Legislative Updates
Florida: A new year brings new Laws and in Florida, that means the State will finally Join Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and therefore be able to Crosscheck its Voter Registration Database with 24 other States and the District of Columbia.
Indiana: State Sen. Timothy Lanane (D-25th District, Anderson) has filed a Bill that would allow Indiana Residents to Register and Vote on Election Day.
Nevada: A new Law on the Books this week Expands the Restoration of Voting Rights to some former Felons. Under the New Law, those who were Dishonorably Discharged from Probation or Parole, meaning they didn’t Pay Full Restitution or otherwise didn’t Fulfill the Terms, also get their Voting Rights back.
New Hampshire: A Bill being proposed for the 2019 Legislative Session would give Town Moderators the Authority to Postpone Local Elections and Official-Ballot Town Meetings, in which All Warrant Articles appear on the Ballot, if Inclement Weather could put the Public at Risk.
Utah: The Cedar City Council voted 3-1 Not to Participate in a Pilot Program for Ranked-Choice Voting in the 2019 Election Cycle. Those Voting against Participating in the program cited a Lack of Funding to make the necessary Updates to the Voting system and Not enough time for Voter Education.
Vermont: Legislators in Both Chambers of Vermont’s Legislature plan to introduce Legislation that would move the State to a System of Ranked-Choice Voting.
Wyoming: State Sen. Bo Biteman (R-21st District, Ranchester) has introduced a Bill that would require Voters looking to Switch their Party to Fill-Out an Application before a Notary or Election Official, which would then be Filed with the County Clerk. The Bill also sets Parameters for when Voters could Change their Party Affiliation.
Legal Updates
Hawaii: The State Supreme Court is weighing the results to Two Close Races, one for Honolulu City Council and the other for Senate. The Supreme Court Ordered the Office of Elections to produce Information on the Margin of Error as well as Information regarding how a Voter’s Intent is Preserved in a Close Race when their Ballots might contain “marginal marks” — anything that wasn’t clearly filling in the appropriate Box next to a Candidate’s Name.
Iowa: James Gibson, 68 has been Charged with One Count of First-Degree Election Misconduct for trying to Register to Vote even though he has prior Felony Convictions.
Kansas: Ford County has Paid more than $70,000 in Legal Fees to the Firm representing County Clerk Debbie Cox who was Sued by Voting Rights Advocates over her Decision to Relocate the One Polling Place in Dodge City to an Area outside of the City Limits and about a Mile from the nearest Bus Stop.
Montana: Richland County Judge Katherine Bidegaray has Halted the Recount in the Musselshell County Sheriff’s Race, finding that the Challenger and the County Elections Office didn’t follow State Laws governing Recount Procedures.
Oklahoma: Tera Beth Long, 36, of Sallisaw, faces One Count of False Affidavit in Voting Registration and One Count of Voting Illegally for Allegedly Voting Twice in Sequoyah County.
West Virginia: At a Hearing this week in Marion County Circuit Court over 57 Uncounted Ballots that were Discovered Two Weeks after the November 6th Election Circuit Court Judge Patrick Wilson Granted a Writ giving the Fairmont Canvassing Board Five days to Count the Ballots.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
