The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Oct-18-2018

Federal-State Updates

Maryland’s Two Democratic Sens Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Maine’s Susan Collins (R) have introduced the Protect Our Elections Act which would require Companies that provide Election Services to Report any Foreign National who Owns or Controls their Firm to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Election Assistance Commission, and State and Local Officials. It also would require Companies to provide Notice of any Material Change in Ownership or Control. The Bill establishes a $10,000 Fine for failing to do so.

Legislative Updates

Montana: By an 8-3 vote, the Missoula City Council voted to Expand the City’s Gun-Free Zones to include All Polling Places. Council Member Julie Merritt (6th Ward) proposed the Changes in September as both an Emergency Amendment and an update to an Existing City Ordinance after concerns were raised about Open and Concealed carrying of Weapons in Polling Places. Weapons aren’t allowed in Schools, where many Polling Places are. But there are also Voting Sites that are not School Based.

Ohio: The Franklin County Commission voted to Transfer $245,000 from the Board of Elections Budget to the County Commission’s Budget to spend it on Public Service Announcements promoting Early Voting. The Board of Elections had previously said they would Not Spend their Own funds on Early Voting Advertising.

Pennsylvania: The House State Government Committee held a Hearing this week to discuss ongoing Issues with the State’s Election system. In addition to Discussion about Russian Interference, the Committee also discussed the Possibility of Non-Citizen Voters.

Rep. Eric Roe (R-Chester, 158th District) has introduced Legislation that will allow Pennsylvania to offer Curbside Voting for Voters with Disabilities.

Legal Updates

Arkansas: In a 5-2 Decision the Arkansas Supreme Court has Upheld the State’s Voter ID Law. “In our view, providing a system of verifying that a person attempting to cast a ballot is registered to vote is relevant and pertinent, or has a close relationship, to an amendment establishing a system of voter registration,” the Court said.

Florida: Late last week U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle Turned Down the Democrats Request to Extend the State’s Voter Registration Deadline to October 16th for those affected by Hurricane Michael.

Georgia: Civil Rights groups have filed a Federal Lawsuit seeking to Overturn the State’s “Exact Match” Law which has Stalled approximately 53,000 Voter Registrations from being Processed. Two Lawsuits were filed in Federal Court this week against the Secretary of State’s Office and Gwinnett County over “Excessive Rejection” of Absentee Ballots. According to Analysis by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, so far Gwinnett has Rejected about 8.5% of Absentees while the State Average is 2%.

Guam: The Government of Guam argued before a Ninth Circuit Panel at the University of Hawaii that it is Not Unlawful to Limit Non-Native Residents from Voting on the Territory’s Future Political Ties with the United States.

Missouri: The Attorney General’s Office has filed an Appeal and an Emergency Stay to Cole County Circuit Court Judge Richard Callan’s Ruling last week that Overturned a Provision in the State’s Voter ID Law that Requires Voters who don’t have a Photo ID to Sign an Affidavit.

New Jersey: Lizaida Camis, 55, has been Indicted on One Count of using the Mail to Promote a Voter Fraud Scheme and One Count of Conspiracy to Use the Mail to Promote a Voter Bribery Scheme.

North Carolina: A Three-Judge Panel has ruled that Changes make to the State’s Board of Elections by the Legislature make the SBOE Unconstitutional. In their 2-1 ruling, the Judges did say that the Board of Elections is Allowed to continue its Work As-Is for now in light of the Upcoming Election.

Ohio: A Voting Rights group has asked the 6th U.S. Circuity Court of Appeals to Review a Lower Court’s ruling that concluded a Stopgap system to allow Purged Voters to Vote Provisionally was No Longer needed.

Pennsylvania: President Judge Russel Shurtleff has Denied a Petition to Combine Two Falls Township Polling Places into One.

Tennessee: U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker had Denied a Request for an Order requiring the Shelby County Election Commission to ask the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to perform Risk and Vulnerability Assessments on the County’s Electronic Voting System.

Texas: Leticia Sanchez, Leticia Sanchez Tepichin, Maria Solis, and Laura Parra have been Indicted on 30 Felony Counts of Voter Fraud including Stealing the Votes of Elderly Voters. A Statement from the Attorney General’s Office said the Defendants allegedly were Paid to Target Older Voters in a Scheme to Generate a Large Number of Mail Ballots and then Harvest those Ballots for Specific Candidates.