The Voting News Daily: Photo ID bills advancing; India court grants bail to Hari Prasad; Canadian Internet voting debate continues
In the Carolinas, Texas, Wisconsin, photo ID legislation is on the move. In New York State, a robust debate continues over the conduct of recounts and routine audits. Another Canadian jurisdictions is eyeing online voting in 20011, and in India, computer technologist Hari Prasad has been released on bail.
All this and more in today’s Voting News below.
CA: Gaines moves on Senate bill to cut special-election costs – Rocklin
State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, has introduced a bill that could cut the cost of special elections in smaller California counties.
Senator Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, today announced that he has introduced a bill that will help cut the cost of special elections in smaller California counties.
Senate Bill 109 will give counties with populations under 400,000 the option to hold solely vote-by-mail elections in situations where a special election is called. Read More
CA: Gautam Dutta: California’s Humpty-Dumpty Law
A few weeks back, the California Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal about a core part of Proposition 14 (aka, the “Top Two” Primary). As a result, a state appeals court in San Francisco will soon hear legal arguments on two troubling flaws of what we affectionately call the Humpty-Dumpty Law: Senate Bill 6, which fleshes out crucial details of Prop 14. Read More
CT: Merrill not sure about ballot reform – Norwich, CT – Norwich Bulletin
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill told municipal leaders this morning that she isn’t sure calls for local communities to provide 100 percent ballots, one for every registered voter, is the appropriate answer to the problem in Bridgeport where election officials ran out of ballots at the last election. Read More
Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh wants to keep all 143 of the District’s voting precincts open for the special election to elect an at-large council member scheduled for April, and she’s asked the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics to dig deep on cost-saving opportunities. Read More
FL: Change in law could reduce absentee voting in Tampa elections – St. Petersburg Times
Absentee ballots for the city’s March 1 elections are starting to go into the mail, but a change to state law means many Tampa voters expecting a ballot will not get one — unless they act soon. Read More
IN: Vote center option passes Senate, heads to House | pal-item.com | Palladium-Item
Legislation that would allow all Indiana counties the option of using vote centers was approved by the Indiana Senate on Tuesday on a 49-0 vote. Read More
IN: Make voting early easier | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN
Voting early is becoming more popular with Allen County voters. It’s unfortunate voters will have to wait until the fall election to enjoy the convenience of more early voting sites. But few can argue with the Election Board’s reasons for rejecting a plan to increase the number of early voting sites during the spring election.