Contacts: Debra Cronmiller, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, dcronmiller [at] lwvwi.org,

(608)256-0827

Lisa Hassenstab, Disability Rights Wisconsin, lisah [at] drwi.org, (608)308-2639

Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWV) are disappointed in today’s ruling from the District II Court of Appeals, which reversed a temporary injunction issued last June that would have allowed voters with a print disability to request an emailed ballot from their municipal clerk. The Court of Appeals previously stayed that injunction in August 2024.

However, DRW and LWV remain optimistic that permanent relief is still on the horizon because the merits of this case are still being litigated. Today’s ruling focused on the standard for temporary injunctions, not the final relief sought by the plaintiffs. As the Court of Appeals acknowledged, “[m]uch remains before this matter is ripe for a definitive ruling on the validity of the current absentee ballot scheme.” DRW and LWV look forward to fighting for the merits of this case in the circuit court and will not appeal today’s ruling.

Current state law requires all absentee ballots to be mailed to voters except for military and overseas voters. But state and federal law require that people with a disability must be able to vote on equal terms to those without disabilities and Wisconsin’s Constitution protects voters’ right to a secret ballot. For many voters with print disabilities (including voters who are blind or have a physical disability that impairs manual dexterity), the mailing restriction means that they must reveal their vote to a third-party assistant who manually marks the absentee ballot on behalf of the voter. This unfair—and unconstitutional—process will apply in the upcoming April 2025 Spring Election.

The plaintiffs are represented in the suit by Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, and Law Forward Inc.

Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) is a private non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide. As Wisconsin’s recognized Protection & Advocacy Organization,DRW is legislatively mandated to provide services to voters with disabilities and ensure individuals with disabilities can participate in every step of the voting process. More information is available at Disability Rights Wisconsin’s website.

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin (LWVWI) is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20+ local Leagues throughout Wisconsin. More information is available at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin’s website.