The Independent View: Electionline Weekly July-20-2017

Legislative Updates

Illinois: Senate Bill 1479 has been Approved by both Chambers and is awaiting the Governor’s Signature. Under the Legislation the Grace Period for Voter Registration and Changes of Address for Eligible Residents at Nursing Homes would be enhanced.

Maine: After State Lawmakers were unable to agree on Modifying or Killing Voter-Approved Ranked-Choice Voting, the Voting Method will remain on the Books for the time being.

New Mexico: The Santa Fe City Council will consider whether or not to Rescind its Decision to Postpone trying to Implement Ranked-Choice Voting. The Issue will be Revisited at the Council’s Meeting on July 26th.

Rhode Island: This week, Rhode Island became the Ninth State to Legalize Automatic Voter Registration. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo Signed a Bill into Law that will Automatically Register Voters doing Business with the State’s Division of Motor Vehicles unless they Decline.

Texas: Senate Bill 5, Filed by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), would Elevate the seriousness of some Voter Fraud Crimes, raising them from Class B to Class A Misdemeanors. A Companion bill has been Filed in the House during this Special Session.

Legal Updates

Georgia: The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has Filed a Federal Lawsuit against Fulton County arguing that the County Violated State Requirements when the County Voted to Move several Polling Places out of predominantly Black Neighborhoods.

Kansas: According to Courthouse News Service, The Kansas Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Office has launched a Probe on Claims of Misconduct by Secretary of State Kris Kobach in Voting Rights Cases.

Mississippi: Special Judge Barry W. Ford has Denied a Motion to Dismiss a Legal Challenge to the May Democratic Mayoral Primary Runoff in Starkville. The Ruling allows the Challenge to Proceed, but according to The Dispatch, a Timetable for Resolution is not clear.

North Carolina: The State Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will take up Gov. Roy Cooper’s Lawsuit against the State Legislature over a New Law dictating how County Boards of Elections are Selected. The Decision by the State Supreme Court Bypasses an Intermediate Appeals Court.

Texas: According to Court Filings, Minority Groups have asked the Court to scrap the State’s Voter ID Law and place the State under the Court’s Supervision, Pre-Clearance, for at least a Decade.