ACLU Files Emergency Lawsuit to Extend Voter Registration Deadline in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Puerto Rico, and Guillermo Ramos Luina filed an emergency lawsuit today to extend the voter registration deadline, which was recently changed to 45 days before Election Day. The lawsuit seeks to keep registration open until Oct. 6, 2024, which is the latest deadline allowed under Puerto Rican law.

In April, the Board of Elections voted 3-2 to impose the most restrictive deadline of any U.S. jurisdiction, cutting off registration 45 days before Election Day. The decision disproportionately affects young and first-time voters and further complicates an already troubled voter registration process.

In recent months, Puerto Rico has faced a series of challenges that have plagued the registration process. These include frequent power outages affecting local registration offices, a flawed rollout of an online registration system, and severe reductions in in-person registration options. In comparison, 121,000 new voters were registered before the 2020 election, but only 59,000 have successfully registered for this election cycle. Meanwhile, more than 81,000 registration applications remain unprocessed due to staffing shortages.

“We cannot allow technical failures and administrative roadblocks to disenfranchise thousands of voters,” said Annette Martinez Orabona, executive director at the ACLU of Puerto Rico. “Our request is simple: The Elections Board should extend the registration period to the statutory limit of 30 days before Election Day, ensuring that all eligible voters have a fair chance to participate in this crucial election.”

Despite acknowledging the difficulties, the Elections Board has only moved the deadline by two days, which the lawsuit contends is insufficient given the ongoing complications.

“Our democracy is strongest when it is inclusive,” added Adriel I. Cepeda Derieux, deputy director for the ACLU's Voting Rights Project. “Young voters and first-time voters should not be punished for administrative failures. We are asking the courts to uphold the principles of fairness and accessibility in this election.”