Wisconsin disabled voters file federal lawsuit over ballots

(AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "5 Card Cash" game were: Four people with disabilities in Wisconsin have filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to make it easier for them to turn in their ballots, even though the state Supreme Court said no one other than the voter could return Absentee Ballots in person.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling earlier this month and comments by the administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission led to the filing of the lawsuit.

Absentee ballot drop boxes are not legal and only the voter can return their ballot in person to the clerk's office. Voters can return their ballots by mail, but the court didn't address that issue.

Wolfe said at the news conference that the voter is the one who needs to mail the ballot. Absentee ballot envelopes must be mailed by the voter to the municipal clerk, according to a state law.

The lawsuit said that Wolfe's comments made it clear that ballot-return assistance is not allowed in all circumstances.

A spokesman for the commission didn't reply to a message.

In the case before the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice argued that voters could have someone else mail in theirAbsentee Ballot. Josh Kaul said in a statement that that is still the position of the Department of Justice.

If people with disabilities can't get help from someone else to mail their votes for them, they won't be able to vote.

The lawsuit states that there is no choice but to abstain from voting or to useballot-return assistance in order to avoid prosecution.

There are four people with disabilities in Wisconsin.

Timothy Carey is unable to move his body and is on a ventilator. He has always voted Absentee with the assistance of a third party. Martha Chambers, who was paralyzed from the neck down, was always helped returning her Absentee Ballot since she couldn't use her arms or legs.

Several federal laws, including the Voting Rights Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, are alleged to have been violated.

According to the lawsuit, voters with disabilities are entitled to ballot-return assistance because of federal law. It is against the U.S. Constitution to make it impossible for voters with disabilities to vote.