Federal Court Strikes Down New York's Ban on Providing Food and Drinks to Voters Waiting in Line
Washington, D.C. - In a major victory for voting rights, a federal court today struck down New York's ban on providing food and drink to voters waiting in line at polling places, also known as the Line Warming Ban. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed in 2021 by Elias Law Group attorneys representing the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP against the New York State and City Boards of Elections.
"Today’s ruling is a huge win for voters in New York, and civic organizations that want to help voters endure long lines at polling places," said Elias Law Group partner Lali Madduri, who served as lead trial counsel. "No one should have to face criminal penalties for providing food and water to voters waiting in unnecessarily long lines. We are proud to represent the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP in this important case.”
The court found that New York’s Line Warming Ban, which had been in place for more than 100 years, violated the First Amendment’s right to free speech and expression, and violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution because it is impermissibly overbroad and vague.
The ruling prevents New York from enforcing the ban in future elections, allowing non-partisan civic groups to engage in “line warming” activities to celebrate the importance of voting and to encourage voters to stay in line.
Click here to read the full opinion from the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
Elias Law Group attorneys Abha Khanna, Lali Madduri, Jyoti Jasrasaria, and Richard Medina contributed to this case.
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