Legislative Updates

Federal Legislation: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has introduced the Protecting the Right to Independent and Democratic Elections (PRIDE) Act, which would provide Federal Grants to States to help them Improve their Elections Systems in order to Protect against Cyberattacks. “We must treat the Mueller report like a preview of what’s to come,” said Menendez. Russia-linked actors will Target our Election Infrastructure in 2020, perhaps with even greater sophistication. Without action, we may be even more vulnerable in 2020 than we were in 2016.”

Colorado: The Senate has Approved House Bill 1266 that will allow Ex-Felons who have been Released from Incarceration, but still must Complete Terms of Parole, to Vote.

Florida: The Senate has Approved a Bill that will Require Candidates and Campaign Workers to stay at least 150 feet Away from Polling Places. That’s 50 Additional feet from Existing Law.

Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has Signed a Bill into Law Requiring Election Officials to Strengthen Security of Voter Registration Records. House Bill 392 calls for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to create Security Protocols for Voter Registration Information that follow Recommendations of National Cybersecurity and Election Organizations.

Iowa: A Bill requiring Absentee Ballots to include a Postal Barcode is on its way to the Governor’s Desk. The Bill will also Extend Polling Place hours to 9 p.m. Statewide.

Louisiana: Two pieces of Legislation that would have Changed a New Law that Allows more Parolees and Probationers to Vote Died in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee this week, making it Less likely that the Statute will be altered before Next fall’s Statewide Election. Both Bills would have Streamlined the System in which those formerly Incarcerated Regain their Rights.

North Dakota: Lawmakers have Approved $12 Million for the purchase of New Voting Equipment Statewide in time for the 2020 Election Cycle. The Money will be used to Purchase Ballot Scanners and E-Poll Books.

Pennsylvania: The Republican-controlled Senate has Approve a Bill that would Delay the Ability of Gov. Tom Wolf (D) to Decertify the State’s Voting Machines with All Counties being forced to Replace their Equipment by 2020.

Tennessee: Lawmakers gave their Final Approval to HB 1079 which would Require Groups leading Voter Registration Drives to Undergo Training and would Penalize the Groups, with Fines and Potential Jail Time, for Turning in Incomplete Forms or for Turning Forms in Late.

New Hampshire: By a 12-8 Party Line Vote, the House Election Law Committee Advanced Senate Bill 67 that would Restore the Law to Wording that Existed Prior to 2018, making it more likely that Out-of-State Students would choose to Vote in New Hampshire. The Committee also Approved SB 68 allow the Release of Detailed Information from the State’s Voter Database by Court Order.

Virginia: Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has Vetoed several Elections-related Bills including One that would Expand the Number of People on the State’s Board of Elections. Not Only would the Bill have Expanded the Board, it would have given the Board the Authority to Appoint the State’s Elections Chief. Northam wrote in his Veto Message: “This could lead to delays or a lack of appointment all together.” He added: “In a state that has an election every few months, it is imperative that Virginia’s electoral system have steady leadership.”

Legal Updates

Federal Litigation: U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled this week that the U.S. Department of Justice and other Federal Agencies must Turn Over Private Emails of Acting AG John Gore and DOJ Attorney Maureen Riordan in Relation to the Work they did with the President’s now Defunct Commission on Voter Fraud. The Judge also Denied a Request by the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to Narrow their Search for Records about the Commission’s Work.

Georgia: U.S. District Judge Steve Jones heard Arguments this week in a Lawsuit filed by Fair Fight Action and other Voting Rights Groups alleging that the November 2018 Vote was Marred by Problems including Long Waits at Polling Places, Absentee Ballots that weren’t Received or weren’t Counted, Missing or Erroneous Voter Registration Records, Malfunctioning Voting Machines, and Poorly Trained Poll Workers. Lawyers for the State argue that Allegations of “unrelated actions by mostly local officials” don’t amount to Constitutional Violations requiring Judicial Intervention and that the Legislature, Not the Courts, should set Election Law.

New Jersey: Elmwood Park Mayor Francesco Caramagna Resigned from Office after being Charged with Election Fraud for Filling in Ballots for Voters. As part of that Case, a Group of Lawmakers sent a Letter to the State’s Attorney General asking that he provide Guidelines on Mail-In Ballot Procedures and Investigate any Allegations of Voter Fraud.

New York: The Attorney for Essex County asked the State’s Court of Appeals to Reverse a Lower Court Ruling and Ensure that Electronic Ballot Images Cannot be Accessible to the Public through the State’s Freedom of Information Law. The Case, while Centered on a Legal Battle in Essex County following the November 2015 Elections, could hold Wide Implications Statewide.

North Carolina: The North Carolina NAACP has filed a Petition asking the State’s Supreme Court to take up their Lawsuit around Two Constitutional Amendments Approved by Voters last year, One of which Allowed the State to Enact Voter ID.

Tennessee: The Rutherford County Election Commission is being Sued for $300,000 after May Glover, 85, Tripped over an Extension Cord during the 2018 Election. She Fractured Two Bones.

Texas: The State has Agreed to Halt an Investigation into possible Noncitizens on the State’s Voter Rolls. The Agreement brings to a Close Three Separate Lawsuits. Under the Settlement the Secretary of State will Rescind a Jan. 25 Advisory that Questioned the Citizenship Status of almost 100,000 Registered. The Secretary also will tell County Election Officials to take No further Action on Checking the Citizenship of Voters Identified as Suspect by his Agency.

The Mayor of Edinburg, Richard Molina and his Wife have been Charged with Voter Fraud.

Anthony Rodriguez, 33 of Harris County, was Charged with Election Fraud after he sought Financial Compensation in the Name of Two Family Members who did Not Work a Runoff Election in December 2017. Officials said Rodriguez Submitted Paperwork to Request Hourly Compensation Rate for the Election Station Workers when they did Not work at all.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker