JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An attorney for the state asked the Alaska Supreme Court on Monday to keep in place witness requirements for absentee ballots for the general election, arguing that a change in rules when voting is already underway, “will cause confusion and distrust."

The court heard arguments in a case that seeks to strike down the requirements for the Nov. 3 election. It did not immediately rule.

Last week, Superior Court Judge Dani Crosby ruled enforcement of the witness requirements during the coronavirus pandemic “impermissibly burdens the right to vote.” She delayed signing the order to allow the Supreme Court to weigh in.

The two sides in the matter had agreed to a stay pending Supreme Court review, with the understanding the Division of Elections would make preparations to carry out the order should the state lose the case.

More than 110,000 absentee ballots have been sent to voters who requested them, with nearly 11,000 already returned, the division says.

Laura Fox, an attorney for the state, said the division typically is engaged in voter outreach for months but in this case faces having to "re-educate voters in direct contradiction of the printed materials and past practice in just a few weeks.”

“This is telling the voters, yeah, we know you have all of these printed materials saying that you have to do it one way but ... just ignore that,” she said.

Justice Susan Carney responded: “Isn't that the message, ‘ignore it?’ How hard is that?”

The case was brought by the Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; and two individuals. Their attorneys have argued the witness requirement is unconstitutional during the pandemic and a bar to voting for those who don’t live with someone who is at least 18 and able to serve as a witness.

Natalie Landreth, an attorney for the plaintiffs, noted the unusual circumstances, with arguments held via video conferencing.

“One year ago, none of us could imagine that I would be in what is frankly my kitchen arguing an Alaska Supreme Court case. And this is how radically the world has changed and how quickly,” she said.

The witness requirement is “creating a burden that doesn't need to be there," Landreth said.