October Term 2017 · Docket 16-980
Can states purge voters who fail to vote for two years?
Ohio purges inactive voters. The A. Philip Randolph Institute argues this violates federal law.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Eric Murphy argued Congress balanced increasing eligible voters and decreasing ineligible ones.
General Francisco argued the 2002 amendment made Ohio's process clearer and permissible.
Mr. Smith argued the supplemental process violates Section 8 of the NVRA in two ways.
Justice Ginsburg noted the safe harbor provision relies on a change of address form, not non-voting.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Ohio removes voters who do not cast ballots for two years. The A. Philip Randolph Institute claims this violates the National Voter Registration Act. The state argues the law allows this purge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-47
What each side wants
Ohio wants to keep its two-year inactivity purge rule.
The A. Philip Randolph Institute wants to stop the purge of non-voters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
What each side says
Ohio argues the 2002 amendment clarified that inactivity purges are legal.
The A. Philip Randolph Institute argues the statute bans purging based on non-voting.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the state needs the two-year failure to vote to use the notice.
Justice Kennedy asked if the state could rely only on specific statutory clauses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
Why it matters
This case defines how states manage voter rolls. It determines if inactivity alone justifies removing registered voters from the list.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-19
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.