Filed Date: Feb. 21, 2020
Closed Date: April 22, 2020
Clearinghouse coding complete
On February 21, 2020, one individual plaintiff filed a pro se lawsuit against the Massachusetts Secretary of State, seeking injunctive relief. The plaintiff claimed that the early voting process did not guarantee ballot secrecy because the tally clerk allegedly opened the plaintiff’s sealed cover envelope that contained the plaintiff’s ballot and voter ID information. The plaintiff further claimed that early voters could be intimidated and elect not to vote if there was no guarantee of a secret ballot. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and assigned to Judge Patti Saris.
The same day, the plaintiff filed a motion for preliminary injunction requesting the court to order the Massachusetts Secretary of State to cease the practice of the current early voting procedures and to develop a procedure that would guarantee the secrecy of election ballots.
On April 22, 2020, the District Court dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice because the plaintiff did not pay the $400 filing fee or filed a new, completed application.
Summary Authors
Devaki Patel (6/16/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16876207/parties/kellen-v-galvin/
Saris, Patti B. (Massachusetts)
Kellen, Paul F. (Massachusetts)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16876207/kellen-v-galvin/
Last updated Oct. 28, 2025, 12:16 p.m.
State / Territory: Massachusetts
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Feb. 21, 2020
Closing Date: April 22, 2020
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Voter
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Massachusetts Secretary of State, State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, unspecified, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C § 1973 et seq.)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Voting: