Archive for August 2015

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is proposing new rules that would allow the state to remove voters from its “suspense” list for failure to show proof-of-citizenship. Given that the original law is still unpopular – and nervousness about new prosecutorial powers at the SoS – the proposal is reigniting the controversy over the Sunflower State’s efforts to prevent and prosecute voter fraud.

Hawaii becomes the latest state to implement OVR – more than three years after enactment and almost two years after the City of Honolulu declined to assist. Still, the new site is up and running in time for the 2016 elections – a huge accomplishment for the state and a reminder that the path from enactment to implementation of election changes can take time.

On a day when speeches and proclamations celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, electionlineWeekly had a story about a Kids’ Art Contest in Washington State that demonstrates that the Act still holds a powerful message – even if it’s currently the subject of controversy.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has issued its ruling on the appeal of a lower court’s invalidation of Texas’ voter ID law. The opinion is extremely important but very complex, with numerous legal and evidentiary issues – but fortunately, UC-Irvine’s Rick Hasen has an excellent analysis that is perfect for legal and non-legal electiongeeks alike.

Californians convicted of felonies but serving their sentences in county jails or under community supervision will now have their voting rights restored after Secretary of State Alex Padilla dropped his predecessor’s appeal of a 2014 court ruling. Nationwide, however, the issue – with its strong undercurrent of race and partisanship – continues to simmer.

Hartford, CT has a new state election monitor with wide-ranging authority and responsibilities as part of the state’s efforts to keep the city’s elections on track after a disastrous 2014.

Florida’s Secretary of State is once again in hot water with county election officials after a recent audit revealed a number of issues with the state’s voter database. He has promised to improve communication – which he’ll need (and a lot else) to restore the faith of local officials still seething over his unsuccessful opposition to online voter registration.