Common Cause of Colorado v. Coffman (John L. Kane, D. Colo. 1:08-cv-2321)
A federal complaint alleged that Colorado was engaging in improper systematic purging of voter-registration rolls within ninetydays of a general election in violation of the National Voter Registration Act. Among the issues in the case was Colorado’s practice of canceling new registrations if registration notices came back undeliverable within twenty0 days of their being mailed. After an evidentiary hearing, the parties stipulated to a temporary restraining order. The state’s secretary of state adopted an aggressive interpretation of his attorney’s stipulation, but the district judge further restrained the secretary’s actions. The litigation proceeded at a normal pace after the election, and the district judge eventually ruled that Colorado’s twenty-day rule did not violate the National Voter Registration Act because voters affected by it could cast provisional ballots.
Subject: Nullifying registrations. Topics: Registration challenges; registration procedures; National Voter Registration Act; enforcing orders; case assignment.

One of many Case Studies in Emergency Election Litigation.