Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19a1016_o759.pdf
Page Number: 9.0

Cite as:  589 U. S. ____ (2020) 

5 

GINSBURG, J., dissenting 

officials by April 13.  Now, under this Court’s order, tens of 
thousands of absentee voters, unlikely to receive their bal-
lots in time to cast them, will be left quite literally without 
a vote. 

This Court’s intervention is thus ill advised, especially so 
at this late hour.  See Purcell v. Gonzalez, 549 U. S. 1, 4–5 
(2006) (per curiam).  Election officials have spent the past 
few  days  establishing  procedures  and  informing  voters  in 
accordance  with  the  District  Court’s  deadline.    For  this 
Court to upend the process—a day before the April 7 post-
mark  deadline—is  sure  to  confound  election  officials  and 
voters. 

B 

What concerns could justify consequences so grave?  The 
Court’s order first suggests a problem of forfeiture, noting 
that the plaintiffs’ written preliminary-injunction motions 
did  not  ask  that  ballots  postmarked  after  April  7  be 
counted.  But unheeded by the Court, although initially si-
lent, the plaintiffs specifically requested that remedy at the 
preliminary-injunction hearing in view of the ever-increas-
ing demand for absentee ballots.  See Tr. 102–103 (Apr. 1, 
2020). 

Second, the Court’s order cites Purcell, apparently skep-
tical  of the District  Court’s intervention shortly before  an 
election.  Nevermind that the District Court was reacting 
to a grave, rapidly developing public health crisis.  If prox-
imity to the election counseled hesitation when the District 
Court acted several days ago, this Court’s intervention to-
day—even  closer  to  the  election—is  all  the  more  inappro-
priate. 

Third, the Court notes that the District Court’s order al-
lowed absentee voters to cast ballots after election day.  If a 
voter already in line by the poll’s closing time can still vote, 
why should Wisconsin’s absentee voters, already in line to 
receive ballots, be denied the franchise?  According to the