On the afternoon of July 2, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to stay an order of a U.S. District Court in Alabama that had made it easier for people to vote absentee in three counties. People First of Alabama v Merrill, 19A1063.

The case only concerns the runoff primaries being held July 14. The U.S. District Court on June 15 had enjoined state laws that say when someone applies for an absentee ballot, he or she must enclose a copy of the voter’s ID, and also must have a statement signed either by two witnesses or a notary public. It is not necessarily easy for persons without a home printer to make photocopies, while businesses and libraries are closed down. On June 25, the Eleventh Circuit had refused the state’s request for a stay, but now the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the U.S. District Court. The U.S. Supreme Court did not explain why it acted as it did. Here is the U.S. Supreme Court’s one-page order.

The lower courts had also suspended the state policy that does not permit curbside voting, and had said that if county election officials want to offer curbside voting, they may do so. That lower court ruling is also now not in effect.