The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Dec-21-2017

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: A Bill that was Approved by the House Education and Workforce Committee would No Longer require Colleges and Universities to inform Students about Registering to Vote. The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act would nix language requiring that Schools Request Voter Registration Forms from their State at least 120 days before the Voter Registration Deadline, and send Students an “electronic communication” exclusively about Voter Registration. It also Eliminates Language specifying Schools are required to follow these Requirements for General and Special Federal Elections, State Gubernatorial Elections, and Elections for Chief Executives within a State.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) have announced plans to introduce a Bill to Improve and Streamline Information about Cyber Threats between State and Federal Entities. The Bill, which will include Resources for States, is also intended to Help States Identify and prepare against Cyber Attacks.

Montana: The Gallatin County Commission voted this week to stick with an Elected Elections Administrator instead of making this position an Appointed one. Although they voted down the idea this time, they left the door open to taking up the matter again in the Future once they had hammered out more details about the New Role.

Nebraska: State Sen. John Murante said that he will once again introduce Legislation to enact Voter ID. He provided no details about the Bill in advance of its introduction.

New Jersey: Sen. Ron Rice (D-28th District) has announced his intentions to introduce Legislation in 2018 that would allow Convicted Felons, those on Probation, People on Parole, and Incarcerated Individuals to Vote in Elections.

New York: Mayor Bill Be Blasio has signed a Bill into Law that will allow New York City Residents to Register Online to Vote Online, on a system to be built, from any Computer without a DMV-issued ID. I disagree with the current concept of the Bill and hope during the Development of the System, more Security Checks of the Voter and Cyber-Security Checks of the System, is added.

North Dakota: Fargo City Commission voted 3-2 against putting a Measure on the June Ballot to Reform the City’s Election process. The Election Reform recommendations were made by a Task Force formed more than a year ago.

The Burleigh County Commission voted to Drop a Plan for Universal Vote Centers after the State’s Attorney informed the Commission that the City of Bismarck has the Jurisdiction to Draw the Precinct Lines within city Limits.

Tennessee: House Democrats have announced their intentions to push a Repeal or Change to State Voting Laws in the 2018 Session including the State’s 2011 Voter Photo ID law.

Legal Updates

California: Add Los Angeles County to the list of States and Counties that Judicial Watch has Sued over what they are argue are Bloated Voter Rolls. The Suit argues that the County’s Two Lists of Voters, one for Active and one for Inactive, should be combined into One and Voters should be Purged.

Illinois: A 16th Circuit Court Judge will hear Testimony about putting a Question on the March 20th, 2018 Ballot asking Aurora Residents if they want to Eliminate the Aurora Election Commission. Proponents of Eliminating the Commission filed more than 1,000 Petition Signatures with the Kane County Circuit Clerk's office.

New York: Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis has Signed the Consent Decree in the Settlement between the New York City Board of Elections and Activists in the Suit filed over the City’s Illegal Purge of Voters. The Board must Review all the Names of Voters Purged since July 1st, 2013 and Restore any Voter who was Removed in Violation of State or Federal Election Law. It also has to create a Comprehensive Remedial Plan within 90 days that Addresses the Specific Violations of the Election Law. If All Parties don't Agree to the Board's Plan, it could go back to Court.

New Mexico: The Santa Fe City Council spent time this week hammering out Details of how Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) will work when the City begins using the Voting System in 2018. Members of the Council Approved Language to define a “Majority” as well as Ballot design.

North Carolina: An Alamance County Grand Jury has indicted 12 People for Violating State Election Laws. After Elections, the State Board of Elections compares the State's Voter Registration Database against the State Department of Public Safety's List of Felons, and Reviews Voting History to determine if Matches Voted while still Serving their Sentences.

South Carolina: Attorney General Alan Wilson has Ruled that the State’s Election Agency does not need to Publicly Release Documents on how it is Protecting Voting systems. State Election Commission Director Marci Andino requested the Opinion.