Legislative Updates
California: The Senate is considering Assembly Bill 1701 that would provide that a Voter or any other Person may Not be Prohibited from using an Electronic Device, including a Smartphone, Tablet, or other Handheld Device, at a Polling Place provided that the use of the Device does not result in a Violation of other Provisions of Law.
The Assembly has Approved a Bill that would Restore the Voting Rights to more than 48,000 Californians who are currently on Parole or Probation. If approved by the Senate, the Measure would go before Voters in 2020. The Senate has until the End of this week to act.
The Legislature has Approved a Bill that if Signed by the Governor, would Allow for Election Day Registration. If signed it would take effect in 2020.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has Signed AB 17 and AB 299 into Law. AB 17, also known as the “Voter Protection Act,” addresses Voter Intimidation and Protects Free and Fair Elections by Prohibiting an Employer from requiring that an Employee bring their Vote by Mail Ballot to Work. AB 299 will Ensure that Election Information is Up-to-Date by Requiring County Election Officials to Update the Secretary of State with the most Recent Vote by Mail Information.
Massachusetts: A Bill under consideration would Require All State Forms to Require Someone to Note their Gender to Choose X as Opposed just Male or Female. This would include Voter Registration Forms.
New Hampshire: Gov. Chris Sununu (R) have Vetoed a Bill that would have Allowed for No-Excuse Absentee Voting. The Governor said the Change would have gone against New Hampshire’s Tradition of In-Person Voter participation and would have created Logistical Challenges for Election Workers.
South Dakota: The Legislature’s Interim Rules Committee has clarified several State Election Rules including Changes to the State Voter Registration Form. Now, the Forms will include a Disclaimer that should a Registrant leave their Political Affiliation unanswered, they will automatically be Registered as their Previous Party, or Independent/Unaffiliated, if they were Not previously Registered to Vote.
Legal Updates
New Hampshire: The Names of about 200 Voters have been Referred to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office for Investigation after they either cast Ballots or Registered without providing Photo Identification in 2018.
Tennessee: Calling Tennessee’s Controversial New Voter Registration Law a “Punitive Regulatory Scheme,” Judge Aleta Trauger issued a ruling Monday that Denies the State’s Motion to Dismiss Two Lawsuits filed by several Civil Rights and Voter Registration Organizations, which came promptly after Gov. Bill Lee (R) Signed the Bill into Law.
Texas: This week, an Appeals Court weighed whether or Not to Overturn the Conviction of Tarrant County Resident Crystal Mason who was Sentenced to Five Years in prison for Voting in the 2016 Presidential Election even though she was still on Probation. On Tuesday, a Three Judge Panel heard the Three-Prong Oral Arguments: (1) Mason did Not Vote in the 2016 Election because her Provisional Ballot was Never Counted. (2) The Prosecution Failed to prove that Mason Knew she was Ineligible to Vote. (3) The Conditions of her Release from Federal Prison did Not amount to “Supervision” under Texas Law, meaning Mason would have been Eligible to Vote.
Wisconsin: Brandon Baker, 20, of Milwaukee has been Sentenced to serve Four years’ Probation and Seven months Jail Time, with Time Served, after he plead Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Drug Charges. On Election Day 2018 Baker had threatened to “Air Out” a Milwaukee Polling Place.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
