The Independent View: Electionline Weekly October-5-2017

Legislative Updates

California: Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has signed Senate Bill 511 into Law. The Bill requires the Secretary of State’s Office to make “reasonable efforts” to Promote Voter Registration and Voting in Underrepresented Communities.

Kansas: Members of both Chambers will hold a Pre-Session Hearing on a Proposal to Implement Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in Kansas. According to the Kansas City Star, if Lawmakers like what they hear at the Hearing, they could fast-track the Bill when the Session begins in January 2018.

Wisconsin: A Bill sponsored by Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) and Eric Genrich (D-Green Bay) would spend $304,100 to Pay for Five additional full-time Staff positions for the State’s Elections Commission.

Legal Updates

Arizona: Lawyers for the Arizona Democratic Party argued before U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes that the State’s Ballot Harvesting Law was enacted Illegally by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

California: Former Poway Mayor Don Higginson has filed a Federal Lawsuit challenging the California Voting Rights Act. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, Higginson said the Law is Unconstitutional on its face because it requires Gerrymandering based on Race or Ethnicity.

Indiana: In Court Papers filed this week, Attorney General Curtis Hill, Jr. Denied Allegations that a State Law calling for the Consolidation of Voting Precincts in Lake County is Voter Suppression. The Attorney General's 72-page response refuted the suggestion the Legislation was Unlawful and that it is Voter Suppression, according to Court Documents.

Michigan: At the request of the Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor, charges against Grout Township Clerk Linda Birgel alleging Ballot Tampering, were Dismissed without Prejudice. Birgel was Charged with Felony Disclosing and Obstructing Votes and Absentee Ballot Tampering. She was also Charged with a Misdemeanor of Failure to Perform Duties.

Mississippi: A Suit has been filed against the State of Mississippi seeking to overturn a Life Time Voting Ban for some Ex-Felons. Some of the Crimes on the List include Embezzlement, Forgery, Bribery, Burglary, Theft, Arson, Perjury, Bigamy, and obtaining Money or Property through False Pretense. The Suit Notes that the same Constitution adopted Restrictive Poll Taxes, Literacy Requirements, and Residency Requirements to Disenfranchise People. Most of those have been Struck Down, Removed or Weakened over the ensuing 125 years.

New Mexico: A group of Petitioners have filed Paperwork in the First Judicial District Court seeking to have the Court force the City of Santa Fe to implement Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) which was Approved by Voters in 2008.

State Employees have filed Suit against the State Personnel Office alleging that the Government is going back on its Policy of allowing Workers Paid Time Off to Vote in Albuquerque’s City Election this week.

Rhode Island: A former Gubernatorial Candidate has filed a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that Rhode Island Election Officials have adopted Rules that are in Conflict with the Help America Vote Act.

Texas: The Pasadena City Council has agreed to Settle an ongoing Voting Rights Lawsuit for $1.1 million. The move, recommended by New Mayor Jeff Wagner, came less than a year after a Federal judge found the Council Election structure adopted in 2013 Diluted Latino Voting Influence.