Archive for December 2019

With New Year’s Day and a big election year almost upon us, electionlineWeekly has released its annual “In and Out” list. It’s a crowd-sourced look at what’s hot and what’s not for the election community as 2020 dawns.

The blog will take a short holiday break, with no posts this week and light activity next week … full blogging will resume Monday, January 6, 2020. Best wishes to everyone for a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Michigan state election director Sally Williams is retiring at the end of this year, and she sat down virtually with electionlineWeekly’s Mindy Moretti for the newsletter’s latest “exit interview.”

The Navajo Nation is threatening to re-open a lawsuit against the State of Arizona if the state removes a provision allowing for “cure” of unsigned mail ballots from its state election procedures manual.

It didn’t get the same attention as the announcement of $425 million in election security grants to states, but this week’s Congressional FY20 budget compromise “minibus” includes a $15.171 million budget for the Election Assistance Commission, a sharp increase from previous funding levels – and even the agency’s own request.

Congressional negotiators have reached a compromise that will deliver $425 million in new federal election security funds to states – with matching requirements that will push the number over $500 million.

Midland County, TX will open a sealed ballot box discovered last week – with no indication if it is from the most recent election or an older one. It’s just the latest complication in a county currently investigating an 820-vote discrepancy in a recent bond election.

The National Association of Counties recently sent a letter to Congressional leaders making the case for improved and dedicated funding for local election administration.

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) officially welcomed its 30th member yesterday with the announcement that Florida had been formally accepted to the interstate voter registration data exchange.

Kentucky’s newly-inaugurated Governor says he will issue an order restoring voting rights to over 100,000 individuals formerly convicted of felonies, restarting a process halted by his predecessor.