The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Mar-22-2018

Legislative Updates

Connecticut: The Government Administration and Elections Committee recently heard Testimony on HB 5418 which would Restore the Voting Rights to Thousands of Residents. Under the Bill, those in Jail, but not yet Convicted and those on Parole would have their Voting Rights Restored. Currently that would affect about 7,000 Voters.

Florida: Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed 30 Bills into Law this week including one that will make Florida the 24th State, plus Approved the District of Columbia to be a Member of ERIC.

Georgia: A Bill that would create Uniform Voting Hours Statewide, shortening Atlanta’s Polling Place Hours by an Hour has been approved by the House Governmental Affairs Committee. The Bill also curtails Sunday Early Voting, called Souls to the Polls.

Maryland: By a 32-12 vote, the Senate has Approved a Bill that would create an Automatic Voter Registration system for those eligible. The Bill requires the Motor Vehicle Administration, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, Local Departments of Social Services, and the Mobility Certification Office of the Maryland Transit Administration to Register or Update an Existing Voters Info unless the Voter Opts Out.

Michigan: By a 35-1 Vote, the Senate has Approved a Bill that would allow Residents with a State Driver’s License or State ID Cards to Register Online to Vote.

By a 62-44 Vote, Members of the House have Approved a Bill that would allow Voters without a Driver’s License or State ID to use a limited Number of Alternative IDs to Cast a Ballot. The IDs include a U.S. Passport, a Military Photo ID, or a Student ID.

New Hampshire: The House has Rejected a Proposal that would have required the Secretary of State to Work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to create an Online Voter Registration system. According to New Hampshire Public Radio, Critics argued that implementing Online Voter Registration would carry too many Security Risks.

South Dakota: A Petition submitted to put a Ballot Measure that would allow Voters to decide whether or not the State should move to a Vote-by-Mail system did not have enough Valid Signatures to get the Initiative on the Ballot. According to KELO an Initiated Measure needs 13,871 Valid Signatures in order to be placed on the Ballot. The Initiated Measure Petition submitted 15,718 Signatures, only 10,955 were found to be Valid after Random Sampling.

Washington: Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has Signed several pieces of Elections-related Legislation into Law including a Bill to create a Washington Voting Rights Act, a Bill that will allow 16-and 17-year-olds to Pre-Register, a Bill that allows for Same Day Registration, and a Bill creating a system of Automatic Voter Registration.

Legal Updates

Georgia: Olivia Pearson has been found Not Guilty of Voter Fraud stemming from the 2012 Election. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. During Early Voting in Coffee County, a first-time Voter was not sure how to use the Voting Machine. Pearson, who was at the Polls, showed her how the Machine worked and Signed a Form as part of the process. That action led to a Three-year Investigation by the Georgia State Election Board and the Felony Charges pursued by the Local Prosecutor. Her first Trial ended in a Hung Jury, but the Second Jury took only 20 minutes to come to the Not Guilty verdict. “I knew I had done nothing wrong, with these charges they had come up with. . .,” Pearson told the AJC. “I just couldn’t take a plea like the other three did who were indicted. I just couldn’t do that.”

Kansas: The Proof-of-Citizenship Voter Registration Trial came to an End this week with Closing Arguments on Monday. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson said she would Not render a Decision for at least a Month.

Michigan: A Federal Judge heard arguments last week in a Suit to Move up the Special Election to Replace U.S. Rep. John Conyers. According to The Associated Press, State Attorneys said it would be very Difficult, but not impossible to Move up the Election. Gov. Rick Snyder set a Primary Election for Aug. 7th, the Date for Primary Elections Statewide, followed by a Special Election on Nov. 6th. The Suit seeks to Create a Spring Primary with the General Election falling on the August Primary Date.

According to The Detroit News, St. Clair County Circuit Judge Daniel J. Kelly isn’t expected to Decide for at least Two Weeks whether Macomb Co. Clerk Karen Spranger falsified her Address to Run for Office.

New Hampshire: The American Civil Liberties Union is Suing the State over Town Moderator’s ability to Reject Absentee Ballots if they have doubts about the Signature without Notifying the Voter. According to the Concord Monitor, at issue is State Law RSA 659:50, which allows Moderators to Reject Absentee Ballots if they don’t believe “the signature on the affidavit appears to be executed by the same person who signed the application” for Voting by Absentee Ballot, “unless the voter received assistance because the voter is blind or has a disability.” In a Brief filed in U.S. District Court in Concord, the ACLU says that during the 2016, 2014, and 2012 Elections, this Law “disenfranchised approximately 275, 145, and 350 voters, respectively.”

North Dakota: The State has filed a Motion in U.S. District Court seeking to Speed up the Review of the State’s Voter ID Law. Deputy Solicitor General James Nicolai wrote that "timely resolution of the pending motions brought by both sides is necessary for proper planning by election officials."

Tennessee: Last week Davidson County Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman ruled that the Special Election to Replace the Mayor of Nashville should be held in August as the Davidson County Election Commission had Ordered. The Plaintiff in the Case is now asking the State Supreme Court to Intervene and Force a Special Election in May.