Indiana State Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel) has introduced SB 35, to eliminate the straight-ticket device. He had introduced a similar bill in 2013, but it did not pass. Thanks to Craig Marolf for this news.
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When someone registers to vote in Oklahoma, he or she is given a voter identification card, but it doesn’t have a photo on it, and the state also requires voters at the polls to show government photo-ID. Representative David Perryman (D-Chickasha), an attorney, has introduced HB 3150. It provides that future voter identification cards carry the photo of the voter, and also an image of each of the two index fingers. The purpose of this would be to eliminate the need for voters at the polls to show government photo-Id, assuming that the voter brought his or her voter identification card to the polls. Thanks to Richard Prawdzienski for this news.
On January 16, the Sixth Circuit set a briefing schedule for Libertarian Party of Ohio v Husted, 14-3030. The state’s brief is due February 28; the briefs for the minor parties are due April 2; the state’s reply is due April 19. After that, it will probably be several months before an oral argument is scheduled, although it is possible that the state won’t ask for oral argument. The 2014 primary is May 6.
It is conceivable that the state might drop its appeal, because the case only involves the 2014 election, and anything the court does is likely to be too late to have any practical effect. It is also conceivable that the Ohio legislature, which is session now, will alter the law.
Arizona State Representative Eddie Farnsworth (R-Gilbert) has introduced HB 2196. It repeals the 2013 omnibus election law bill, which had been HB 2305. Among other provisions, the 2013 law makes it extremely difficult for members of small qualified parties to get on their own party’s primary ballot. And it makes it literally impossible for minor party members to nominate write-in candidates in their own party’s primary. That move defies a U.S. District Court decision issued in 1980, won by the Socialist Workers Party. See this story.
The 2013 law had several other provisions, unrelated to minor parties, which seem designed to make it more difficult for voters to remain registered, and which made it more difficult for activists to help voters to vote absentee. These provisions were deemed so harmful to the Democratic Party and its allies that Democrats and associated groups gathered enough signatures to force a referendum vote on HB 2305. If the Farnsworth bill passes, presumably the 2014 popular vote on HG 2305 will be canceled. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
The Columbus Dispatch has this story, mentioning that on January 15, the Sixth Circuit refused Ohio’s request to expedite the lawsuit over whether the minor parties should be on the 2014 ballot. As the newspaper story explains, this means the U.S. District Court decision of January 7 will remain in effect, and the parties will be on the 2014 ballot.
The quote from representatives from the state government that the state is “still reviewing the decision” seems humorous, because the “decision” not to expedite is one sentence long.