The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Nov-16-2017

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) has introduced the Register America to Vote Act that would ensure every State Develops and Implements a Secure Process to Automatically Register Eligible Citizens to Vote.

Oklahoma: Sen. Rob Standridge says he plans to Re-File Legislation in the 2018 Session that would require Legislators to Pay for Special Elections to Replace them. “I think we need to be cognizant as legislators what we cost the public when we do that,” he told the Norman Transcript. “Somebody has to foot that bill. We just had another one of the House resign last week. That’s going to cost the taxpayers another $30,000 or so. If you’re in the House and you’ll just stay until Jan. 1, a special election doesn’t have to be called.”

Legal Updates

Arizona: Attorney General Mark Brnovich has Ruled that County Election Officials may maintain Separate Voter Registration Databases, but that they are still Legally required to send Voter Information to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Minnesota: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a Minnesota Case about what not to Wear to the Polls on Election day. The Minnesota Voters Alliance is challenging the State Law that forbids Political Badges, Buttons, or other Insignia inside Polling places.

Ohio: The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati has Overturned a Lower Court Ruling that had ruled against Blind Voters in Ohio who claimed the state’s Paper Absentee Ballots Illegally forced them to rely on Others to Vote. The Higher Court found the Lower Court should not have simply accepted the Secretary of State’s Arguments on the matter. It sent the Case back for further proceedings. “Without proof that the proposed [Americans with Disabilities Act] accommodation is unreasonable or incompatible with Ohio’s election system, defendant’s defense based on an allegation alone is insufficient,” Judge Richard Allen Griffin wrote.

Pennsylvania: In a 4-3 Vote, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has Ruled that a Case challenging how Congressional Districts were Drawn Six years ago may proceed on a Compressed Schedule. The Commonwealth has until December 31st to issue Findings of Fact and Legal Conclusions.