The Independent View: Electionline Weekly May-16-2019

Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has introduced Legislation that would Help Americans Affected by or Displaced by Natural Disasters to Maintain their Ability to Vote through a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot.

Alabama: The Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns, and Elections, Advanced SB 313 and HB 596, Companion Bills that would Clarify that Only United States Citizens have the Right to Vote in Alabama Elections.

Arizona: By a 39-21 Vote, the House has Approved a Bill that would Move the State’s Primary from the Last Week in August to the First Week.

Maine: The House Voted 85 to 54 in Support of a Proposed Constitutional Amendment that would Expand Ranked-Choice Voting to All Races on the Ballot. While it was Approved by a Winning Margin, Constitutional Amendments need Two-Thirds Votes in Both Chambers along with Voter Approval.

Maryland: The Kensington Town Council Voted 3 to 1 to Allow a 16-year-old High School Junior to Petition Town Residents about Lowering the Voting Age to 16. If the Student gets 300 Signatures, it’s then up to the Town Council to Decide to Amend the City Charter Immediately or to put the Question to the Voters in 2020.

Massachusetts: The City of Summerville has sent a Home Rule Petition to the Statehouse seeking Approval to Allow 16- and 17-year-olds to Vote in Local Elections. The City Council Unanimously Approved the move.

Nevada: Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has Signed Assembly Bill 137 into Law. The New Law Eliminates the Requirement for Tribal Governments to obtain Approval from the Offices of Local City and County Election Officials in order to Establish Polling Sites in Each Election. Under AB 137, County and City Clerks will be Required to Continue to Recognize Established Polling Places within the Boundaries of Tribal Lands in each Election, unless otherwise Requested by Tribal Authorities.

Oregon: By a 19-9 Vote, the Senate has Approved Senate Bill 60 which would Prevent Election Officials from Putting their Name on the Voters’ Pamphlet, Ballot Return Envelopes, or any other Printed Materials included with the Ballot during Elections in which they are a Candidate.

Texas: The Senate has Approved a Bill that would move Bond, Debt, and Tax Elections to November. Additionally, the Bill places a Limit on the Wording Length of Propositions explaining the Purposes of a Bond Election.

Vermont: Voters in Montpelier Approved a Ballot Measure that would have Allowed Non-Citizens to Vote in Local Elections. In Brattleboro, Voters Approved a Measure allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to Vote in Local Elections. Because they are Municipal Charter Changes, they must be Approved by the State Legislature. Lawmakers have Decided to Block Action this year on the Legislation that would have Allowed the Revisions to go into Effect.

Legal Updates

Florida: U.S. District Judge Mark Walker has Ordered 32 Florida Counties to provide Spanish-Language Ballots beginning with the 2020 Presidential Primaries.

Missouri: Former Stoddard County Deputy Clerk Ginger McCoy has filed Suit against the County alleging that She was Wrongfully Terminated for Questioning Irregularities in the April 2nd Municipal Election.

Ohio: A Three-Judge Panel that found Ohio’s Congressional Map Unconstitutional Ruled last week that they will Not Delay their Order for a New Map to be Drawn by June 14th. The State has said they will seek a Supreme Court Ruling.

Tennessee: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a Second Lawsuit against a New Voter Registration Law that Penalizes Third-Party Groups. The ACLU, Campaign Legal Center, and Fair Elections Center, Sued in federal Court, Representing the League of Women Voters of Tennessee and Four other Groups. Tennessee’s NAACP and others Sued Separately. The Suit says the Law Violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

Texas: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, the ACLU Voting Rights Project, and the Texas Civil Rights Project, joined the Legal Team representing Crystal Mason who was Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Casting a Provisional Ballot in November 2016. The Ballot was Not Counted, and Mason said she did Not know she was Not Allowed to Vote while she was on Supervised Release from a 2011 Fraud Conviction.