The Independent View: Electionline-Weekly-June-13-2019

Legislative Updates

Maine: By a 19-14 Party-Line Vote, the Senate has a Approved a Bill that would make Maine the 18th State to institute Automatic Voter Registration (AVR). The Bill, which is backed by Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, would Automatically Register Residents doing Business with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The House has Vote Against a Bill (85-61) that would have allowed Municipalities to Prohibit Guns from Polling Places. The Bill would have allowed Towns, Counties, and School Boards to adopt their Own Policies with regard to Banning “the carrying of dangerous weapons” at Polling Places. The Senate also Rejected the Bill.

New Hampshire: The Senate has Approved HB 106 which would essentially Repeal HB1264 that was approved last year. The New Bill eliminates the Requirement that Eligible Voters Register their Cars and obtain a New Hampshire’s Driver’s License in order to Register to Vote.

New York: Under Legislation currently being considered, the Presidential Preference Primary would be held on April 28th.

Oregon: The House has Approved Senate Bill 670 that would Prevent Elections Officials from putting their Name on Voters’ Pamphlets, Ballot Return Envelopes, or any other Printed Materials, included with the Ballot during the Elections in which they are a Candidate. The Bill goes back to the Senate for the Approval of an Amended Bill.

The Oregon Voting Rights Act (House Bill 3310) was Approved by the Senate 28-0. The Bill puts Oregon in line with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by ensuring there is a Local and Community-driven Process to Ensure Protected Classes have Equal Opportunity to Elect Candidates of their Choice.

Legal Updates

California: The ACLU is Suing the Fresno County Clerk for Removing a Unitarian Church as a Polling Place in response to a Complaint about their Black Lives Matter Banner. The Lawsuit says County Clerk Brandi Orth asked Church Leadership to Remove the Banner and when they Refused, she moved the Polling Place to a different Church.

Michigan: Genesee County Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah has Signed a Temporary Restraining Order Preventing the City Clerk’s Office from Printing the August Primary Ballots until Farah can determine if the Candidates filed Proper Paperwork.

New Hampshire: Todd Krysiak, 36 of Alton has been Charged with Voting Twice in the 2016 Election. According to State Prosecutors Krysiak Voted in his Hometown as well as in Leominster, Massachusetts.

Dee Milliken is under Investigation by the State’s Attorney General for Voter Fraud after she helped her Son, who has Cerebral Palsy and a Seizure Condition, Cast his Ballot in 2018. “I’m still in shock. All weekend, that’s what I’ve been thinking about,” Milliken said. “Do you have to have a certain IQ to vote? What about if you have a stroke or Alzheimer’s?”

New Mexico: Eight District Attorneys from across New Mexico are asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to Strike Down a Provision of House Bill 407 which calls for Aligning Elections for District Attorneys to the Gubernatorial Election Cycle. A Writ of Mandamus was filed June 8th against Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse-Oliver. “We appreciate the Secretary of State’s Office working with us to try to find a solution to the problem created by HB 407 outside of litigation,” DA John Sugg said. “After reviewing the relevant case law, we have concluded that a petition for writ of mandamus is the appropriate legal mechanism to address the unconstitutional provision of HB 407.”

North Carolina: Terrell Graham, 31, of Goldsboro, and David Williams, 55, also of Goldsboro, have been Charged with Corruptly taking the Oath prescribed to Voters.

Keymonti Winn-Hocutt, 19, of New Bern is charged with Corruptly taking the Oath prescribed to Voters and Double Voting.

Virginia: Cameron Sasnett, former Head of Fairfax County’s Elections Division who was Fired in 2018 is Suing the County’s Electoral Board for $750,000. The Lawsuit alleges that the Electoral Board Intentionally Violated Virginia Law by Wrongfully Firing Sasnett over Disagreements about State Election Law and Elections Policies. Additionally, Drug Distribution Charges filed against Sasnett last year were Dropped by Prosecutors last week, apparently Due to his Cooperation with a Broader Investigation.