Removing inactive voters
Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute
In brief
The Supreme Court overturned the Sixth Circuit's ruling in the dispute over Ohio's voter-list process.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 5-4 · June 11, 2018 · Opinion by Justice Thomas
- What it’s about
- The dispute concerned Ohio’s use of a voter’s inactivity to trigger a notice, followed by removal only if the voter did not respond and did not vote in two more federal elections. The Supreme Court overturned the Sixth Circuit’s ruling (reversed it).
- Who it affects
- The Court overturned the Sixth Circuit's judgment in the dispute between Ohio and the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
Ohio used voter inactivity to trigger a confirmation notice. A voter was removed only after not responding and not voting in two more federal elections.
Federal laws govern how states maintain voter-registration lists.
Question presented
Does 52 U.S.C. § 20507 permit Ohio's list-maintenance process, which uses a registered voter's voter inactivity as a reason to send a confirmation notice to that voter under the NVRA and RAVA?
What the Court decided
Holding
Judgment REVERSED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
What's next
The Court has finished this docket action; no further step is listed.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Opinion added: Husted
Opinion added: opinion
Brief added: Questions Presented
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.