Archive for 2019

Today is the eighth annual National Voter Registration Day – a day dedicated to getting as many people possible registered and ready for Election Day, this year and every year.

Microsoft announced last week that it will extend free security support for election offices with systems running Windows 7 – offering relief beyond a planned “end of life” for the operating system early next year which left many in the election community concerned about what that meant for the 2020 election.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved $250 million in election security funding yesterday, ending a long wait for Senate action and setting up a negotiation with the House over what the final figure will be.

North Dakota’s Secretary of State won’t rush the process of hiring a new state election director after the incumbent, John Arnold, was appointed Tuesday to another state office.

Computers serving as electronic pollbooks were stolen overnight Tuesday from a community center serving as a polling place for an Atlanta special election, leaving officials concerned about the statewide voter data contained therein.

Colorado’s Secretary of State has disallowed the use of QR codes and other printed barcodes for elections in the state, saying they pose a threat to election security and verifiability of ballots. The move is likely to spur conversations and potential adoptions in other states.

A new bipartisan bill in New Jersey would use state funds to dramatically increase pollworker pay, both in an effort to attract new workers and to reward those already serving.

Federal courts in Tennessee and Florida have issued rulings in ongoing disputes regarding voter registration in their respective states – both of which could be significant in 2020 and beyond.

A Texas woman sentenced to five years in prison for casting an illegal vote in 2016 is appealing her conviction, citing several issues with the charges against her.

Chicago is using a new citywide mailing to seek email addresses for over 1.5 million voters in the Windy City, which it hopes to use to keep them informed and provide options on programs like vote by mail.