Resource: DSCC v. Pate

After being denied the opportunity to intervene in the RNC's lawsuits against the Johnson, Linn, and Woodbury county auditors, the DSCC, DCCC and the Iowa Democratic Party filed this lawsuit alleging that a Directive written by the Iowa Secretary of State was invalid under the Iowa Constitution, because it interferes with the counties' "home rule", interferes with Iowans' right to vote, and violates their right to equal protection and due process. The Directive in question ordered county auditors to send blank absentee ballot applications, even when the county auditors in Johnson, Linn and Woodbury counties had begun to send out pre-filled absentee ballot applications to promote valid requests and limit administrative burdens on those counties.