Case: Voters Organized for the Integrity of Elections v. Baltimore City Election

1:16-cv-01788 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: June 1, 2016

Closed Date: Oct. 14, 2016

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case alleged voting irregularities in the City of Baltimore in violation of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. On June 1, 2016, the organization Voters Organized for Integrity of City Elections along with six private individual voters filed a suit against the Baltimore City Elections Board, the Maryland State Board of Elections, the State Administrator of Elections, and the Elections Director of Baltimore City Elections Board with concerns about election integrity during the 2016 …

This case alleged voting irregularities in the City of Baltimore in violation of the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.

On June 1, 2016, the organization Voters Organized for Integrity of City Elections along with six private individual voters filed a suit against the Baltimore City Elections Board, the Maryland State Board of Elections, the State Administrator of Elections, and the Elections Director of Baltimore City Elections Board with concerns about election integrity during the 2016 primary elections. Plaintiffs claimed that the election process had many errors and irregularities in violation of the First, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, 52 U.S.C. §10301, et seq. (Voting Rights Act violation) and 42 U.S.C. §1983 (Civil Rights violation). Plaintiff sought injunctive relief. 

On October 14, 2016, the court issued a memorandum summary judgement throwing out the suit since the plaintiffs failed to state any claim for relief and failed to allege any conduct of the defendants that resulted in any election irregularities that would deny voters equal protection of the law.

 

Summary Authors

Malhar Naik (9/20/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4512729/parties/voters-organized-for-the-integrity-of-city-elections-v-baltimore-city/


Judge(s)

Bredar, James Kelleher (Maryland)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:16-cv-01788

Complaint

June 1, 2016

June 1, 2016

Complaint
13

1:16-cv-01788

Memorandum

Oct. 14, 2016

Oct. 14, 2016

Order/Opinion

214 F.Supp.3d 448

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4512729/voters-organized-for-the-integrity-of-city-elections-v-baltimore-city/

Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 7:16 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Plaintiffs ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0416-6049426.), filed by Donald Morton Glover, Cortly D. Witherspoon., Charlie Metz, Hassan Giordano, Dwayne Benbow, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, William T Newton.(Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/02/2016)

June 1, 2016

June 1, 2016

Clearinghouse
2

QC NOTICE: 1 Complaint, filed by Donald Morton Glover, William T Newton, Cortly D. Witherspoon, Charlie Metz, Hassan Giordano, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Dwayne Benbow was filed incorrectly. **The following attachments or exhibits are missing - Civil Cover Sheet & Summons. To correct this problem, file Civil Cover Sheet & Summons using the event Notice (Other) and link Civil Cover Sheet & Summons to 1 Complaint. (ca2s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/02/2016)

June 2, 2016

June 2, 2016

PACER
3

NOTICE by Dwayne Benbow, Hassan Giordano, Donald Morton Glover, Charlie Metz, William T Newton, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Cortly D. Witherspoon re 1 Complaint, COVER SHEET (Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/03/2016)

June 3, 2016

June 3, 2016

PACER
4

AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Plaintiffs, filed by Donald Morton Glover, Cortly D. Witherspoon, Charlie Metz, Hassan Giordano, Dwayne Benbow, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, William T Newton. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Redline Copy of Amended Complaint)(Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/07/2016)

June 7, 2016

June 7, 2016

PACER
5

NOTICE by Dwayne Benbow, Hassan Giordano, Donald Morton Glover, Charlie Metz, William T Newton, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Cortly D. Witherspoon re 4 Amended Complaint, Summons for Baltimore City Elections Board (Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/08/2016)

June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016

PACER
6

NOTICE by Dwayne Benbow, Hassan Giordano, Donald Morton Glover, Charlie Metz, William T Newton, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Cortly D. Witherspoon re 4 Amended Complaint, Summons for Armstead B.C. Jones, Sr. (Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/08/2016)

June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016

PACER
7

NOTICE by Dwayne Benbow, Hassan Giordano, Donald Morton Glover, Charlie Metz, William T Newton, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Cortly D. Witherspoon re 4 Amended Complaint, Summons for Maryland Board of Elections (Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/08/2016)

June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016

PACER
8

NOTICE by Dwayne Benbow, Hassan Giordano, Donald Morton Glover, Charlie Metz, William T Newton, Voters Organized for the Integrity of City Elections, Cortly D. Witherspoon re 4 Amended Complaint, Linda H. Lamone (Gordon, J) (Entered: 06/08/2016)

June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016

PACER
9

Summons Issued 21 days as to Baltimore City Elections Board, Armstead B.C. Jones, Sr, Linda H Lamone, Maryland State Board of Elections. (nd2s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 06/08/2016)

June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016

PACER
13

MEMORANDUM. Signed by Judge James K. Bredar on 10/13/2016. (krs, Deputy Clerk)

Oct. 14, 2016

Oct. 14, 2016

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Maryland

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 1, 2016

Closing Date: Oct. 14, 2016

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Voters Organized For The Integrity of Elections - non profit organization along with six individual voters

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Maryland Board of Elections (Annapolis, Anne Arundel), State

Linda Lamone (Annapolis, Anne Arundel), Private Entity/Person

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Equal Protection

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Voting:

Election administration

Vote dilution

Voting: General & Misc.