The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Mar-28-2019

Legislative Updates

Arizona: Gov. Greg Ducey (R) has Signed a Bill into Law that will require Early Voters casting a Ballot at a Countywide Voting Center to provide the same Forms of ID that they would have to show if they Voted at the Polls on Election Day.

A Bill that would Automatically Remove Voters from a Permanent Early Voting List if they Miss Two Consecutive Elections Passed the House Elections Committee on a Party-Line Vote.

California: The Solano County Board of Supervisors Voted Unanimously this week to Wait until after the 2020 Election Cycle to move to Regional Vote Centers.

Florida: PCB SAC 19-01 has Passed the House State Affairs Committee. Under the Proposal, Floridians would be able to Fix Signature Problems on their Vote-by-Mail and Provisional Ballots until Two days after Elections, and Supervisors would be able to Mail Domestic Vote-by-Mail Ballots Earlier to Voters, between 40 days and 28 days before Elections. The Bill also Legalizes Ballot Selfies.

Idaho: By a 22-12 Vote, Bill 270, which will make sure Public Schools are Available to Serve as Polling Places, has been Approved by the Senate. If signed by Governor Brad Little (R), the Bill would go into Effect in July 2020.

Illinois: Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-8th District, Chicago) has introduced Legislation that would give Any Registered Voters who casts a Ballot in a General Election a $25 State Tax Credit.

Indiana: A Senate Committee has Rejected an Amendment that would have required Tracking Numbers on All Absentee Ballot Envelopes. Senators Opposing the Amendment questioned the Postal Service’s Ability to Provide the Service.

Iowa: The House has Approved House File 692 which Mandates all 99 Counties to use Ballot Tracking from the U.S. Postal Service for Absentee Ballots.

New Hampshire: The Senate has Unanimously Approved Senate Bill 104 which would Allow Towns to Postpone and Reschedule Elections due to Poor Weather Conditions or other Emergencies.

New Jersey: By a 77-0 Vote, the Assembly has Approved a Bill that will Allow Counties to use E-Poll Books to Check-In Voters at Polling Places.

New Mexico: Gov. Michelle Lujuan Grisham (D) has Signed Senate Bill 672 into Law which Allows for Election Day Registration.

North Dakota: The Senate has Killed a Bill that would have given Legislators a Say before Counties Change Legislative District Boundaries.

Pennsylvania: State Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47th District) has introduced Legislation to Create a Pennsylvania Election Law Advisory Board to consider possible Statutory Changes and other Issues, such as Emerging Election Technology.

Texas: Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-91st District, Fort Worth) has introduced House Bill 3576 and House Bill 3578. House Bill 3576 makes it Mandatory for Counties to Update their Voter Registration Databases, current Law says the “May” Do List Maintenance, the Legislation would Change that to “Shall”.

Under House Bill 3578 District Courts would determine the Final Order of Felony Conviction on an Individual to Directly Notify the Secretary of State’s Office that a Person is No Longer Eligible to Vote.

Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-14th District) introduced House Bill 1419, Felons on Parole or Under Supervision would Regain their Right to Vote.

Virginia: Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has Vetoed Two Elections-related Bills. House Bill 2764 would have Required Anyone who Assists a Voter with a Registration Application, or Collects Applications to provide their Name, Number, and Information about the Group they are Working/Volunteering for. Northam also Vetoed Senate Bill 1038 that would have Required Registrars to Verify the Name, Date of Birth, and Social Security Number Matched Information on File with the Social Security Administration.

Legal Updates

California: The California Court of Appeals has Ruled that the City of Santa Monica does Not need to Hold a Special Election to Choose a New Council while the City is Appealing a Decision in a Voting Rights Case.

Massachusetts: A Massachusetts Judge has Ruled that the way the Fall River Charter is written, the Incumbent Mayor can be Recalled and Re-Elected on the same Ballot.