Rabbi sues D.C. board over Passover election

A rabbi is suing the District of Columbia Board of Elections for running an election on the last day of Passover. Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom says in his lawsuit that efforts by the board to expand early voting opportunities for observant Jewish voters in a special election for an at-large council member and two Board of Education members are inadequate.

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Jewish Journal

April 14, 2011

A rabbi is suing the District of Columbia Board of Elections for running an election on the last day of Passover.

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom says in his lawsuit that efforts by the board to expand early voting opportunities for observant Jewish voters in a special election for an at-large council member and two Board of Education members are inadequate.

“Rabbi Herzfeld wants the opportunity to vote in person on Election Day,” The Washington Post on Wednesday quoted the rabbi’s lawsuit as saying.

Herzfeld wants the election board to change the April 26 date or to extend voting by two hours, to 10 p.m.

Observant voters may vote early on Sunday at the board’s headquarters in downtown Washington, which Herzfeld says is inconvenient to his congregants in northern Washington, or may apply for an absentee ballot.

The Board of Elections has sent absentee ballots and information on early voting to Jewish congregations and groups.