Last week’s relatively problem-free Pennsylvania primary was the latest to demonstrate that requiring photo identification at the polls is a solution in search of a problem. People simply don’t risk prison time to impersonate other voters. In 2008, more than six million Pennsylvanians went to the polls for the presidential election, and only four were charged…
On Thursday, the Wisconsin legislature sent a bill requiring photographic identification for voting to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. This follows the enactment of an even stricter law in Kansas a few weeks ago. Drafted by my office, Kansas’s Secure and Fair Elections Act combined three elements: (1) a requirement that voters present photo IDs when…
The Nevada Supreme Court will quickly hear Secretary of State Ross Miller’s planned appeal of a judge’s decision to let political parties pick U.S. House nominees for a Sept. 13 special election, a court spokesman said Friday. As expected, Miller on Friday asked the attorney general to file the appeal. He also postponed the candidate…
Simply put, Carson City District Judge James Todd Russell is flat wrong about the special election for the 2nd Congressional District. Which is why it’s a good thing that Secretary of State Ross Miller announced late Friday he would appeal this wrongheaded ruling to the state Supreme Court. In the meantime, candidate filings schedule for…
The Voting News for 05/22/2011 National: States Toughen ID Rules for Voters | Wall Street Journal More states will require voters to show photo identification at the polls next year, as part of a wave of laws that will increase scrutiny of voters in next year’s elections. Stricter voter-ID measures are moving forward in at…
More states will require voters to show photo identification at the polls next year, as part of a wave of laws that will increase scrutiny of voters in next year’s elections. Stricter voter-ID measures are moving forward in at least half a dozen states after Republicans gained control of many statehouses and governors’ mansions in…
Last week, former GOP House Speaker and current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich suggested that American citizens should have to pass a test in American history before they could earn the right to vote. Despite rampant criticism from both sides of the aisle, Gingrich reiterated his support for poll tests yesterday at a town hall meeting…
Takoma Park voters will have the option of casting their ballots over the Internet for the November 2011 election, and a test of the system is going to be conducted June 9 at the Takoma Park Community Center. Poorvi Vora, an associate professor at George Washington University made a presentation of the online voting system to…
For weeks, we’ve been reporting on the mess seen in the statewide “recount” of Wisconsin’s very close and very contentious April 5th Supreme Court election between Republican incumbent Justice David Prosser and his challenger, Asst. Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg. As The BRAD BLOG obtained evidence of new irregularities this week — to add to previously…
It’s been a busy couple of weeks on the election front — specifically, the voting front — down in Raleigh and at other points on the compass. The NC House, in a 60-58 vote, OK’d a bill to shorten the early voting period in the state. Bad, no good, horrible call, in my view. It’s…
North Carolina had the closest governor’s race in the country in 2008, and only Missouri had a closer presidential contest. Both went the Democrats’ way, in large part because of the unprecedented effort in the state by the campaign of presidential candidate Barack Obama. The Obama campaign had a paid staff of 400 with 47 storefront…
Boss Tweed likely would have had a good chuckle over proposals in Pennsylvania to require every person casting an election ballot to present photo identification. The legendary New York City political boss knew a thing or two about fraud and political smokescreens: two things at play in regard to the legislation being considered in the state…
Early voting kicked off Saturday for city elections, and turnout appears to be strong. The big draw, of course, is the Las Vegas mayor’s race, which is pitting two women against each other for the city’s top job. It represents a turning point for Las Vegas, ending Oscar Goodman’s twelve year reign as mayor.Voter turnout…
Legislation that would shorten the state’s early voting period and change requirements for casting provisional ballots passed the Ohio House May 18 following more than two hours of contentious debate. The final vote on House Bill 194 was a party-line 53-39, with Democrats opposing. The legislation next heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. Rep.…
One of my most important responsibilities as your secretary of state is preserving the integrity of the voting process in Florida while increasing access to the ballot box. The right to vote is one of the most obvious symbols of our nation’s freedom. Americans must have confidence in the electoral process we use to choose…
