Election Line Weekly Dec-20-2018

Legislative Updates

California: Senator Patricia Bates (R-36th District, Laguna Niguel) introduced Senate Bill 57, which would allow Individuals to Opt-In for Voter Registration instead of Automatically being Registered to Vote or having to Opt-Out of the program.

Maryland: State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-17th District) and Del. Eric Luedtke (D-14th District) have proposed a Bill for the General Assembly that would allow Montgomery County to move to a Ranked-Choice Voting system.

Michigan: In a 6-3 vote, the House Elections and Ethics Committee Passed a Bill that Proponents say would create Enabling Language needed to Implement Proposal 3, which would allow for Same-Day Voter Registration, Straight-Ticket Voting, No-Reason Absentee Voting, and Regular Election Audits.

New York: This week Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) introduced his Legislative Agenda for 2019. The Agenda includes a Number of Voting Reforms including: Automatic Voter Registration, Early Voting, Consolidating Federal, State, and Local Primaries, Vote-by-Mail, and Designated a State Holiday on Election Day.

North Carolina: Gov. Roy Cooper (D) has Vetoed a Bill that would Require Voters to Show a Photo ID after Voters Approved a Constitutional Amendment allowing the Legislature to move Forward with the ID Measure. In his Veto Message, Cooper said the Problem is Not with Voter Impersonation, but “votes harvested illegally through absentee ballots, which this proposal fails to fix.” On Tuesday, the Senate, and then on Wednesday, the House, Voted to Override the Veto.

Oklahoma: Two Bills are already for the Upcoming Legislative Session including One that would Eliminate the State’s Straight-Party Voting Option and another One that would Expand a Law that Requires Employers to give Employees Two hours Paid Time Off to Vote on Election Day.

South Dakota: Of the Dozens of Pre-Filed Bills for the 2019 Session, Legislators will consider a Bill that would Allow Clothing and Buttons Expressing Support or Opposition to a Candidate, Issue, or Ballot Question to be Worn inside a Polling Place and within 100 Feet of the Voting Site.

Wisconsin: Outgoing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) Signed Legislation into Law that will Limit the State’s Early Voting Period to Two weeks.

Milwaukee City Council has Approved a Resolution requiring the City’s Election Commission to Implement a Program to Train and Certify all City Employees who Interact with the Public to Register Residents to Vote.

Legal Updates

Florida: Suspended Broward County Supervisor of Elections, Brenda Snipes, has filed a Federal Lawsuit against current Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Bill Galvano. In the Suit, Snipes Argues that her Due-Process Rights are being Violated. Snipes had Resigned and then pulled the Resignation.

Illinois: Newly Elected DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek has Withdrawn her Lawsuit against the DuPage County Election Commission that had sought to Obtain the Serial Numbers of the Optical Scan Voting Machines the Agency received as part of a Settlement with the former Vendor.

Maine: U.S. District Court Judge Lance Walker ruled that the U.S. Constitution does Not require whichever Congressional Candidate receives the Moves Votes, or Plurality, be Declared the Winner thus ruling in favor of Maine’s Ranked-Choice Voting system. Losing Candidate U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has filed an Appeal.

New Hampshire: Michael L. Lewis, 45, of Miami, Florida has been Indicted on Charges that he Voted in Hooksett despite not being a Qualified, Registered Voter.

Texas: Judge Romeo Flores has Blocked the Palmview City Council from Ordering a Special Election. Ordering a New Election would have been in line with an Opinion from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office that Advised them to call for a New Election. However, the Lawsuit states that the Opinion from the Secretary of State’s Office was Non-Binding and Incomplete.

Wisconsin: Voting Rights Advocates have asked U.S. District Judge James Peterson to Overturn Parts of the recently Signed Lame-Duck Legislation on the State’s Requirement to Show ID at the Polls and Limiting Early Voting.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker