Alaska: The Anchorage Assembly is considering a $300,000 appropriation to move the city to a Vote-By-Mail system. Among other things, the funds would cover a staff member to oversee the transition.
Florida: A bipartisan effort to make the Secretary of State position elected as opposed to a political appointee was approved 11-0 by the Senate Rules Committee.
Hawaii: Legislators are considering a bill that would allow incarcerated felons to cast a ballot. Rep. Kaniela Ing introduced the bill saying that it would go a long way to helping rehabilitate those serving time.
Maryland: Sen. Roger Manno (D-Montgomery County) has introduced legislation that would automatically register residents to vote whenever they have an interaction with the state’s Motor Vehicle Administration as well as through social service agencies and the state’s health exchange. Residents would be given 21 days to opt out.
Missouri: A bill expanding the Secretary of State’s legal authority in prosecuting cases of voter fraud was advanced by a Senate committee vote. Senate Bill 786 would allow the Missouri Secretary of State to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged voting fraud. The legislation was proposed by Sen. Will Kraus who is running for Secretary of State. Also in Missouri, while thousands of Americans are busy casting early ballots the House rejected legislation that would have allowed residents of the Show Me State to join the early voting party. Those opposed to the legislation said that it would open up more opportunities for voter fraud.
New Hampshire: The House Elections Committee is considering legislation that would allow incarcerated felons to cast a ballot. If approved, New Hampshire would join Maine and Vermont as the only states that allows felons currently serving time to cast a ballot.
New York: A bill expected to be introduced this spring will give undocumented immigrants the right to vote in local elections.
North Carolina: Legislators voted to move the state’s Congressional Primary to June 7 in order to comply with a court ruling that requires the Congressional maps be redrawn.
Oklahoma: Due to a quirk in the law, an ex-felon who may be sentenced to 99-years, for example, but is released early due to time off for good behavior and other reasons, is still prevented from voting even though the terms of their service are complete. Legislation pending would clarify that law.
Utah: Legislation that will allow County clerks to release daily vote totals while tallying vote-by-mail ballots is on its way to the Governor’s desk. Local elections officials supported the legislation.
West Virginia: The House of Delegates has approved legislation that would require voters to show a photo ID in order to cast a ballot. The bill was approved by the House 64-34 largely along party lines, although some Democrats did vote in favor of it and some Republicans were opposed.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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