District of Columbia:Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has Signed a Bill into Law that Permanently adopts a Measure, temporarily implemented in 2020, that lets Voters cast Ballots at any Vote Center Citywide in 2020 instead of just their Local Polling Place. The New Law also requires a Polling place at the City Jail.
Louisiana: Louisiana's GOP-dominated Legislature has almost Unanimously Approved Secretary of State, Kyle Ardoin (R)'s Emergency Voting Plan that would slightly Expand Mail Voting by allowing Voters to Cast Absentee Ballots if they are: at Higher Risk for COVID-19, seeking a Diagnosis for it; are Subject to a Physician's Isolation Order; or Caring for someone under Isolation. Once Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signs off on the Measure, the New Rules would apply to Upcoming Local Elections and the March 20th Special Elections for the 2nd and 5th Congressional Districts.
New Jersey: The Democratic-run State Senate has almost Unanimously Passed a Bill that would allow Voters to Request an Absentee Mail Ballot Online.
Oregon: Democratic Lawmakers in both Legislative Chambers have introduced a Bill that would completely Abolish Felony Voter Disenfranchisement, which if passed would make Oregon just the Fourth Jurisdiction after Maine, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., to Allow Citizens Incarcerated on Felony charges to Vote. Democrats enjoy Unified Control over State Government, but the Bill's odds of passing are Unclear. Under current Law, Voters with Felony Convictions are Disenfranchised while Imprisoned but have their Rights Automatically Restored upon Release.
South Dakota: For the Second year in a row, Republican Lawmakers have Blocked Legislation from advancing Aallowing Online Voter Registration. Instead, Legislators Amended the Bill to Only allow Voters with an Existing Registration to Update their Addresses Online and Passed the Modified Bill, Out of Committee and Onward to the Full Senate Floor. South Dakota is One of just Nine States that requires Voter Registration but hasn't Implemented an Online Registration Option for All Voters.
Virginia: State Senate Democrats have Passed a Bill along Party Lines that Eliminates the Requirement that absentee Voters have a Witness Sign their Ballot Envelope, a Requirement that only a Handful of other States impose.
Democratic Senators Passed a Bill in Committee that Permanently enables Localities to Set-Up Ballot Drop Boxes at Polling Places and other Locations. The Bill further requires Officials to Notify Absentee Voters of any Problems with their Ballots and give them a Chance to Fix them.
Democratic Senators Unanimously Passed in Committee thst Requires Local Officials to take steps to Process Mail Ballots before Election Day to ensure that they are Counted in a timely manner on Election Day.
In the Democratic-run State House, Legislators Unanimously Passed a Bill that Guarantees the Right to Curbside Voting for Voters with Disabilities or Injuries that would otherwise make it difficult for them to access the inside of a Polling Place.
State House Democrats have Revised a Constitutional Amendment in Subcommittee so that it would now Abolish Felony Voter Disenfranchisement for All Citizens except those who are currently Incarcerated after Gov. Ralph Northam (D) expressed his Support. Northam had initially Only Supported an Amendment to Codify the Current System, which Automatically Restores Voting Rights upon Completion of All Terms of a Sentence but is only in place via Executive Orders and still Bans citizens from Voting if they're on Parole or Probation. Virginia could therefore become the 19th State Not to Disenfranchise anyone who isn't currently Incarcerated if this Amendment is adopted. Two additional States and D.C. don't Disenfranchise anyone for a Felony. Passing this Amendment into Law would require Approval by Legislators both before and after the State's 2021 Elections followed by a Voter Referendum in 2022.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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