Honest Elections Project Files Amicus Brief at Supreme Court in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections

Argues Supreme Court should reverse Seventh Circuit decision on standing

Alexandria, VA – This week, Honest Elections Project filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections, a case challenging an Illinois law that allows ballots be counted so long as they arrive up to 14 days after Election Day in violation of federal law. The brief supports the standing of a candidate to challenge the law.

Jason Snead, Executive Director of Honest Elections Project, released the following statement:

“If political candidates do not have the right to sue over illegal practices that harm election integrity, who does? The federal courts should not be open to liberals seeking to throw out election integrity laws but closed to conservatives who wish to uphold them. HEP urges the Supreme Court to reverse the Seventh Circuit’s decision and protect Congressman Bost’s right to have his case heard.” 

On standing, the brief argues:

  1. The loss of votes in a zero-sum electoral contest is a quintessential injury-in-fact
  2. The Seventh Circuit improperly disregarded the resource diversion theory of standing
  3. Political candidates have a cognizable interest in an accurate vote tally, and they suffer a cognizable injury when unlawful votes are counted

On the merits of the case, the brief argues:

  1. Congress and the Supreme Court have already decided the underlying merits of this case
  2. It is clear and unambiguous that Election Day occurs on, not after, the “Tuesday Next After the 1st Monday in November”
  3. The Framers intended for Congress to establish a uniform Election Day

A copy of the full brief can be found HERE.