The Independent View: Electionline Weekly July-18-2019

Legislative Updates

California: Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-22nd District, South San Francisco), plans to introduce a Bill addressing Recount Procedures when the Legislature returns from its Summer Recess in early August. The Details aren’t set in stone yet but Options include establishing a Threshold that Automatically Triggers a Recount in very Close Races. Mullin said after speaking with the Secretary of State’s Office, a good starting point is looking like One-Tenth of 1%. Other ideas are developing a Recount Standard for All Counties and having the State foot the Bill for Recounts.

Guam: The Guam Election Commission is proposing several changes to the Island’s Election Laws including making Election Day an Island Holiday and Mandatory Tabulation and Publication of Names on Write-In Votes. “We believe declaring General Election Day as a holiday is likely to increase voter participation and turnout,” Election Commissioner Jerry Crisostomo said.

Massachusetts: The Boston City Council is considering a Proposal that would make Election Day a City Holiday. “If we want to give disadvantaged people throughout our city a strong voice in our electoral process, this is a fine place to start,” City Councilor Matt O’Malley said last week.

This week the Springfield City Council Voted 10 to 1 to Override the Veto of Mayor Domenic Sarno and put an Ordinance on the Books that Requires the City to take specific steps, including Mailers and Robocalls, to Notify Voters about Upcoming Elections. However, it turns out that the City doesn’t have the Funds to do it this year and the Mayor, who is Opposed, will Not be providing Additional Funds.

Ohio: Members of the Akron City Council have Reintroduced a Plan that would Support the End of Partisan Primaries through a Charter Amendment.

Legal Updates

Florida: State Democrats are Suing over a 70-year State Law that requires Candidates belonging to the Party of the Current Governor be listed First on the Ballot. Former Supervisor of Election Ion Sancho is Testifying in the Case on the Effects of Ballot Order.

U.S. District Judge Walker has Recused himself from Presiding over a Suit Challenging Republican-backed Restrictions on the Restoration of Voting Rights for Ex-Felons. Walker said he was forced to Recuse himself after former Gov. Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff, and now Broward County’s Supervisor of Elections, Hired an Attorney from a Law Firm where Walker’s Wife is a Partner. “Although the conduct at issue is deeply troubling,” Walker wrote, “I am relieved of those concerns by confidence in my colleagues on this Court to preside over the remainder of this case and judge it fairly and wisely.”

Mississippi: This week, Attorneys Defending Mississippi say a Lawsuit challenging the State’s System of Choosing a Governor is about “Partisan Politics,” not Protecting African Americans’ Voting Rights. It says Mississippi’s 1890 Constitution “has its basis in racism,” requiring Gubernatorial Candidates to Win a Majority of the Popular Vote and a Majority of the 122 Mississippi House Districts. Without Both, the Election is Decided by the House. In Court Papers, Mississippi’s Republican House Speaker and Secretary of State said they shouldn’t be Sued but Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood should be.

Utah: The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Unanimously Upheld the Lower Court’s Decision that San Juan County had Violated the Constitutional Rights of Residents in its previous Racially Gerrymandered Voting Districts. The Appeals Court also Affirmed the New Court-Imposed Districts that Resulted in the County’s First Navajo-Majority Commission.