Two Wisconsin legislators are about to introduce a bill to bar presidential candidates from both the primary and general election ballots if they don’t reveal the last three years of their federal income tax returns. The draft is being circulated among legislators, seeking co-sponsors. It will probably be introduced in early August. The main sponsors will be State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Representative David Crowley (D-Milwaukee). It is not known if the bill will bar write-in candidates.

The Wisconsin legislature has a Republican majority in each house, so the bill is not likely to pass. The Wisconsin legislature meets all year.

Law enforcement officials in Miami-Dade County, Florida, have decided to interpret Florida election law to mean that ex-felons with outstanding fines, fees, and restitution, can still register to vote unless those monetary judgments are included on that individual’s sentencing document. According to this story, that will enable 90% of people in that county (who otherwise could not have registered) to register.

The same interpretation may be made by certain other populous counties. Of course, then there will be an inconsistent application of the law throughout Florida, which might violate Bush v Gore, the 2000 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said, “The right to vote is fundamental, and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote.” Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.

As noted earlier, on July 3, 2019, a U.S. District Court in Arkansas enjoined the new petition requirement of 26,746 signatures for a party to be on the 2020 ballot. The state then asked the U.S. District Court Judge to stay her own order.

On July 24, the Libertarian Party filed this 14-page brief, setting forth reasons why the judge should not stay her order.