Legislative Updates
New Hampshire: Representative Andrew Bouldin (D-12th District, Hillsborough) is the Lead Sponsor on a Bill that aims to more clearly spell out the Fact that People in Jail have the Option of Voting by Absentee Ballot. Bouldin says he’s Only Proposing a Change in the Absentee Paperwork, Not any Additional Requirements on the part of State Elections or Corrections Officials. “So my bill just looks to add language and a check box to that form that would indicate that they could request an absentee ballot for that reason, and cast their ballot from jail,” he said.
Tennessee: Senator Brian Kelsey (R-31st District) has introduced Legislation that would Allow County Elections Officials to Tabulate Early and Absentee Ballots Earlier on Election Day and then Release those Numbers exactly at 7p.m. when the Polls Close. “I think that we should do whatever we can to give the voting public confidence in the process and let them know that everything is fair and equitable,” said House Sponsor Rep. John DeBerry (D-90th District). “Early tabulation will engender that confidence. If folks are waiting until 11p.m. or midnight, or the next day to find out what happened in their community’s polls, they wonder. I think that this will engender confidence in the system and the process and make folks believe that they are fully in control.”
Virginia: Delegate Joseph Lindsey (D-90th District) plans to introduce a Bill that would Eliminate the Commonwealth’s Lee-Jackson Holiday and Create an Election Day Holiday instead. Lindsey introduced similar Legislation in 2019, but it Failed to get out of Committee.
Legal Updates
Georgia: In a 32-page Ruling, Judge Steve Jones says he does Not have the Jurisdiction to Order the State to Add Back about 98,000 Voters who were recently removed from the State’s Voter Rolls. Jones wrote that the Complaint “appears to be that the Secretary of State (and therefore the State of Georgia) has improperly interpreted and failed to adhere to Georgia’s new voter list maintenance statute” but it was Improper to ask a Federal Judge to Interpret State Law. He also said the Plaintiffs did Not show Evidence the List Maintenance Violated the U.S. Constitution. But it does. The Voting Rights Act sets Eight years of not Voting in Federal Elections and not Responding to a Mailing before a Voter can be Removed from the Voting Rolls. The Old Law was set as Seven years. The New Law was set as Nine years.
Iowa: Secretary of State Paul Pate has Identified Nine Voters that Allegedly Voted Twice in the 2018 General Election. Those Voters are suspected of Voting in Iowa after already Voting in another State. Those Individuals have been Referred to County Attorneys.
North Carolina: Three Groups that Help Ex-Prisoners Rejoin Society have filed Suit against a State Law that Prohibits Convicted Felons from Voting until their Full Sentence is Complete, not just their Jailtime. They Argue that the Restrictions Violate the State Constitution, unduly hurt African Americans, and Discourage Voting by those who have Fulfilled their Sentences.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
