The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly for April 27 – May 3 2015
A divided Supreme Court ruled that states can prohibit judicial candidates from soliciting campaign donations, rejecting arguments such bans violate the free-speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment. Strategists for the campaign of Jeb Bush are reportedly considering turning over some of the campaign’s central functions to their “independent” Right to Rise super PAC, to take advantage of its unlimited fund-raising ability. Legislators approved a proposal to automatically register Californians to vote when they get a driver’s license. After adding a provision for a “comprehensive risk assessment” every two years, the Florida House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would establish online voter registration in the state. The Minneapolis Post reviewed the unexpected demise of a bill to restore voting rights to ex-felons on probation. Republican lawmakers in Ohio have re-introduced legislation to require photo identification for voting as a similar law in Texas headed back to court. Togo’s opposition party has challenged the re-election of incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe and, as the United Kingdom prepared for a general election next week, the Daily Mail considered the security challenges of internet voting.