Attorney General Alan Wilson supports election integrity law at SCOTUS

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson joined Missouri and 19 other states to call on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of a Pennsylvania law that required voters to handwrite the date on mail-in ballots. The States argue that the lower court, completely lacking judicial restraint, badly erred in striking down this simple rule.

In their friend-of-the-court brief, the States assert that the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Eakin v. Adams County Board of Elections is an unfounded precedent that undermines federalism and separation of powers by giving federal courts undue authority over election rules. The Constitution clearly assigns this responsibility to state legislatures, which have an interest in deterring and detecting election fraud.

“The right to vote is an essential right we have as Americans,” Attorney General Wilson stated. “As Attorney General, I always have and always will fight to protect our elections in South Carolina.”

The Supreme Court has never found a non-discriminatory, ballot-casting regulation severely burdensome or a violation of the right to vote. But under the approach of the 3rd Circuit, courts could find even the most straightforward election-integrity requirement unconstitutional. The States ask that the Supreme Court grant Pennsylvania’s and the Republican National Committee's (RNC's) request for review and ultimately reverse the 3rd Circuit ruling.

In addition to South Carolina, attorneys general from the following states joined the Missouri-led filing: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

The full amicus brief can be read here.