U.S. District Court Says Plaintiffs Don’t Have Standing to Challenge Intimidating Official Signs Posted at Tennessee Primary Polling Places

On March 4, U.S. District Court Judge Eli J. Richardson, a Trump appointee, ruled that the plaintiffs lack standing in Ashe v Hargett, m.d., 3:23cv-1256. This is the lawsuit that challenges a new Tennessee law that signs must be posted at the polls, on primary day, warning voters that they must be a “bona fide” member of a party in order to choose that party’s primary ballot.

Since 1972, Tennessee law has required that only “bona fide” members of the party may vote in a party’s primary. It is only recently that the law says signs must be posted at the polls, reminding voters about the the 1972 law. Ever since the 1972 restriction was passed, no one has ever been prosecuted. Probably no one will ever have standing unless the potential plaintiff is prosecuted some day. Here is the opinion.

Tennessee does not have registration by party, which means that “bona fide” member of a party is an exceedingly vague idea.


Comments

U.S. District Court Says Plaintiffs Don’t Have Standing to Challenge Intimidating Official Signs Posted at Tennessee Primary Polling Places — 14 Comments

  1. Taran, part of my expertise is recognizing greater expertise, even among those too humble to acknowledge it.

  2. If they did not have segregated partisan primaries they would not need the signs.

  3. If segregated partisan primaries or other nomination methods were conducted by and paid for by the parties, there would be no problem.

  4. All my exes changed their sexes, and that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee….

  5. Tennessee is a great place to raise your kids, as long as you stay out of the counties that contain the three biggest cities and biggest universities.

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