Plaintiffs in lawsuit against San Francisco, Alameda and state elections officials seek sweeping injunctive relief in the nation’s largest Presidential Primary
SAN FRANCISCO (June 1, 2016) — A federal judge will hear arguments today—Wednesday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m.—on a motion by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign for an emergency injunction in California’s June 7 Presidential Primary. Plaintiffs, who include an unincorporated association of Sanders backers called the “Voting Rights Defense Project,” seek far-reaching injunctive relief in the election. Voting in the nation’s most populous state has been underway since May 9.
WHAT
- U.S. District Court hearing on a motion for preliminary injunction in the June 7 California Presidential Primary
WHO
- U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup
- Attorneys for plaintiffs (supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaign; the American Independent Party; and two San Francisco voters)
- Attorneys for defendants (San Francisco, Alameda County, and Calif. Secretary of State Alex Padilla)
WHEN
- TODAY: Wednesday, June 1 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
U.S. District Court
Courtroom 8, 19th floor
Phillip Burton Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Avenue (between Polk and Larkin Streets)
San Francisco
Deputy San Francisco City Attorney Joshua White will be available to answer questions from the news media immediately after the hearing, outside of the federal building, close to the Golden Gate Avenue entrance.
Judge Alsup issued his one-paragraph scheduling order shortly after plaintiffs filed their after-hours motion for a preliminary injunction last Friday, at approximately 7:00 p.m. Specifics of the injunction order sought by Sanders’ supporters include: requiring poll workers in California’s 58 counties to individually inform “no party preference” voters of their right to request a partisan presidential primary ballot; compelling statewide television, radio, internet and email announcements to inform voters about state election laws; and, “if possible,” to extend California’s voter registration deadline—which passed on May 23 for eligibility to vote in the June 7 primary—until election day itself. The civil complaint filed by Sanders’ supporters on May 20 additionally sought injunctive relief that included a requirement for California elections officials segregate ballots already cast by unaffiliated voters, and to allow “re-votes” by those voters for presidential primary candidates.
Case Documentation
The case is: Voting Rights Defense Project et al. v. Tim Depuis et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 3:16-CV-02739, filed May 20, 2016. Complete case documentation is available here.
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