Arctic Village Council v. Meyer

This case was filed in anticipation of the November 2020 Presidential Election. Plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that Alaska’s witness requirement for casting absentee ballots by mail or electronic transmission was an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote. Plaintiffs cast the situation as presenting voters with “an untenable choice: risking their health [by being forced into close contact with others to satisfy the witness requirement] and well-being to vote or not vote at all.” The Superior Court for the State of Alaska, Third Judicial District at Anchorage granted Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction, and ordered that the State witness requirement in Alaska be vacated for absentee ballots.