AP16:072
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2016
CONTACT:
Sam Mahood (916) 653-6575
Secretary of State Alex Padilla Statement on Election Lawsuit
SACRAMENTO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement regarding U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup's rejection of plaintiffs’ unprecedented demand for relief in Voting Rights Defense Project et al. v. Tim Dupuis et al.
The plaintiffs sought to compel the Secretary of State and local elections officials to ignore state law—including moving the voter registration deadline and allowing persons to revote after already casting a ballot.
“We are pleased with the court’s ruling. The plaintiffs' request would have undermined the California presidential primary election we are conducting as required by state law. The ruling is consistent with the time-honored tradition that you don’t change rules in the middle of a contest.”
“The suit was an unnecessary distraction that threatened to undermine the efforts of election officials. With significant increases in voter registration and growing numbers of young people engaging in this election, let's do our best and encourage all registered voters to vote in next Tuesday’s presidential primary election.”
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