Iowa election officials do not normally mail sample ballots to voters. But this year, Linn County, a major county that includes Cedar Rapids, did postally mail a sample ballot to every registered voter. Because Iowans are not accustomed to receiving sample ballots in the mail, many voters have assumed these are actual mail ballots, and have filled them out and returned them. See this story. The county does not expect to send another letter explaining the confusion, according to the story.
Ballot Access News
October 1, 2018 – Volume 34, Number 5
| This issue was printed on gray paper. |
Table of Contents
On October 23, a U.S. District Court in Georgia heard two cases involving absentee balloting. See this story. A decision is likely in a few days.
On October 23, Oklahoma held a three-party debate for Governor. The debate included the only three candidates on the ballot, the nominees of the Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian Parties. See this story.
On October 21, a New Hampshire state trial court enjoined the 2017 law that increased requirements for voters to prove their residence. League of Women Voters of NH v Gardner, 2226-2017-cv-433. Here is the 24-page opinion.
The 2017 law required voters who were registering before 30 days before an election to bring in documents proving they live at the address they claim to live. It said if voters were registering within 30 days of an election, they had to promise to bring in such documents shortly after the election. The decision outlines the practical problems associated with this idea. This is an ACLU case.
