Case: Yi v. Board of Elections

8:16-cv-01004 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: April 5, 2016

Closed Date: June 29, 2016

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Case Summary

This is a case alleging that Independent voters are unconstitutionally barred from voting in Democratic or Republican primary elections in Maryland. On April 5, 2016, a registered Independent voter in Maryland filed this action pro se against the Board of Elections in Montgomery County and the Maryland Board of Elections. Plaintiff alleged it was unconstitutional for him, as a registered Independent voter, to not be allowed to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary election. Plaint…

This is a case alleging that Independent voters are unconstitutionally barred from voting in Democratic or Republican primary elections in Maryland.

On April 5, 2016, a registered Independent voter in Maryland filed this action pro se against the Board of Elections in Montgomery County and the Maryland Board of Elections. Plaintiff alleged it was unconstitutional for him, as a registered Independent voter, to not be allowed to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary election. Plaintiff further alleged that this prevention was a violation of the Fifteenth Amendment, due to his race. Plaintiff sought an injunction that the Board of Election not deploy voting machines for the primary elections and an order that the clerk contact all counties in the State of Maryland and that each county not deploy voting machines as guilty by association. 

On April 28, 2016, the Court found that Plaintiff did not have a plausible cause of action and the case was dismissed.  Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration which was also dismissed.

The case is now closed. 

Summary Authors

Alicia Tschirhart (8/3/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5254105/parties/yi-v-board-of-election-of-montgomery-county/


Judge(s)

Grimm, Paul William (Maryland)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
5

8:16-cv-01004

Memorandum Opinion

April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016

Order/Opinion
9

8:16-cv-01004

Memorandum and Order

June 29, 2016

June 29, 2016

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5254105/yi-v-board-of-election-of-montgomery-county/

Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 7:14 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
5

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Paul W. Grimm on 4/28/2016. (kns, Deputy Clerk)(c/m 4/28/16)

April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016

Clearinghouse
9

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING 7 Motion for Reconsideration and 8 Amended Motion for Reconsideration. Signed by Judge Paul W. Grimm on 6/29/2016. (kns, Deputy Clerk)(c/m 6/30/16)

June 30, 2016

June 30, 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: April 5, 2016

Closing Date: June 29, 2016

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Minority and Independent Voter in Maryland

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Board of Election of Montgomery County (Montgomery), County

Maryland Board of Elections, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Voting Rights Act, unspecified, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C § 1973 et seq.)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Order Duration: 2016 - 2016

Issues

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Voting:

Voter qualifications

Voter registration rules

Voting: General & Misc.