Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has ruled that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could not postpone the state’s presidential primary, striking down his order to move the election to June over coronavirus outbreak fears.
The court ruled 4-2, with Justice Daniel Kelly recused because he is a candidate in Tuesday’s election, that Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own. The decision means the election will occur as originally scheduled on Tuesday.
Last week, Evers called the state legislature into session and asked it to delay the election until June 9. But the Republican-controlled legislature ended that session a few seconds after it was convened.
Earlier today Evers signed the Executive Order to push in-person voting to June 9. Evers’ order also calls for a second special session of the Assembly on Tuesday. In striking down the rest of the order, the Court upheld this section, meaning lawmakers will have to meet at the Capitol at 2 p.m. for the expressed purpose of considering a new date for in-person voting.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday evening to overturn a lower court decision made last week to give Wisconsin voters more time to send in mail-in absentee ballots in the chaotic election. Under the ruling, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or dropped off at a polling site in person by 8 p.m.
