Posted: November 4, 2008
Paper Ballots Issued in Richmond
CNN is reporting that polling places in Richmond have issued paper ballots to voters after voting machines were malfunctioning.
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Information & Analysis
In the News
IRS scandal could lead to better defining of nonprofit campaign rules
Professor Donald Tobin was quoted in a Lancaster Eagle Gazette article about the need to clear up certain rules in the Internal Revenue Service in order to more accurately determine if groups can be classified as social welfare groups. He said that while most groups are easily classified into the 501(c)(4) tax-exempt category, changes throughout the years have created some more difficult decisions for the IRS. He said when groups want to engage in political activity near an election, things get tricky.
In the article, Tobin said experts have been calling for improvements to the 501(c)(4) rules for a decade because there has been abuse by entities filing for the exemption. In addition, he said the IRS has shown it has been reluctant to enforce the rules and incompetent when it tried to do so.
“We need to figure out a way to fix it so people’s faith in non-partisan enforcement in our tax laws is restored while there’s a means of assuring that those provisions are not being abused,” he said.
Info & Analysis
Supreme Court: NVRA Pre-empts Arizona's Proof of Citizenship Law
In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the NVRA preempts an Arizona law requiring documentation of citizenship to accompany voter registration forms. The case is Arizona v. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.
Related News Wire Stories
- Virginia - Virginia AG to investigate possible ‘duplicate voting’ (Washington Post)
- Virginia - McDonnell signs bill requiring photo ID for voting (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Virginia - Virginia Lawmakers Pass Photo-ID Requirement for Voters (The New York Times)
- Virginia - Senate approves voter ID bill; separate House bill advances (Washington Post)
- Virginia - Senate approves voter ID bill (Washington Post)
Related Information & Analysis
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Commentary
FAQ on social welfare organizations
Donald B. Tobin
The Frank E. and Virginia H. Bazler Designated Professor in Business Law and a senior fellow at Election Law @ Moritz explains the nuances of social welfare organizations and federal regulations related to them.
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