Seventh Circuit Supports U.S. District Court Injunction Against Indiana Voter Registration Restriction

On August 27, the Seventh Circuit upheld a U.S. District Court injunction against a 2017 Indiana voter registration restriction. Common Cause Indiana v Lawson, 18-2491. Here is the decision.

The issue is a 2017 Indiana law that says if the state finds out that one of its registered voters is also registered in another state, then Indiana will immediately cancel the Indiana voter registration without contacting the voter. The decision says this policy violates the federal voter registration law. It also points out that although voting in two states in an election that is occurring on the same day in both states is illegal, merely being registered to vote in two states simultaneously is not illegal.

The state argues that the plaintiff Common Cause does not have standing, but the court said it does have standing.

Final Briefs Filed in Georgia U.S. House Ballot Access Case

On August 28, the reply briefs were filed from both sides in Cowen v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:17cv-4660. This is the case that challenges the Georgia law that requires a petition of 5% of the registered voters for the nominees of a party that didn’t poll as much as 20% of the vote in the last election for Governor or President. The Libertarian Party filed this case in 2017.

Here is the Libertarian Party brief.

Here is the state’s brief.

California Democratic Party Endorses Proportional Representation

On August 25, the California Democratic Party Executive Board endorsed Proportional Representation. The resolution says, in part, “Therefore be it resolved that the California Democratic Party supports the institution of proportional representation and multi-member districts to foster greater electoral representation, provide equity to minority discourses, and increase the diversity of our elected officials.”

Here is a link to all the resolutions adopted on August 25. The proportional representation resolution is Resolution 19-05.167. Scroll down. Thanks to Steve Chessin for this news.

Russian Elections Chief Says Moscow Ballot Access Rules for Independent Candidates Will be Eased in Future

Moscow, Russia holds an election for city council on September 8. The independent candidates, who were required to submit a petition of 3% of the electorate, have been kept off the ballot. That has led to extensive street protests. In an interview with the Associated Press, Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission for the nation, says that the requirements will be eased in the future. See this story.