The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Jan-4-2018

Legislative Updates

Maine: A Bill sponsored by the Secretary of State’s Office would Ban the gathering of Voter Signatures at Polling Places on Election Day. “It’s really not a shadow effort to restrict the people’s right to petition their government,” Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said. “That is not our intent.” He said the changes are more a result of complaints from Voters themselves and Polling Place Officials who want to maintain Orderly and “Civilized” Polling Places. “Sometimes signature gatherers are very, very aggressive,” Dunlap said. “They take things right to the very edge and it causes issues.”

Minnesota: January 1st marked the start of a New Law which establishes Five uniform Dates throughout the year for Special Local Elections. A Special Election in a City, Town, or School District must be held on one of the following dates: The Second Tuesday in February; the Second Tuesday in April; the Second Tuesday in May; the Second Tuesday in August (State Primary Date); or the First Tuesday after the First Monday in November (General Election Date). A Special Election may only be held on a different Date if it is held in response to an Emergency or Disaster.

Nevada: The Clark County Commission voted this week to end a decades-long practice of Automatically Mailing Absentee Ballots to Voters in Precincts with Small Populations. The County’s move to Vote Centers spurred the decision. “There’s no sense in sending out a $5, $6 mail ballot to someone who will likely surrender it to vote on a machine,” Registrar Joe Gloria said. The Change will affect about 4,800 Voters and save the County $50,000.

New Hampshire: Several Elections-related Bills have been introduced in the early days of the Legislative Session including:

- Move the State to a Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) System.

- Mandate Poll Workers provide Information on New Hampshire Driver’s License Laws to anyone Registering with an Out-of-State License.

- Remove the State from the Crosscheck Program.

- Give Town Moderates the Authority to Delay or Change Elections due to Weather Emergencies.

In a 14-9 Party-line Vote, the Senate Approved House Bill 372 which establishes a New Definition of Residency in order to Register to Vote. The Bill must now go back to the House to Reconcile changes. Gov. Chris Sununu has voiced his Opposition to the Bill.

Utah: Rep. Bruce Cutler (R-State 44th District) is proposing Legislation that would Eliminate Straight-Ticket Voting in Utah. Utah is one of Eight States that still allows Straight-Ticket Voting. "When you go out to the polls and vote, sometimes it’s nice to Check one number. You’ve got a lot of people waiting behind you," Cutler said. "But now that we do most of the voting by mail, you have all the time in the world to research and look at the candidates."

Rep. Stephen Handy (R-State District 16th) has introduced a Bill that would Automatically Register Residents to Vote when they receive a New or Renew their Driver’s License. Handy said he has the support of County Clerks.

Legal Updates

California: The City of Redondo Beach plans to file a Lawsuit against the State challenging the Law that creates Uniform Dates for Elections. Cities, School Boards, and Special Districts had until Jan. 1st to come up with a Plan to streamline their Elections. Instead of coming up with a Plan, the Redondo Beach City Council decided to Challenge SB 415.

Michigan: Michael Gilmore, a Candidate seeking to fill the Vacancy left by the Resignation of Rep. John Conyers has filed a Federal Lawsuit alleging that the 11-month Delay in holding a Special Election to fill the Vacant Seat is Unconstitutional.

In Macomb County, Clerk Karen Spranger has filed a Federal Lawsuit alleging that Three Macomb Officials have Violated Her Constitutional Rights in a Conspiracy with the County’s Chief Judge, the Head of an AFSCME Union Local and Two Reporters She claims are Biased against Her.

Missouri: Cole County Judge Jon Beetum has dismissed a Lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and the State’s Voter ID Law. The Suit claimed that the State had not provided enough Voter Education and Poll Worker Training.

New Jersey: A losing Candidate in the Hillside Mayoral Runoff has filed a Suit Challenging the Election Results. The Suit alleges that there were Errors in the Vote Count. According to New Jersey Advance Media, the Lawsuit alleges Illegal Votes, Destruction of Provisional Ballots, and Errors in Counting the Votes. The Suit alleges at least 18 Provisional Ballots were Stolen by the current Mayor, Her Council, or their Representatives before they could be Counted. In Total, the Lawsuit questions more than 95 Votes and Lists the Names and Addresses of the Voters as part of an Exhibit.

North Carolina: Wake County Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway Ordered the Pitt County Board of Elections (BOE) to Certify the Election of Ricky Hines to the Winterville Town Council. According to The Reflector, Ridgeway said the County Board did not have the Authority to Revoke a Certificate it has previously Issued.

North Dakota: U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Miller has Granted the Plaintiff’s Motion to File an Amended Complaint in the Challenge of the State’s Voter ID Law.

Pennsylvania: An Office of Open Records decision says that State Law allows Anyone with a Valid ID to obtain your Voter Registration Information, but Blocks the Voter from finding out who’s Looking. The Decision came after Quincy Twp. Supervisor Kerry Bumbaugh filed a Right-to-Know Request to find out who received Copies of the County’s Voter Registration List in 2017. The County Denied the Request.