Phillips Nizer Brings Free Speech, Equal Protection Claims Against Westchester County Board of Elections
08/14/2017New York, NY – Phillips Nizer LLP filed an application seeking leave to intervene in two election law disputes on behalf of White Plains voters whose rights to free speech, due process and equal protection under the law were violated by the Westchester County Board of Elections (the “BOE”). The class representatives are Alexis Greer Heidenberg, a lifelong White Plains resident, and Mark M. Elliott, the chairman of the City of White Plains Board of Ethics.
The BOE invalidated hundreds of signatures of registered White Plains voters, without notice to the voters, who signed designating petitions for candidates for Mayor and Common Council of White Plains, for using the abbreviation “W P” instead of writing out the words “White Plains”, although New York Election Law §6-134(5) explicitly permits address abbreviations.
Ms. Greer Heidenberg commented, “My late father Bob Greer served on the White Plains Common Council for over 15 years. He would be as disappointed as the rest of our family is by these insider efforts to discourage civic participation through technicalities.”
Marc Landis, managing partner of Phillips Nizer, added, “Our government should not suppress the rights of voters to designate candidates for public office – an activity protected by the United States Constitution – on the basis of technicalities that are not supported by the law.” Phillips Nizer partners Craig E. Penn and Julian D. Perlman also represented the petitioners.
See reference documents below.
About Phillips Nizer LLP:
Phillips Nizer, founded in 1926 by world-renowned trial attorney Louis Nizer, represents domestic and international clients in business, finance and real estate transactions, intellectual property matters, commercial litigation and tax and estate planning, with a particular focus on the entertainment, fashion, real estate and technology industries. The firm is a member of Ally Law, a worldwide association of independent mid-sized law firms.
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