Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: Not long after gaveling Open the New Session of Congressional House, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD, 3rd District) introduced HR1 the (The For the People Act). Among other things, the Bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Conduct Threat Assessments ahead of Elections, creates Security Standards for Voting Machine Vendors, addresses Online Voter Registration, List Maintenance, and allows the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to provide Grants to States for Improving their Election Systems.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd District, Portland) have each introduced Legislation (The Vote-By-Mail-Act) was included in HR1 and would require States to Register to Vote any Resident who provides Personal Information at a Local Motor Vehicle Administration as well as Allowing for Vote-by-Mail Nationwide.
Connecticut: Rep. Kurt Vail (R-52nd District, Stafford Springs) has introduced Legislation that will Repeal a Law that allows the State to Participate in the National Popular Vote Compact.
Florida: Sen Joe Gruter (R-23rd District, Sarasota) has introduced a Bill that would have Local Supervisors of Elections enter into an Agreement with Local Courts to get a List of Jurors who Identified themselves as Noncitizens. The Bill would also require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide a Monthly List of “persons who identify themselves as aliens” to the Department of State to Crosscheck those Names with State Voter Registration Database.
Illinois: Knox County Board Member Jared Hawkins was about 300 Signatures Short to put a Referendum on the 2019 Ballot that if approved would have Eliminated the Galesburg Election Commission.
Indiana: Indiana Senate Bill 9 went into Effect on January 1st, allowing Individuals seeking Mental Health Treatment in an Institution the Ability to Register to Vote at the Institution’s Address where they Reside.
Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-43rd District, Terre Haute) has filed House Bill 1256 that would Extend Polling Hours to 8 p.m. and allow Residents to Register to Vote up until 12pm on Election Day.
Rep. Ed Soliday (R-4th District, Valparaiso) is sponsoring Legislation that would Change how Elections in Porter County are handled. The Bill would Increase the Number of Officials on the County’s Election Board from Three to Five and All Absentee and Early Voting Ballots would be Counted at a Central Local. There is also an Anti-Nepotism Clause.
Maryland: After Maryland Voters Approved Election Day Voter Registration in November, Members of the General Assembly will now have to Work out the Details of Implementation. The Bill would all but Eliminate the Use of Provisional Ballots for Election Day Registration.
The General Assembly will consider a Bill to Allow the Baltimore City Council to Establish Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) for City Elections.
Missouri: Rep. Dan Stacy (R-31st District, Blue Springs) has introduced a Bill that would Move the State to an Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) system.
New York: A number of Bills have been introduced by Members of Both Parties that would Eliminate altogether or Severely Limit the use of Schools as Polling Places.
North Dakota: In a 90-0 vote, the House has a Approved a Bill that will allow Poll Workers to work Half Days.
Ohio: The Lucas County Commission has Unanimously Approved a Request from the County’s Board of Elections to Extend the Precinct Election Official Leave Program for 2019. This will Mark the 14th year the County has allowed County Employees to take Paid Time Off to Work the Polls on Election Day.
Pennsylvania: Lawmakers plan to Introduce more than 20 Bills this Session that would Reshape the State’s Election Rules. Among the Bills is One for Pre-Registering 16-and 17-year-olds, One to Allow Curbside Voting for Voters with Disabilities, One that would Create a Secure, Online System for Military Voters to cast their Ballots, and Bills for Early Voting and easier Absentee Voting.
Virginia: Del. David Toscano (D-57th District) has introduced a Bill that would Allow Cities and Counties to move to a Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) system if they chose to.
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is proposing Legislation that would Repeal the State’s Voter ID Law. The Bill will be patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke (D-2nd District) and Del. Kaye Kory (D-38th District). Northam has also thrown his Support behind Locke’s Legislation that would Create No-Excuse Absentee Voting.
Wyoming: Senate File 65 would Implement Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) for Wyoming Primary and General Elections.
Legal Updates
Federal Litigation: The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has Turned Down the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) attempt to Reopen Discovery in a Case aimed at keeping in place a Consent Decree that Limited the Republican Party’s use of Poll-Watching and Ballot Security Efforts.
Alaska: The Alaska Supreme Court has Ruled in Favor of Bart LeBon in the Race for House District 1. The Election was Challenged by Kathryn Dodge who Disputed the Certified Votes in the Election LeBon won by One Vote.
Arizona: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said that a Larger Panel of Judges will Review an Appeal of a Trial Judge’s Denial of a Challenge to the State’s Ballot Harvesting Law.
California: Judicial Watch and State Elections Officials have reached an Agreement over how the State handles Records for Inactive Voters. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said the State adheres to Federal Rules, and the Settlement “will not lead to unnecessary removal of active and eligible voters. Safeguards remain in place to ensure … procedures are followed before canceling any voter registration records.”
Deidra Vrooman of Nevada County has Pleaded No Contest to a Misdemeanor Fraud Charge in a Case alleging that She Voted Twice in 2016.
Connecticut: Registrars in Wallingford have Agreed to a Consent Order with the State Elections Enforcement Commission acknowledging that Security Procedures at Schools that serve as Polling Places Violate State Law on Voter Identification Requirements.
Florida: In a 4-3 Decision, the Florida Supreme Court has Ruled that Orange County may continue to Hold Nonpartisan Elections for Offices such as Sheriff and Tax Collector as long as those Races are Decided only in the General Election.
This week U.S. District Judge Mark Walker heard from Both Sides in the Case over whether former Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes should be Reinstated to her Position. On Wednesday Walker found that Former Gov. Rick Scott Exceeded his Authority when he Suspended Snipes. Walker Refused to Reinstate Snipes, but he did order Current Gov. Ron DeSantis to Issue an Order by the End of January explaining why Snipes was Removed from Office and Grant Snipes a Special Hearing before March 31st.
Hawaii: The State Supreme Court has Ordered the Office of Elections and the Honolulu city Clerk to provide more Information about how Mail Ballots were Collected for the November 6th Election.
North Dakota: The State’s Attorney General is asking a Federal Judge to Dismiss a Lawsuit filed by the Spirit Lake Sioux over the State’s Voter ID Law. The Attorney General’s Office wants the Lawsuit Dismissed on Several Grounds, including that Tribal Members named in the Complaint weren’t Impeded from Voting on Election Day.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
