Vet Voice Cheers Decision in Nevada Ballot Case

The non-partisan Vet Voice Foundation is cheering its successful defense in Republican National Committee v Burgess. Together with the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans, Vet Voice Foundation intervened in the case as defendants and moved for dismissal. Yesterday, the Nevada District Court granted their motion and dismissed the case, saying the plaintiffs did not have standing.

The case involved Nevada’s mail ballot receipt deadline. Republicans, including the Trump campaign, argued the deadline was a violation of federal law because it allowed valid mail ballots that were mailed on or before election day to be counted if they were received up to four days after election day. Many states across the country have such laws, which are critical to ensuring mail ballots get counted. These laws are particularly important to military voters, who often have to vote by mail. If Republican plaintiffs were successful, thousands of otherwise valid, timely cast mail ballots might have gone uncounted in the 2024 general election.

In finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing, the court determined that the ballot receipt deadline applied equally to all voters and conferred no unfair advantage.

The court’s order will help to ensure that voting by mail remains a reliable method of voting for hundreds of thousands of Nevadans, including military voters.

“We’re pleased that the court rejected the attempt to strip voting rights of our military and seniors, many of whom are veterans,” said Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of the Vet Voice Foundation. “Voting is at the heart of our democracy, and ensuring that valid votes cast and received are counted is a crucial part of keeping our democracy vibrant. Too many men and woman died in service to this country defending that for us to turn our backs on it.”