The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Nov-15-2018

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: When Democrats take Control of the House in January, the First Legislative Vote will be on H.R. 1 that will establish Automatic Voter Registration and Reinvigorate the Voting Rights Act.

This week, the House Unanimously Approved a Bill to Establish a New Cybersecurity Agency known as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Bill will also Rebrand DHS’ Main Cybersecurity Unit, known as National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency. That means that the Headquarters will be a Full-Fledged Operational Component of DHS.

Delaware: Some Lawmakers have said they will again Try to bring forward Legislation that would Allow for Early Voting in the First State. State Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf (14th District) said it would help Delawareans avoid potential Barriers to Voting, like bad weather.

District of Columbia: Seven Members of the Council of the District of Columbia voted to Table a Bill that would have Extended Voting Rights to 16-year-olds, not only for Local Elections, but also Federal Elections. “It’s not dead,” Charles Allen, the Councilmember who Introduced the Bill said. “But something has to change for the votes to be able to bring it back. Clearly, I’ve got some colleagues that are afraid of change. Change can be scary.”

Mississippi: State Sen. David Blount said that he will introduce Legislation in January to Reform some of the State’s Voting Laws including the need to have an Absentee Ballot Notarized which Blount equated to a Poll Tax.

New York: The Assembly’s Standing Committee on Election Law will hold a Public Hearing in Manhattan to review Election Day Operations and possible ways to Improve the Voting Experience.

Legal Updates

Alabama: Attorneys representing Black Students at Alabama A&M University filed a Federal Lawsuit asking that the Students’ Votes in the Midterm Election be Counted. As Evidence, the Lawsuit includes Screen Shots of the Alabama Secretary of State’s Website showing the Four Students Filing the Lawsuit as Ineligible the Day of the Election and Eligible Two days later. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala Ruled that the Votes of the Students would Not Count.

New Jersey: Lizaida Camis, 55, of Hoboken, Pleaded Guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini in Newark Federal Court to Conspiracy to use Mail to Promote a Voter Bribery Scheme during the 2013 Municipal Election in Hoboken, Authorities said.

New Mexico: Republican State Representative and Congressional Candidate Yvette Herrell wants New Mexico State Police to Impound All Absentee Ballots Cast in Doña Ana County in the Nov. 6th General Election. On Election Night, Herrell was Leading, but once all Provisional and Absentee Ballots were Counted her Opponent was in the Lead.

New York: State Supreme Court Justice Patrick F. MacRae, on Friday, asked the Sheriff’s Deputies in Eight Counties to Secure Computer Memory Sticks from Voting Machines, Paper Ballots, Absentee Ballots, Affidavit Ballots, and Related Election Records in the 22nd Congressional District Race.

Pennsylvania: Voting Rights Advocates have Sued the Commonwealth Over its Deadlines to Return Absentee Ballots. The Suit called the Deadline “unreasonably early.”

Texas: The Texas Attorney General’s Office has Arrested Nine Additional People for Allegedly Voting Illegally in the 2017 Edinburg Municipal Election. To-date, 14 People have been Arrested for Voting Illegally in 2017 in Edinburg.

Bexar County Judge Stephani Walsh has Denied a Request to Extend the Deadline to Count Provisional and Overseas Ballots in Bexar County.

U.S. Virgin Islands: USVI Attorney General Claude Walker filed a Request for a Temporary Restraining Order to Stop the Board of Elections from Registering New Voters in Advance of the November 20th Runoff. The Court Granted the Restraining Order on Wednesday.

Utah: U.S. District Court Judge David Nuffer Dismissed a Case Over whether or not Willie Grayeyes should be Allowed to Run for Office in Utah. In June, Grayeyes Sued San Juan County after he was Kicked Off the Ballot based on Allegations that he Resided in Arizona rather than Utah. In the Lawsuit his Attorneys argued that those Allegations Violated his Constitutional Rights, specifically his Right to Vote. Grayeyes is from Navajo Mountain, a Community Close to the Utah-Arizona Border. Limited Roads require Residents to Travel Back and Forth between the Two States. Grayeyes currently Leads his Republican Opponent by 95 Votes in a Race for San Juan County Commissioner.

Wisconsin: Brand Baker, 20 is being Held for Allegedly making Threats and Referencing a Polling Location. A Search Warrant noted that Baker said he wanted to go to a Polling Place and “air it out.”