop Box Access in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Priorities USA announced funding for a legal intervention by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans to oppose a right-wing effort to severely restrict access to drop boxes in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
The intervention, funded by Priorities USA and brought by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, opposes a request for an injunction that would impose undue restrictions on ballot drop box access for the upcoming election. The America First Legal Foundation filed the lawsuit on behalf of four Allentown voters asking the court to order that drop boxes should be available only during regular business hours and that they should be “physically monitored in-person, a tactic Republicans have previously used to intimidate voters during ballot collection.
Drop box ballot return is a crucial, convenient method for voters to exercise their right to vote. Efforts to limit accessibility of drop boxes will disproportionately disenfranchise voters of color, elderly voters, disabled voters and students.
“We fought Pennsylvania Republicans as they tried again and again to eliminate access to drop box voting during a deadly pandemic in 2020. Priorities is ready and able to combat these voter suppression tactics yet again,” said Aneesa McMillan, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA. “Drop boxes are a crucial way for voters to access the franchise on their own schedule and on their own terms. Limiting access to these tools will disproportionately disenfranchise Black and Brown voters, elderly voters, disabled voters and students. Priorities has consistently centered these communities in our efforts to protect access to the ballot and we will continue to do so as we seek relief for voters.”
“Older Pennsylvanians take voting seriously. If this lawsuit is successful, it will make it much harder for seniors in Lehigh County to cast their ballot,” said Jody Weinreich, President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans. “For example, we know that many older people rely on friends or family members to give them a ride to return their ballots – and those drivers simply may not be available to take them between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.”
“The plaintiffs in this case are asking the court to impose a blatant voter suppression scheme in Lehigh County,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “We are going to fight to ensure that all older voters are able to cast a ballot without unnecessary barriers or intimidation.”
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