Oral arguments began on July 25, Thursday, in U.S. District Court in Atlanta in Curling v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:17cv-2989. The issue is whether Georgia’s continuing use of vote-counting machines with no paper trail violates the U.S. Constitution. At stake is whether the machines will be enjoined for use in the autumn 2019 local elections. This case is two years old. Judge Amy Totenberg already ruled last year that the old machines could be used in the 2018 election.

Georgia says it will buy new machines in time for the 2020 election. Plaintiffs doubt that the new machines will be adequate, and also doubt that they will really be ready in time for the 2020 election.

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.