Legislative Updates
Federal Legislation: A Group of Democratic Senators have introduced the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Amendment Act (NDEBA) that would ensure Voters have 20 Days of Early Voting in All States, require that All Mail-In Ballots Submitted during 21 days Leading Up to an Election be Counted, and Ensure that All Voters have the Option to Request an Absentee Ballot. The Legislation would also provide $3 Million to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to begin Implementing some of the Bill’s Requirements, along with Reimbursing States for doing the same.
California: A Bill from Sen. Ben Allen (D-26th District) is preparing to introduce a Bill that would Compel Los Angeles County to either Expand the Number of Vote Centers, or to Offer a Vote-by-Mail Ballot to All Registered Voters.
Georgia: The Senate has Approved Senate Bill 463 that would Require Election Officials to Add Precincts, Poll Workers, or Voting Equipment in Future Elections to Address Long Lines. It requires County Election Superintendents to take Action if Voters Wait In Line for More than an Hour before Checking in to Vote.
Illinois: State Rep. Mike Marron (R-104th, Fithian), filed last month, a Bill to bring the Question to Voters on whether to Merge the Danville Election Commission into the Vermilion County Clerk’s Office is Stalled. “It’s not pulled, but it’s not going to move either,” Marron said.
Kentucky: Senate Bill 62 has been Approved by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. Under the Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Returning Citizens’ Voting Rights would be Automatically Restored at the End of their Terms of Incarceration or Probation. Those Convicted of Election Fraud, Bribery in Election, or Treason excepted.
Missouri: The House Elections and Elected Officials Committee recently heard Testimony about a Bill that would Create a System to Automatically Register Eligible People to Vote, allowing them to Opt-Out rather than Opt-In. Under the Proposal, the Department of Revenue would send a List of Eligible Voters Compiled through License Information to the Secretary of State’s Office and on to Local Election Authorities. The Board of Probation and Parole would Send that Information for People who are being Released from Incarceration, Probation, or Parole, and are Eligible to Vote again.
New Jersey: The Assembly has Approved A-3095 by a Vote of 65-0. Under the Bill, County Clerks would be given an Extra Week to Proof, Prepare, and Send Mail-In Ballots.
Ohio: State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-58th District, Youngstown) has announced her intention to introduce a Universal Vote-by-Mail System for Ohio. The Proposed Legislation would Allow Voters to Cast their Ballot in a number of ways including: Mail, Drop-Off at a County Board of Election, Voter Service and Polling Center (VSPC), or Secure Mail Drop Boxes, that would be Located throughout each of Ohio’s 88 Counties. Voters also could Cast Ballots In-Person at the Office of their County’s BOE or VSPC from the Start of the Early Voting Period through Election Day. Each Paper Ballot would Carry a Unique Bar Code and would Require Signature Authentication. Election Fraud would be a Felony Punishable by up to Five years in Prison and a $10,000 Fine.
Utah: By a 25-1 Vote, the Senate has Approved HB70 that will Repeal the Option on Utah Ballots to Support All the Candidates with a Single Vote, or some Call Straight Ticket Voting .
Wyoming: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) has Signed a Bill into Law that will allow Indigenous People in Wyoming to use their tribal ID to Register to Vote. The New Law makes it Clear that Tribal IDs can be Used as the Sole Form of Identification when Registering to Vote, as Long as a Valid Driver’s License number or Last Four Digits of a Social Security Number are Printed on the ID. Previously, a Tribal ID could be Used if a Valid Driver’s License Accompanied it, or if the License Number or Last Four Digits of a Social Security Number were Presented when Registering to Vote.
Legal Updates
Alaska: State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Anchorage) has been Charged with One Count of Voter Misconduct 1, Two Counts of Voter Misconduct 2, and Seven Counts of Second Degree Unlawful interference with Voting.
Missouri: James A. Rowell, 62 of St. Louis, has been Charged with a Felony Count of making a Terrorist Threat and Two Counts of Committee Election Offenses after he Backed his Truck into a St. Louis-area Polling Place on March 10th and Poured Bleach and Water on Voting Equipment.
The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, said the Coronavirus Emergency is Adequate Justification for Shifting the April 7th Election but that State Law Doesn’t Allow a Mail-In Election Requested for April 28th by the Board. For now the Judges also Blocked the Election from being Moved to August 4th to be held in Conjunction with the August 4th Primary, but they did Not Rule Out allowing the Election to be Moved to an Earlier Date.
Montana: The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and Native American Rights Fund filed a Lawsuit filed in the Montana 13th District Court in Yellowstone County Challenging the Montana Ballot Interference Prevention Act (BIPA) which Limits who can Collect and Convey a Ballot belonging to Another Person. “We are urging the court to immediately block this law that would disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters who live on rural reservations,” Alora Thomas-Lundborg, Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project. “This case is about making sure every eligible voter who wants to vote can actually do so.”
Pennsylvania: Bucks County Common Pleas Court Judge, Jeffrey G. Trauger, Denied the Petition of the County Board of Elections, and the Intervening Petition of Bensalem Resident Elly McNelis, to Postpone the Special Election for the 18th PA House District Scheduled for Tuesday, March 17th in Bensalem.
Texas: Harris County Officials Settled a Lawsuit Tuesday with a Conservative Voting Rights Group, agreeing to Disclose Records of Foreign Nationals who Voted in Texas Elections and Records Documenting their Attempts to Register.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
