Bryan v. Abramson

60 V.I. 3, 2010 WL 7746073, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 69
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedOctober 14, 2010
DocketCase No. SX-10-CV-363
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 60 V.I. 3 (Bryan v. Abramson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bryan v. Abramson, 60 V.I. 3, 2010 WL 7746073, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 69 (visuper 2010).

Opinion

BRADY, Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

(October 14, 2010)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Complaint, alleging his right to use a paper ballot instead of the electronic voting machines; Plaintiff’s “Motion And Memorandum Of Law In Support Of Preliminary Injunction And An Emergency Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order”; Defendants’ Opposition thereto and Motion to Dismiss. The matter came on for Hearing on September 7, 2010. For the reasons set forth herein, Plaintiffs request for a Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order regarding the general election of November 2,2010, will be denied.

Preamble

The first case in the Virgin Islands addressing the right to vote (for members of the Colonial Council for Frederiksted Town and Country Districts) was decided on April 15, 1936 by the District Court of the Virgin Islands, Judge Levitt presiding. The petition was filed by a group of women resident in the Town of Frederiksted against the Electoral Board which had refused to recognize them as eligible voters because of their gender. The Judge ordered the Board to include their names on the voters’ list citing the Constitution of the United States — specifically the Nineteenth Amendment — which extended suffrage to women in America. Even though existing Danish laws (Amalienborg Code of 1906) restricted the right to vote to males only, Judge Levitt ruled that the 19th Amendment was equally applicable to female citizens of the United States Virgin Islands. Richardson v. Electoral Boards, 1 V.I. 301 (D. V.I. 1936).1

[6]*6While this “gift” of universal suffrage was not bestowed by our American sovereign until nineteen (19) years after the transfer from Denmark, it marked the beginning of one of our most cherished and enthusiastic exercised traditions of electing our governmental officials.

The first Municipal Council elections in 1938 when the masses could cast their votes was only the start of the self governance that we take for granted today when we select a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Delegate to Congress, fifteen (15) Senators and Boards of Elections and Education. The case now before the Court presents a challenge to the election system that has been in place since 1986.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On August 17,2010 Plaintiff filed a Complaint alleging that he has “the legal choice of using paper ballots or the electronic voting machines pursuant to relative laws.” Complaint, ¶ 12, p. 2. In essence, Plaintiff claims that he is entitled by law to the use of paper ballots as a means of voting instead of the electronic machine. Indeed, Plaintiff claims that “the use of ballots and ballot boxes are still present and available in 18 V.I.C. and have not been repealed.” In his “Motion And Memorandum Of Law In Support Of Preliminary Injunction And An Emergency Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order,” Plaintiff explicitly sets forth his theories of his claims. In his Motion Plaintiff cites the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, as well as specific sections of Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code which govern all elections in this Territory (specifically, primary and general elections and referenda). The Court quotes from the relevant portions of Plaintiff’s Motion And Memorandum Of Law:

“Plaintiff and thousands of electors have the legal choice of using paper ballots or the electronic voting machines pursuant to relative laws pursuant to 514,515,516,517 and 261 to include HAVA 2002.” Id. at 5, ¶ 22.
“The use of ballots and ballot boxes are still present and available in 18 V.I.C. and have not been repealed to include 18 V.I.C. § 581.” Id. at 5, ¶ 26.
“Plaintiff and others have made it known to defendants and others via public radio talk shows of our intentions to vote with the use of the official paper ballots or unofficial ballots pursuant to 18 V.I.C. § 553, 554, 581, 582 and 261.” Id. at 5, ¶ 29.
[7]*7“18 V.I.C. provides for the use of paper ballots and ballot boxes amongst other official instruments and documents to be delivered at all polling districts and polling places. The defendants arbitrarily, capriciously and discriminatorily agreed to influence, persuade, intimidate or coerce plaintiff and others to use a provisional ballot rather than the electronic voting machines, as adopted as one of the choice to register a voter’s choice, will or preference to manifest his/her vote pursuant to 18 V.I.C.” Id. at 5-6, ¶ 30.

In our republican form of government, consisting of three (3) co-equal branches, responsibilities and powers are distinctly divided and expressly limited. The Legislature enacts laws and appropriates funding for all three (3) Branches of Government; the Executive implements the laws and manages the functions of government through its Departments, Agencies, Boards and Commissions. The Judiciary in this Territory consists of individuals nominated by the Governor and confirmed by a majority of Senators in the Legislature. We now have Magistrates2 and Judges of the Superior Court and, since 2006, Justices of the Supreme Court who are the final arbiters of all appeals in the Territory.

In this particular case this Court must decide — based on the current and applicable law — the respective rights and authority of the Parties. The Plaintiff asserts that it is his right under law to use an “official paper ballot or unofficial ballot” in voting in the general election in November, 2010.

The Defendants contend to the contrary and rely upon the Election Reform Act of 1984, 18 V.I.C. § 1, et seq.,3 the Rules And Regulations For The Administration Of Provisional Balloting4 and the Rules and Regulations adopted and promulgated by the Joint Boards of Elections.

DISCUSSION

While the Fifteenth Legislature mandated the use of electronic voting machines in 1984 for all elections and referenda, it was not until the general election of 1986 that the transition — from individual paper [8]*8ballots deposited in ballot boxes to electronic machines which record the voters’ preferences of candidates or referenda issues — was implemented. In creating a new voting system, the Legislature was very explicit in prescribing specific standards and procedures including checks, re-checks and balances for implementing the use of electronic voting machines for all elections in our Territory. The Court will either summarize or reproduce verbatim the relevant existing law regarding elections in the Virgin Islands.

Title 18 of the Virgin Islands Code codifies the elections laws of the Virgin Islands. Indeed, sections 501 to 507 set forth the design of the “ballots” for election of candidates, including such minutia as how to shorten the names of candidates whose complete names contain more than twenty-two (22) letters; mandate that the voting machines contain “yes” and “no” buttons; make it incumbent on the Supervisor of Elections to provide public displays of sample ballots and to instruct the public on the “use” of the voting machines; and directs the Supervisor of Elections and each Board of Elections to put the machines on public display and provide the public with opportunities to utilize the machines through facsimile and sample ballots.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Goodwin v. Fawkes
67 V.I. 104 (Superior Court of The Virgin Islands, 2016)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
60 V.I. 3, 2010 WL 7746073, 2010 V.I. LEXIS 69, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bryan-v-abramson-visuper-2010.