Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) have introduced a Bipartisan Bill to create a Program within the State Department to Share Information with U.S. Global Allies about Election Security. The Measure would Establish a way for the U.S. and other Countries to Share Information on the Best Practices for Administering Elections, such as Combating Disinformation Campaigns and Conducting Post-Election Audits. The Bill is a Companion to similar Bipartisan Legislation Passed by the House earlier this year.
Florida: State Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-FL 19th District, St. Petersburg) said he Plans to file a Bill that would create Process for how the Voting Rights of around 1.5 Million Ex-Felons will be Restored beginning on January 8th. But the Legislature has problems with its Implementation.
Kentucky: State Sen. Reginald Thomas (D-KY 13th District, Lexington) plans to introduce Two Pieces of Election Legislation. One Bill would allow for Early Voting in the Commonwealth on the Three Saturdays before the Election. He also is proposing a Bill that would Lower the Voting age in All Local Elections to 16.
Michigan: The Senate Elections and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday passed Bills designed to help Implement and Clarify Proposal 3, which Expanded Voting Access for Michiganders.
Nevada: Assembly Bill 50 for the 2019 Legislative Session would make it State Law to have All Local Elections in even years. A similar Bill Failed in 2015.
New York: The New York City Council has Approved a Bill that Requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to Inform Individuals Released from a City Jail that their Voting Rights have been Reinstated. The Notification must be in Writing and DOC must also Offer every Released Individual a Voter Registration From.
Councilmembers Mark Treyger (D-47th District) and Justin Brannan (D-43rd District) are working on separate pieces of Legislation that would Increase the number of Interpreters permitted at Polling Sites and an Increase in the Number of Languages recognized by the Board of Elections.
North Carolina: By a 67-40 vote, the House has Approved Senate Bill 824 that Sets the Rules for the Voter-Approved Photo ID Amendment.
Wisconsin: A 141-page Plan from the State’s Republican Party that among other things seeks to Weaken the Power of the Incoming Democratic Governor, and Attorney General, would also Restrict Early Voting to Two weeks. The Legislation was Approved and now moves to Gov. Scott Walker’s Desk for his Signature.
Legal Updates
Connecticut: Preston Democratic Registrar, Cheryl Roberts, has requested a Civil Protection order against formER Republican Registrar Norman Gauthier. Roberts alleges that Gauthier continues to closely Monitor her and Question her Work including Remaining in the Poll Workers’ area of Town Hall after the Polls Closed on Election Night.
Superior Court Judge, Barbara Bellis, has Barred the Secretary of State from Certifying the Winner in Stratford’s Election for the State House.
Georgia: In a Settlement Approved by a Federal Judge, Georgia Elections Officials consented to Lift Restrictions on who may Serve as a Language Interpreter for Voters who need Assistance at the Polls. The Settlement Invalidates a Georgia Law that said Voters in State Elections could only use Interpreters who are Close Family Members, Caretakers, or Voters Registered in the Same Precinct.
A Federal Judge Approved a Consent Order between Secretary of State, Robyn Crittenden, and State Democrats that Allows the Counting of Absentee Ballots that arrive after the December 4th Runoff as long as they are Postmarked by December 4th.
Indiana: Kathy Kozuszek, the Democrat Representative in the Porter County Voter Registration Office, has filed a Lawsuit in U.S. District Court claiming her Fight for Overtime Pay led to the Voter Registration Office being Stripped of its Responsibilities to Run Elections. Instead, she contends, the Responsibility was put into the hands of the Porter County Clerk. Kozuszek names the County, Porter County Election Board, Porter County Clerk Karen Martin, and Porter County Election Board Chairman David Bengs, as Defendants in the Lawsuit.
Iowa: Polk County District Court Judge, Scott Beattie, has ordered Winneshiek County Auditor to Work with the U.S. Postal Service to try and Read Barcode Data on 33 Ballot Envelopes in a Contested House Race.
New Jersey: Superior Court Judge, Peter Bariso, has Ordered a Recount of the Mail-In and Provisional Ballots in the November Bayonne Board of Education Race.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
