DNC operative seeks to use SCOWIS to reshape political environment in favor of their own nominee.
The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) is strongly condemning the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) attempt to remove the Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, from the presidential ballot in Wisconsin. WILL hopes the Supreme Court of Wisconsin considers the arguments we lay out in our amicus brief that we will file tomorrow morning and denies the DNC’s effort to disenfranchise tens of thousands of Wisconsin voters.
The Quotes: WILL President and General Counsel, Rick Esenberg, stated, “This is a last-ditch effort by a political party operative to disenfranchise the votes of tens of thousands of Wisconsinites. WILL prides itself as a strong champion for our democratic republic and believes elections in our state are conducted with integrity and fairness. A last-minute ruling, not based in law, from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in favor of the DNC would severely damage the faith and trust every day Wisconsinites put in their elections.”
WILL Associate Counsel Skylar Croy, added, “WILL strongly condemns this effort to remove the Green Party candidate from the Wisconsin ballot, just days before ballots need to be printed. They are wrong on the law, and their novel reading of a state statute has no merit.”
Additional Background: To go directly to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and seek far-reaching, antidemocratic relief is inappropriate. Truly demonstrating that history repeats itself: four years ago, the Wisconsin Elections Commission rejected the Green Party’s effort to get on the ballot. When the Green Party filed an original action in the state supreme court, the court by a 4-3 vote rejected it as untimely, saying it is too close to an election for the court to do anything. That same problem applies here. And it is just one of many procedural issues.
The DNC petition also advances a new reading of Wis. Stat. § 8.18 that would effectively prevent any small or new party from getting on the presidential ballot.
This decision should not be taken lightly, and it is crucial that the court considers the gravity of such a last-minute decision and the potential to sow doubt on the election.
About WILL: WILL is a respected and reputable state-based litigation firm in Wisconsin. We have argued and won multiple cases at the Wisconsin Supreme Court and beyond. We have also received national recognition for our work assessing the 2020 Presidential Election and our comprehensive report is often used to counter claims made about the election being “stolen.”
Read more: WI Supreme Court Order, 8.22.24
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