Appeals court to revisit Arizona ballot-collection law
PHOENIX — A dramatically divided federal appeals court voted Wednesday to reconsider a ruling where a panel of its judges refused to block a new Arizona law making it a felony to collect early ballots from voters.
The order from the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals assigns an 11-judge panel to reconsider the case just six days before the election. The panel plans an expedited hearing, a court spokesman said.
A three-judge panel on Friday rejected an effort by the state and national Democratic parties and some voters to block the law. They allege it violates the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act because it hurts minorities’ ability to cast ballots.
Twenty-five of the 27 active 9th Circuit judges participated in the vote to rehear the case before what’s known as an “en banc” panel.