The Independent View: Electionline Weekly Apr-25-2019

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) has introduced the Democracy Restoration Act of 2019 that would Automatically Restore the Voting Rights in Federal Election to formerly Incarcerated Individuals once they have Completed the Terms of their Sentences.

Connecticut: By a 125-24 Vote, the House has Approved a Bill that would Allow the Nutmeg State to offer Early Voting. The Bill would Allow Voters to Cast their Ballot at least Three Days before an Election. A Binding Early Voting Referendum would be Placed on the Ballot in 2020. The earliest it could be implemented is 2022.

Florida: Senate Bill 230 and House Bill 131 would Require that Each County Supervisor of Elections enters into an Agreement with the Clerk of the Circuit Court to Receive, on a Monthly Basis, a List of Potential Jurors who have Identified Themselves as Undocumented Immigrants.

By a 71-45 Vote, the House has Approved a Bill that would Require Formerly Incarcerated Residents to Pay All Court Fines, Fees, and Restitution before their Rights can be Restored. Possible Poll Tax.

Hawaii: A House-Senate Conference Committee has Advanced House Bill 1248 that would Create a Statewide Vote-by-Mail System and Extend the time Early Voting Locations are Open in each County.

Louisiana: Sen. Troy Carter (D-7th District, New Orleans) has introduced a Bill that would Automatically Register People to Vote when they Apply for a Driver’s License or Non-Driver State ID. Residents would have the Option to Opt-Out of Voter Registration.

Maine: House Speaker Sara Gideon (D-48th District, Freeport) has introduced a Bill that would Allow Mainers to be Automatically Registered to Vote when Conducting Business with the State. Gideon’s Bill is loosely modeled after Oregon’s Legislation.

Nevada: The Assembly has Approved Assembly Bill 431 which would Automatically Restore the Voting Rights to Felons once they have Completed the Terms of their Sentence.

New Hampshire: The Senate is debating House Bill 611 which would Allow for No-Excuse Absentee Voting. The Legislation, which Passed the House by a 198-163 Vote is Opposed by the Secretary of State and the City and Town Clerks’ Association.

The Senate is also debating a Bill that would Create a Commission to “celebrate and safeguard” New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation Primary. The Bill was Approved by the House. Secretary of State Bill Gardner is Opposed to the Bill.

North Carolina: Under House Bill 944, Paying or Receiving Payment for a Completed Absentee Ballot Request Form a Class 2 Misdemeanor. The Bill also would require County Elections Officials to keep a Log of Who submits Absentee Ballot Requests and calls for appropriating $345,000 a year to Pay for Three more Investigators and Two more Data Analysts for the State Board of Elections to Check on possible Cases of Election Fraud.

Ohio: Secretary of State Frank LeRose (R) announced this week he will work with the Legislature to establish Automatic Voter Registration when Ohioans Submit their Information through a Variety of State Agencies, Not just the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Tennessee: By an 85-9 Vote, the House has Approved a Bill to allow Monroe, Wilson, and Williamson Counties to Participate in a Pilot Program to Allow for “convenience voting” or Vote Centers. Currently only Rutherford County is Participating in the Pilot.

Vermont: The House has Advanced a Proposed Charter Change that will Allow the City of Montpelier to include Noncitizens on its Voter Rolls for Local Elections. “Local issues should be voted on by the local community,” Montpelier Mayor Anne Watson said. “And everyone who is part of that community should have the ability to participate in decisions that affect their community.” It’s estimated that fewer than a Dozen People would be Added to the Local Voter Rolls.

Washington: All 38 County Auditors have Signed onto a Letter seeking to Pressure the State Legislature to Pay its “fair share” of Election Costs. Currently the State is only Required to Pay a Prorated Share of the Costs of the Primary and General in Odd-Numbered years. “The state Legislature has decided to ‘dine and dash’ during even years, when the vast majority of their state offices are on the ballot. Despite being given multiple opportunities to do the right thing and change the law, the state instead sticks your cash-strapped county government with the bill,” Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland said in a Release.

Legal Updates

Tennessee: Brian Hodge, a former Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy has been given Five years of Probation after being Charged with Witness Tampering, Conspiracy to Commit Voter Fraud, Five Counts of Vote Buying, and Witness Tampering. All those Charges but One were Dropped when he Agreed to Plea to a Charge of Conspiracy to Commit Voter Fraud.

Wisconsin: Common Cause Wisconsin has filed a Federal Lawsuit arguing that State Election Officials are Singling Out College Students by Requiring their College-Issued IDs have Certain Elements in Order to Serve as a Voter ID. “This suit asks whether it is constitutional for state law to single out a group of voters and require them to present or submit information that election officials and poll workers do not need and do not use,” the Complaint says. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a Student may Use their College-Issued ID to Vote if the Card Includes the Student’s Name, Signature, Photo, Date the Card was Issued, and the Date the Card Expires.