Two federal judges rule in favor of mail-in voting in Montana, Alabama

Two federal judges on Wednesday ruled in favor of absentee and mail-in voting plans in Montana and Alabama.

In the first decision, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ruled that Montana Gov. Steve BullockSteve BullockTwo federal judges rule in favor of mail-in voting in Montana, Alabama OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior Secretary will lead BLM after judge ousts Pendley from public lands role | Trump, Biden spar over climate change at debate | Trump official delays polar bear study with potential implications on drilling: report Interior Secretary will lead BLM after judge ousts Pendley from public lands role MORE’s (D) plan to allow the state’s counties to mail ballots to every voter can proceed, according to Reuters. President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump signs bill averting shutdown after brief funding lapse Privacy, civil rights groups demand transparency from Amazon on election data breaches Facebook takes down Trump campaign ads tying refugees to coronavirus MORE’s reelection campaign and the Republican Party sued over the plan in early September.

President Trump has frequently claimed that mail-in voting will give rise to widespread fraud, contradicting experts who say it is not a meaningful source of fraud. “The evidence suggests, however, that this allegation, specifically in Montana, is a fiction,” Christensen wrote Wednesday, according to Reuters.

“I’m pleased that today’s decision will enable hundreds of thousands of Montanans to vote safely — in person or by mail — this coming election,” Bullock said in a statement. “Montanans can rest assured that our local election administrators will preserve the security and integrity of the election process.”

Bullock will be on the ballot in the state in November, challenging Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesTwo federal judges rule in favor of mail-in voting in Montana, Alabama Senate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 On The Trail: Making sense of this week’s polling tsunami MORE (R).

In Alabama, U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon blocked the state from imposing requirements for absentee voting such as notarized signatures, which plaintiffs have said will increase the risk of coronavirus transmission. Both judges are Obama appointees.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) said he planned to appeal Kallon’s decision and that there was no indication the requirements had been a major barrier to voting in the July Alabama primary.