Trump Campaign, RNC File Lawsuit Against Nevada Over Expanded Mail-In Voting Bill
President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee (RNC) are suing the state of Nevada over a recently passed bill that would automatically send ballots to registered voters.
On Tuesday night, the Trump campaign and RNC filed a lawsuit against Nevada’s Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R) that argued a bill the state’s legislature passed on Sunday is unconstitutional. The bill was signed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) on August 3.
This bill will help prevent Nevadans from experiencing the long lines at polling locations they faced during the Primary election, which will protect their safety, safeguard their right to make their voices heard, and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
— Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) August 3, 2020
I am confident that Secretary of State Cegavske, in coordination with local clerks and registrars, will run a safe, fair and accessible election this November.
— Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) August 3, 2020
In a press release announcing the lawsuit, Trump campaign senior adviser Jenna Ellis said, “Democrats know President Trump is gaining ground in Nevada, so they fully and fundamentally overhauled Nevada’s election laws in a rushed 72-hour attempt to rig the election.”
“This unconstitutional legislation implements the exact universal vote-by-mail system President Trump has been warning against for months, making it nearly impossible for every Nevada voter’s ballot to count,” she added.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel alleged, “Democrats changed the rules of the game at the last minute to try and rig this election.”
“They overturned a bipartisan ballot harvesting ban to allow strangers to pick up a ballot for anyone, including the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and have thrown out many important safeguards,” she added.
The release said the RNC and Trump campaign hope to invalidate the bill, AB4, and prevent state officials from enforcing it.
On Sunday, the state legislature passed AB4 on a party-line vote. The bill would automatically send mail-in ballots to active voters in the state to help ensure residents can cast their vote without going to a polling station and risking exposure to COVID-19.
It also would require counties to open more polling locations for election day.
On Monday, Trump took to Twitter to blast the passage of the bill, as IJR reported.
“In an illegal late night coup, Nevada’s clubhouse Governor made it impossible for Republicans to win the state. Post Office could never handle the Traffic of Mail-In Votes without preparation,” he said in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290250416278532096
He added, “Using Covid to steal the state. See you in Court!”
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