Priorities USA Announces Voting Rights Victory as Court Rejects GOP Attempt to Restrict Ballot Drop Box Access in Pennsylvania

October 19, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Lehigh County Court in Pennsylvania rejected a GOP-led attempt to restrict access to ballot drop boxes in Lehigh County just weeks before Election Day. Priorities USA supported and funded the effort by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans to successfully combat this attempt to suppress the vote.

Priorities USA and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans opposed the America First Legal Foundation’s (AFLF) lawsuit to restrict ballot drop boxes on the grounds that it would create unnecessary barriers to vote, especially for older voters. AFLF’s suit called for the physical monitoring of drop boxes, which is a tactic that intimidates voters and has historically oppressed marginalized communities. In this case, requiring in-person monitors also would have led Lehigh County to reduce or eliminate drop boxes due to resource constraints. The lawsuit also sought to prevent the use of drop boxes outside of regular business hours, which would create obstacles for voters who work during the day or depend on family members for transportation.

In today’s decision, the court determined there is no evidence of fraud associated with drop boxes from the past two election cycles, Lehigh County’s use of drop boxes is secure and legal, and voters should have free and legal access to drop boxes without in-person monitoring that has historically oppressed marginalized communities.

“I am encouraged that the court took the correct action to prevent this blatant attempt to suppress the vote. The GOP has consistently attempted to restrict access to the ballot for voters in Pennsylvania and Priorities is proud of this significant victory to counter these efforts,” said Aneesa McMillan, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA. “This is a crucial win for Pennsylvania voters and Priorities will continue combating voter suppression efforts in the courts.”

“We are relieved that this blatant scheme to suppress the vote in Lehigh County was stopped in its tracks,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “There is nothing more sacred than the right to vote, and the Alliance will always fight to ensure every older voter can make their voices heard at the polls.”