Election Law @ Moritz

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Edward B. Foley
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Below are stories from the past 14 days related to election law developments from across the country. (See Archives)


November 5, 2009

Louisiana - Felony status urged for election fraud

Some election fraud violations could be elevated from misdemeanor to felony status under proposals submitted to a legislative panel Thursday.

New York - ETC Claims Electronic Voting Machines Unreliable

The optical scan machines mandated to replace all lever voting machines by next year count paper ballots electronically using concealed software that can undetectably alter the outcome, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

New York - Homeless, student voters challenged

Disputes involving voting by homeless people and college students may have been addressed by judges Tuesday, but the same issues are bound to come up in the future, Dutchess County elections officials said.

Ohio - Ohio elections proposal would allow online voter registration, offer sign-up at more agencies

Ohio House Democrats want voters to be able to register online without then having to send information through the mail.  The changes are part of a bill to overhaul Ohio's election laws. Voters would be able to register online if they have a valid Ohio driver's license, and would be automatically given the opportunity to register when they deal with agencies such as the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.


November 4, 2009

Texas - Appeals court rules against voting rights lawsuit

Three Latino voters will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider their challenge over how council members are elected in Farmers Branch, a Dallas suburb that's trying to oust illegal immigrants through a series of ordinances, their attorney said Wednesday.

Wisconsin - Alderwoman to spearhead referendum on voter ID

After her proposal for a voter ID referendum was shot down by the Common Council, Alderwoman Jacqueline Jay is organizing a petition drive to get the measure on the city ballot.


November 3, 2009

Idaho - The Idaho League of Women Voters supports permanent absentee voting

On Monday, the league announced its support of permanent absentee voting, which would allow voters to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election. That could make voting by mail easier.

Indiana - Voter ID still required, despite court ruling

Secretary of State Todd Rokita says Indiana residents voting in upcoming special elections will still be subject to the state's Voter ID law despite a recent court ruling.

National - Political Foes Team Up To Improve Voter Registration

In this lull between major elections, advisers from recent Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns have joined together to try to come up with a better way to register voters.

National, Maryland - E-voting system lets voters verify their ballots are counted

A new electronic voting system being used today for the first time in a government election in the U.S. will allow voters and elections auditors in Takoma Park, Md. to go online and verify whether votes have been correctly recorded.


November 2, 2009

Maryland - First Test for Election Cryptography

The first government election to use a new cryptographic scheme that lets both voters and auditors check that votes were cast and recorded accurately will be held tomorrow in Takoma Park, MD.

Minnesota - Ritchie praises federal overseas voter act

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is praising the recent passage of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act and urging state legislators and the governor to enact legislation early next session to bring the state into compliance with the act.

Vermont - Federal law could force Vermont to change its primary election date

The new federal law requires states to send absentee ballots to oversees voters at least 45 days before the election. Under the current system, there isn't enough time to do that between the scheduled Sept. 14 primary and the Nov. 2, 2010 general election.

National - Justice Department to Monitor Elections in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania

Under the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department is authorized to ask the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send federal observers to areas that are certified by the Attorney General or by a federal court order.


October 30, 2009

Alabama - State may be on fast track to pass military voting bill

Secretary of State Beth Chapman and her staff have been working on a military voting bill for several years and the bill came close to passage in the last session.

National - Recent Push for Bipartisan Voter Reform Measures

Recent efforts to reform and modernize the voter system have received bipartisan support. The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, which would allow overseas troops and American citizens to access voter information online, passed Congress last week with bipartisan support from legislators who "decried an antiquated voting system that left as many as one out of four overseas ballots uncounted," according to Roll Call.

National - Same Day Voter Registration Re-Introduced

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) are reintroducing legislation to "make it easier for Americans" to register to vote by allowing same day registration at polling places for all federal elections. 


October 29, 2009

Minnesota - Military ballot law has states in a time squeeze

A new law meant to protect the voting rights of deployed troops and other Americans overseas is forcing at least a dozen states to consider holding their primaries earlier or to negotiate another plan that federal officials will accept.


October 28, 2009

Washington, D.C. - DC Voting Rights unlikely to move with defense bill

Congressional Democrats are leaning strongly against attaching D.C. Voting Rights legislation to a must-pass defense spending bill, as the complex politics of gun rights and a crowded appropriations schedule have closed off another potential avenue for the stalled local priority.

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