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16 ¦ JULY 27, 2020 NEWS

¦ From CONNECTICUT on PAGE 15

Connecticut Supreme Court building in Hartford. Photo by Michael Marciano

due to one of the limited reasons” set forth in the voter turnout and participation, and grandstand in
constitution. The plaintiffs maintain that the pan- defiance of the law and state government.”
demic is not a valid reason to allow everyone to vote The pleadings continue: “Plaintiffs’ recklessness in
via absentee ballot. bringing this action is exceeded only by their audac-
None of the plaintiffs could be reached for com- ity in making legal arguments to this court that are
ment. baseless and without any grounding in the law.”
Representing the plaintiffs were attorneys Proloy Attorney General William Tong argued Monday
Das and Matthew Ciarleglio of Murtha Cullina, LLP. via Microsoft Teams in favor of dismissing the law-
Late Monday, Das said, in a statement, in part: suit. The court ruled soon after.
“Executive officials are desperately trying to avoid After the state’s high court issued its ruling, Tong
having the constitutionality of their actions re- said in a statement: “No one should have to risk
viewed. Neither the secretary of the state nor the their lives to vote. This case was part of a nationwide
governor may ignore the constitution and unilater- right-wing voter suppression campaign challenging
ally create no-excuse absentee voting for everyone. the ability of Americans to safely exercise their right
The constitution permits individuals who are un- to vote during this unprecedented public health cri-
able to appear at the polls because of illness or sis.”
disability to vote by absentee ballot. Executive Tong, a Democrat, continued: “The plaintiffs sued
branch officials cannot ignore the constitution and the wrong individual under the wrong statute in the
unilaterally create no-excuse voting for everyone. wrong court and we are grateful for the Supreme
Only Connecticut’s citizens can amend the consti- Court’s adherence to the rule of law.”
tution.” ¦

In the pleadings, the state wrote, “The court must Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
not allow the plaintiffs to endanger hundreds of analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
thousands of Connecticut residents in order to gain him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
attention for their political campaigns, suppress 203-437-5950.

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