The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 17-23 2014

Four years after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the supposed barrier between candidates and unrestricted super PACs is flimsier than ever. Voting rights advocates are concerned that efforts to stop strict voter ID laws could provide the conservatives on the Roberts Court the opportunity to strike down or significantly narrow Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Kentucky State Senate passed a constitutional amendment intended to restore voting rights for some ex-felons after making significant changes to the version passed in the House. Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ), who has advocated measures to increase the transparency and security of voting technology, has announced that he will not run for re-election this November. A federal judge tried Friday to speed up the flow of documents in three lawsuits challenging North Carolina’s voter ID and elections overhaul law. In a party-line vote, the Republican controlled Ohio House passed two bills that make changes to the mailing of absentee ballot applications and cut six days from Ohio’s 35-day early, in-person voting period. A court has voided a Senate election in Western Australia, marred by the loss of 1375 ballots during a recount, forcing a re-vote and voters in Libya braved polling place bombings to vote on a new constitution.