MO Voters MO Problems

Posted By: Ben Hovland

Post Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Labels:

Last week a Missouri Judge threw out the ballot title written by the Missouri Legislature to accompany a state constitutional amendment that would allow a strict photo ID requirement in that state. 

Notably, the judge found that:

The Week in Review: Voting News from the Past Week

Posted By: Erica Evans

Post Date: Friday, April 6, 2012
Labels:

Primaries were held this past Tuesday in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and Wisconsin. While the voter ID law previously passed in Wisconsin was suspended, and not in effect for Election Day, there were reports of voters in the state being asked to present photo ID before voting.

The Week Ahead: Voting News for April 2-6

Posted By: Josh Spaulding

Post Date: Monday, April 2, 2012
Labels:

This week, voters in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Wisconsin head to the polls to vote in their primaries. Wisconsin voters, as of today, will not be required to show a photo ID to vote since Wisconsin’s photo ID law has been suspended pending two lawsuits making its way through the courts. The state has appealed the injunctions.

Electronic Voter Registration Gains Momentum

Posted By: Courtney Mills

Post Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Labels:

The recent push for Voter ID bills and restrictions on third party voter registration organizations across the country has made clear that some are determined to make it more difficult to vote in 2012 than it was in 2010. Some legislators, such as Florida State Senator Michael Bennett, have said as much when making statements like "[t]his is something people died for.

Minnesota Legislature Takes Aim at State’s High Election Turnout

Posted By: Dan Vicuna

Post Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012
Labels:

The Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill yesterday that will place on the November ballot a voter ID referendum that would amend the state constitution and threaten Minnesota’s standing as the top state in the nation for voter turnout. The ballot language deceptively avoids informing voters of key changes to the constitution that will keep many Minnesotans from voting and adds unnecessary costs to the voting system.

The Week Ahead in Voting Rights for April 9-13

Posted By: Josh Spaulding

Post Date: Monday, April 9, 2012
Labels:

There are still several legislatures in session that have bills pending that will make voting harder for the elderly, disabled, students, minorities, and low-income workers.

Felon Voting Rights on the Small Screen

Posted By: Courtney Mills

Post Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Labels:

The primary season recently brought an onslaught of television commercials to the DC television market. The Maryland and DC primaries allowed those of us in Virginia to view some of the television ads which we had been spared in light of the less than full presidential primary ballots for our own election. One ad that recently aired stood out to me, as it focused on an often overlooked area of election law.

Show-Me State Priorities?

Posted By: Ben Hovland

Post Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Labels:

During the 2011-2012 state legislative sessions, a flurry of voter suppression legislation has been introduced and in many cases passed around the country.  These laws make it harder for citizens to vote, particularly African Americans, Latinos, low-income voters, young adults, seniors, and people with disabilities.

The Week in Review: Voting News from the Past Week

Posted By: felnAdmin

Post Date: Friday, April 13, 2012
Labels:

In the arena of student voting, the Minnesota Public Interest Group proposed an idea this week which would allow students an excused absence on Election Day in order to vote. The proposal was put in the form of an amendment to current University of Minnesota policy and is now up for debate by the University Senate.

The Week Ahead in Voting Rights for April 16-20, 2012

Posted By: felnAdmin

Post Date: Monday, April 16, 2012
Labels:

A study was just released that shows 25,000 transgender voters could be disenfranchised because of strict photo ID laws.

Today, the Michigan legislature is holding a hearing on the Safe and Fair Elections Initiative that would restrict community-based voter registration, require photo IDs, and require voters to answer a citizenship question in order to vote.

Voter ID Advocates Run From the Facts

Posted By: Courtney Mills

Post Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Labels:

It seems as though Wisconsin can’t escape the spotlight lately. First we saw the protests in the Capitol surrounding labor issues. This was followed by the beginning of the Scott Walker recall campaign.

"Get ID" Programs Combat Strict Photo ID Laws

Posted By: Ben Hovland

Post Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Labels:

The issue of strict photo ID laws has been a very contentious one in the past few years. Proponents of these laws claim they are necessary to deter alleged fraud and ensure confidence in the system. However, in-person voter impersonation fraud (the only type that a strict ID law could prevent) is essentially non-existant.

Voter Suppression Bill Gets Hearing in Michigan House Committee

Posted By: Dan Vicuna

Post Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012
Labels:

Michigan’s House Redistricting and Elections Committee heard testimony this week on SB 754, a bill that would make it more difficult for community organizations to run voter registration drives. The bill would also require voters to show a photo ID when they vote at the polls.

The Week in Review: Voting News from the Past Week

Posted By: Erica Evans

Post Date: Friday, April 20, 2012

On Tuesday, FELN along with Common Cause, Demos, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law released the “Got ID? Helping Americans Get Voter Identification” report. The research draws lessons from programs in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Colorado and details the best strategies that community groups are using to help voters ensure they’ll be able to vote.

The Week Ahead in Voting Rights for April 23-27

Posted By: Josh Spaulding

Post Date: Monday, April 23, 2012

This week, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island hold their presidential primaries. This will be the first statewide election in Rhode Island where voters will be required to show an ID to vote. If they do not have the necessary ID, they can vote a provisional ballot and the vote will be counted if the signature on the ballot matches the signature on file.

Pennsylvania Previews Voting Changes as Voters Struggle to Obtain ID

Posted By: Courtney Mills

Post Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Labels:

With the exit of Pennsylvania native Rick Santorum from the Republican primary, today’s primary election in Pennsylvania has dropped slightly in the headlines. Despite this, today’s election ushers in a major change for Pennsylvania voters.

Student Voting Update for April 24, 2012

Posted By: Josh Spaulding

Post Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Labels:

This past month a new photo ID law was passed in Pennsylvania that will make it more difficult for students to vote. The new law only allows student IDs with an expiration date.

Find out what the mood is on campuses around the country about the upcoming election.

Use Care When Using the F Word

Posted By: Ben Hovland

Post Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Labels:

The Virginia legislature and Governor have had a recent back and forth about what the state’s voter ID law should look like. The basis for introducing the legislation was to protect Virginia’s elections from “fraud.” Yes, there you have it – the F word. Fraud or the perception of fraud is almost always the reason given for enacting strict photo ID laws. 

Ohio House Committee Fails to Fully Restore Early Voting

Posted By: Dan Vicuna

Post Date: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Labels:

An Ohio House legislative committee sent to the House floor a bill to repeal HB 194. HB 194, which the legislature passed last year, reduced early and absentee voting periods and removed the requirement that poll workers must direct voters to the correct polling place when they show up at the wrong location.