SUMMARY: A federal judge has blocked a new Mississippi law that would criminalize assistance to others with absentee voting. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate ruled that the law violates the Voting Rights Act, as it hinders voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read from receiving assistance “by a person of the voter's choice.” The law, which was set to take effect on July 1, would impose penalties of up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine for violations. Critics argue that the law's criminal penalties would deter assistance to vulnerable populations and could disenfranchise voters with disabilities.

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