The Justice Department on Friday asked a federal judge to order Alaska officials to segregate all ballots that rank Daniel J. Sullivan, a Senate candidate with the same first and last name as the GOP incumbent.The filing came in a civil lawsuit from the Trump administration seeking to block the certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Democrat Mary Peltola wins due to “voter confusion.” Those efforts were amplified this week after The New York Times reported that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Daniel J.
Sullivan — allegations Peltola has denied.Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward wrote Friday afternoon that “there is a substantial risk that Mr. Sullivan’s sham candidacy will mislead voters and ultimately result in an electoral process that lacks integrity.” For that reason, he argued, a preliminary injunction should be issued ordering Alaska to “preserve and segregate all ballots ranking Daniel J.
Sullivan for the purposes of investigating whether such ranking was the product of voter confusion, should such an investigation become necessary.”The federal government is also asking for expedited discovery into Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Woodward asked a judge to rule by Monday.Alaska election officials opposed the request, arguing the Justice Department’s lawsuit “lacks any merit.” They also said votes are “comingled in the ballot box on Election Day” and therefore can’t be segregated without violating ballot secrecy requirements, and noted that “the ballots (whether segregated or not) will not reveal any voter’s reasons for voting for Daniel J.”And they said an order to preserve ballots is unnecessary since the state already saves ballots for 22 months.”The United States’ delay further undermines its request for expedited consideration.
It waited until two weeks before Election Day to file a lawsuit about issues that arose months ago,” the state said.The defendants in the case include Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who previously attempted to keep Daniel J. Sullivan off the ballot. State courts overturned that decision.
