Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: By 228 to 187 Vote, almost exclusively along Party Lines, the House Approved Legislation last week that would Restore many of the Protections, like Preclearance, of the Voting Rights Act that were Eliminated under the 2013 Supreme Court Ruling in Shelby v. Holder.
Maryland: An Emergency Bill requiring the Montgomery County Board of Elections to Add a 12th Early Voting Site was Amended this week to Require that the Site be Located in White Oak, specifically at the White Oak Community Recreation Center.
Massachusetts: The Northampton City Council is considering Two potential Charter Changes that will affect Elections. After months of work from the Charter Review Committee, the Council will now decide whether or not to endorse a Proposal that would Lower the Voting age in Local Elections to 16 and another Proposal that would allow for Documented Noncitizens to Vote in Local Elections.
Michigan: By a 5-4 Vote, the Flint City Council has Approved a motion to Subpoena Genesee County Clerk John Gleason for Allegedly Influencing the Nov. 5th Mayoral Election. The Subpoena was Initiated by Councilman Eric Mays (Ward 1), who alleges Gleason Overstepped his Boundaries by holding a Oct. 17th Press Conference in his Office with then-Mayoral Candidate Sheldon Neeley. The Press Conference was about a Flint Resident bringing forth Allegations of Former Mayor Karen Weaver Committing Voter Fraud.
New Mexico: The Santa Fe City Council is considering a Proposal that would give City Employees, about 1,400 People, half a day off in order to Cast a Ballot. In the Past City Employees have received up to Two hours off in order to Cast a Ballot but there are Concerns that will not be enough time in 2020. “This will allow employees time to get to the polls to cast their votes and will minimize the challenges of scheduling conflicts during regular work shifts,” Bernadette Salazar, the city’s Human Resources Director, wrote in a Memo to Mayor Alan Webber and the City Council.
Vermont: Looks like Burlington Voters won’t be Voting on whether or not to Move the City to a Ranked-Choice Voting system after the Charter Change Committee Failed to take up the Resolution, Approved by 9-2 Vote by the Full City Council last week, at its meeting this week. Given the Delay, the Resolution will Not make it back to the Full Council by December 16th and it will therefore Miss the Deadline to get on the March 2020 Ballot.
Wisconsin:, State Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-45th District, Beloit) and State Senator Mark Miller (D-16th District, Monona) introduced a Proposal to implement Ranked-Choice Voting for most Wisconsin Elections.
Legal Updates
Georgia: U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones has ruled that Former Secretary of State and Current Gov. Brian Kemp (R) must Answer some questions as part of a Lawsuit Challenging how Elections are Administered. The Lawsuit, filed by Kemp’s Gubernatorial Rival Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight and other Groups, seeks to Reform the State’s Election system after a Contentious 2018 Election that saw Problems at the Polls, Allegations of Voter Suppression, and Increased Scrutiny over Outdated Voting Machines.
Kentucky: Last week, a Three-Judge Panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals Denied a Petition for a Writ of Prohibition against an Independent Counsel over the Seizure of a Computer from the Office of Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Michigan: The Public Interest Legal Foundation has Sued Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey as well as the City’s Elections Director George Azzouz claiming that the City is woefully Behind on Removing Deceased Residents from the Voter Rolls.
New York: New York State Republican Chair Nick Langworthy and Two Voters have filed a Lawsuit against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State’s Board of Elections over the Lack of a Special Election to Fill the Congressional Seat (27th District) Vacated by Chris Collins. The Lawsuit states that “approximately 750,000 residents similarly situated within the congressional district are being denied their right to representation in the U.S. Congress and are being further denied their right to vote for a representative.”
Ohio: Eighteen People Voted in Ohio as well as in Another State in the November 2018 General Election according to Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R). Ten of them Voted in another State before Ohio, and the other Eight Voted in Ohio First, LaRose said. “According to state law, the criminal act is the second vote,” says a News Release from LaRose, which says the Cases of the 10 who Voted Second in Ohio are being Referred to Prosecutors for Review.
South Carolina: Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman has Upheld the State Republican Party’s Decision Not to hold a 2020 Presidential Primary. Earlier this year, Former South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis Sued State Republicans, saying the Party’s Decision to Skip a Primary Deprives him and Others “of the ability to vote for the candidate of their choice in South Carolina’s famous (and particularly influential) ‘First in the South’ primary.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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