A few college students we talked to at UW-Eau Claire say they haven’t heard much about the Voter ID Bill, but they say at face value, it sounds like a good idea. “I think it’s probably a good thing, to at least show that you are who you say you are instead of having someone…
The Minnesota House gave final approval to a bill requiring voters to show photo IDs at the polls Saturday afternoon, sending it to Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. The bill passed 74-58 on a largely party line vote over the objections of DFL lawmakers, who said the bill will hinder some groups from voting. The vote was…
With music pumping, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law Wednesday a bill requiring S.C. voters to show a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to cast a ballot. Currently, voters only must show a voter registration card, which does not have a photo. “If you can show a picture to buy Sudafed, if you can…
Perfect beach weather may have kept crowds from the polls Saturday — but not so political candidates, who made their final pitches to voters across Miami-Dade County before Tuesday’s special election. …With early voting canceled Sunday, the contenders for Miami-Dade mayor, two county commission posts and a Florida House seat on Saturday tried to fit…
A Miami-Dade judge on Friday backed the county elections department’s decision to cancel a day of early voting for Tuesday’s special election. Circuit Judge Barbara Areces dismissed a lawsuit filed by county mayoral candidate Marcelo Llorente, who argued the elections department acted unconstitutionally when it did away with early voting scheduled for Sunday. Lester Sola, the…
A recanvass of votes cast in Tuesday’s Republican primary election for secretary of state between Bill Johnson and Hilda Legg will be held May 26. Legg, a consultant former executive director of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, requested the recanvass by county boards of election in the closest race of Tuesday’s primary. Johnson,…
As presidential candidates increase their efforts to canvass support from first-time voters, lawmakers from across party lines are mulling whether to amend the law to lower the legal voting age to 18 years. However, some academics cast doubt on the idea, saying that lowering the legal voting age would require a constitutional amendment.
One of the largest elections in the city’s recent history could have played a part in slow elections results coming from Port Arthur on May 14, city officials said. The city of Port Arthur’s election night performance has been a source of concern for some, and prompted city officials to issue a statement of explanation.…
Former GOP House Speaker and current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich walked back his support for poll tests Friday, just a day after reiterating support for making young Americans pass an American history test in order to gain voting rights. In a brief interview at a campaign stop, ThinkProgress asked Gingrich about his comments the day…
The state Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill that would require Wisconsin voters to show photo identification during a ragged session Thursday, clearing the way for Gov. Scott Walker to sign the measure into law next week. Assembly Republicans passed the measure in a late-night session last week. Republicans who control the Senate…
Update: : Supreme Court Recount Done in Waukesha County | Today’s TMJ4 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin News, Weather, Sports, WTMJ | Local News. More than six weeks after the election, Waukesha County is nearing the end of its recount in the supreme court race.
But opponents believe the measure will suppress voter turnout. An estimated 178,000 voters in South Carolina don’t have a driver’s license. Those voters will be able to get state-issued ID cards for free. However, in the middle of a budget crisis in South Carolina, there is no money to pay for it. “So it could be…
A Republican legislative aide is under investigation for possible vote fraud after she cast her ballot in the November election in Onalaska although she lives in Madison. La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke said he has forwarded the report from the Onalaska Police Department to Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne to see if…
If it weren’t so grotesquely un-American, you’d almost want to congratulate them for the audacity and efficiency of the attack. Governor Scott and the anti-civil liberties State Legislature have achieved an astonishing voter suppression trifecta. With just one bill, they made it harder to register to vote, harder to cast your vote, and harder to…
Whatever happens Tuesday when voters are to pick Miami-Dade’s next mayor and two commissioners — plus various proposed county charter changes — will you be able to say that your choices were considered because you voted? Too few registered voters can say that today. Yet they will be the first to gripe about the winners…