A federal judge has ordered that a group monitoring Arizona ballot drop boxes for signs of fraud stay at least 75 feet away from ballot boxes and publicly correct false statements its members have made about Arizona election laws.
The far-reaching order from U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi dramatically restricts what the group, Clean Elections USA, or its allies can do or say near ballot boxes. The ruling prevents drop-box watchers from taking photos or videos of voters and using the material to spread baseless allegations of voter fraud. Clean Elections USA has been among the groups echoing the unsubstantiated fraud claims of former president Donald Trump.
The ruling also requires the group to post statements about the rules regarding drop boxes online and prohibits them from making future false statements about Arizona election law.
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Pinny Sheoran, president of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, a plaintiff in one of the lawsuits, called the ruling “a victory for the voters of Arizona who have the right to cast their ballots free from intimidation, threats, or coercion.”
Clean Elections USA agreed to parts of the order but contested others. A lawyer representing the group and its founder said they would likely appeal on First Amendment grounds.
The ruling came after Sheoran’s group and other voting rights advocates filed two lawsuits against Clean Elections USA,which were then merged. Liburdi said he aimed to strike a balance between...
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