Plain-English summary
Court upholds Arizona rules on out‑of‑precinct and ballot‑collection limits, narrows Section 2 review
In Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021), the Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit and upheld two Arizona voting rules: rejecting ballots cast in the wrong precinct and restricting third‑party collection of early ballots. The Court also set new guidance limiting how courts evaluate claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Why this matters
The decision upholds two common state election rules and narrows how federal courts analyze claims that voting regulations discriminate on the basis of race. That makes it harder for plaintiffs to win Section 2 challenges to neutral election rules that have a disparate impact on minority voters unless they show a substantial connection between the rule and racial discrimination.
Who may feel it
- Voters in Arizona (especially those casting ballots on election day or using early/mail voting)
- State election officials and lawmakers who draft voting rules nationwide
- Civil‑rights groups and political parties bringing Voting Rights Act suits
- Third parties who collect or assist with ballots (campaign workers, family members, community groups)
Key questions
- Does Arizona’s out‑of‑precinct ballot policy violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by disproportionately burdening minority voters?