Ballot Measures, Legislation & Rulemaking
Virginia: Virginia Democrats rolled out a package of bills designed to curb federal immigration enforcement activities in the commonwealth. The lawmakers framed their effort as a public safety measure to protect the state’s immigrant communities and other residents, following deadly clashes between ICE agents and protesters in Minnesota. The proposals, which have been filed but not yet advanced through committee, would restrict where and how federal immigration and border patrol agents can operate and limit cooperation from state and local authorities. At a morning news conference at the state Capitol in Richmond, Democratic lawmakers said the legislation aims to prevent what they described as aggressive, unaccountable federal enforcement actions from taking place in Virginia communities and to ensure immigrants and other residents can access schools, hospitals, courthouses and polling places without fear. HB 1442 would prohibit immigration enforcement activity within 40 feet of polling places, locations where election results are being certified, or recount sites. Lopez said the legislation is meant to ensure that voters are not deterred from participating in elections.
Legal Updates
North Carolina: The College Democrats of North Carolina are fighting the removal of early voting sites on college campuses, claiming that the state’s election board is violating the 26th Amendment by abridging their right to vote based on their age. The organization and a handful of students filed suit against the state’s board along with two county election boards, claiming that the removal of early voting sites on three college campuses — including the country’s largest public historically Black university, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University — trampled on their First and 14th Amendment rights. The state board’s decision to remove the sites two weeks ago created needless barriers to young people voting, without furthering any state goals, the plaintiffs argued in their suit. They asked the court to step in to ensure sites are available on campuses for the start of early in-person voting on Feb. 12.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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