Filed Date: Nov. 8, 2016
Closed Date: March 31, 2017
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case argued that due to a change in polling locations in Ada County, Idaho, polling hours should be extended to give time for voters to find their new polling location.
On November 8, 2016, the day of the 2016 general election, the Idaho State Democratic Party sought emergency relief to extend the operating hours of five polling locations in Ada County, Idaho, for an additional two hours. On October 14, 2016, the Ada County Clerk’s Office had sent notices to all qualified voters in five precincts in the county that their polling locations would be moved to address disability access concerns at the previous poll stations. On election day, after hearing reports of voters seeking to vote at the old poll locations, the Idaho State Democratic Party sought a temporary restraining order and emergency relief from the United States District Court for the District of Idaho to extend the polling hours at these five voting locations from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The party argued that the relief was only being sought for voting locations impacted by the location changes and that the relief did not attempt to “cherry-pick” locations based on political advantage. The defendants, the Secretary of State of the State of Idaho and the Ada County Clerks Office, argued that the Clerks Office provided sufficient notice of the polling location change and that the extended hours would be a burden to the polling workers.
Following a short proceeding, Judge B. Lynn Winmill held that the Idaho State Democratic Party had standing to seek relief and granted the relief in part, ordering that the operating hours at the five polling locations be extended for one hour until 9:00 p.m. The Ada County Clerk’s Office was ordered by 7:00 p.m. to prominently display notices at the old polling locations indicating 1) the extended polling hours and 2) the new location. The Secretary of State and the Ada County Clerk were directed to issue a public service announcement or press release to local radio and television stations indicating the extended polling hours for the affected locations.
The case was dismissed on March 31, 2017.
This case is now closed.
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4506164/parties/idaho-state-democratic-party-v-rich/
Dotters-Katz, Samuel B (Idaho)
McConnell, Kelly Greene (Idaho)
Argyle, Theodore E (Idaho)
Chacko, Ray J (Idaho)
Gilmore, Michael S (Idaho)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4506164/idaho-state-democratic-party-v-rich/
Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 7:30 a.m.
State / Territory: Idaho
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 8, 2016
Closing Date: March 31, 2017
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Idaho State Democratic Party
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Secretary of State of the State of Idaho (Boise), State
Clerk of the County of Ada of the State of Idaho (Boise, Ada), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights Act of 1957/1960, 52 U.S.C. § 10101 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1971)
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 2016 - 2016
Issues
Voting: