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Page Number: 22.0

16 

BRNOVICH v. DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE 

Opinion of the Court 

C 
  One other important feature of §2(b) stands out.  The pro-
vision  requires  consideration  of  “the  totality  of  circum-
stances.”  Thus, any circumstance that has a logical bearing 
on whether voting is “equally open” and affords equal “op-
portunity” may be considered.  We will not attempt to com-
pile an exhaustive list, but several important circumstances 
should be mentioned. 

1 
  1. First, the size of the burden imposed by a challenged 
voting rule is highly relevant.  The concepts of “open[ness]” 
and “opportunity” connote the absence of obstacles and bur-
dens that block or seriously hinder voting, and therefore the 
size  of  the  burden  imposed  by  a  voting  rule  is  important.  
After all, every voting rule imposes a burden of some sort.  
Voting  takes  time  and,  for  almost  everyone,  some  travel, 
even if only to a nearby mailbox.  Casting a vote, whether 
by  following  the  directions  for  using  a  voting  machine  or 
completing a paper ballot, requires compliance with certain 
rules.  But because voting necessarily requires some effort 
and compliance with some rules, the concept of a voting sys-
tem that is “equally open” and that furnishes an equal “op-
portunity” to cast a ballot must tolerate the “usual burdens 
of  voting.”    Crawford  v.  Marion  County  Election  Bd.,  553 
U. S. 181, 198 (2008) (opinion of Stevens, J.).  Mere incon-
venience  cannot  be  enough  to  demonstrate  a  violation  of 
§2.11 
—————— 

11 There is a difference between openness and opportunity, on the one 
hand, and the absence of inconvenience, on the other.  For example, sup-
pose that an exhibit at a museum in a particular city is open to everyone 
free of charge every day of the week for several months.  Some residents 
of the city who have the opportunity to view the exhibit may find it in-
convenient to do so for many reasons—the problem of finding parking, 
dislike  of  public  transportation,  anticipation  that  the  exhibit  will  be 
crowded, a plethora of weekend chores and obligations, etc.  Or, to take 
another example,  a  college  course  may  be  open  to  all  students  and  all