Judge rules non-human entities get ballots, humans get diluted.
Fenwick Island hands power to LLCs, trusts line up next.
This local win sets stage for bigger takeover plays.
Corporations can vote in elections now? Can corporations run for congress now? what about the presidency? Is this connected to Citizen United?
News coverage:
Delaware court upholds voting by companies in small town’s election
The American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware sued the town, arguing it violated the elections clause of the state constitution. The group sought a court order blocking Fenwick Island from counting votes by “non-human artificial entities” in future elections.
A judge has ruled that corporations can vote in some Delaware elections.
Delaware Superior Court Judge Craig Karsnitz said the town of Fenwick Island was not diluting human votes by allowing companies and other legal entities that own property to cast votes in municipal elections.
These “legal entities” and corporations make up about 12% of registered voters in the town.
In total Delaware has far more corporations chartered in the state than residents.
Judge Karsnitz rejected the constitutional arguments of the ACLU, including the claim that “entity” or corporate voting dilutes the political power of living people.
h/t arnott