U.S. Attorney General Pledges to Fight Discrimination in Elections

Posted on by June 17, 2009
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On June 16, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke to the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. He said, “I pledge that the Justice Department will continue working to enforce our nation’s voting rights laws. And we will fight efforts to discriminate in the voting booth just as earnestly as we fight efforts to discriminate in the job or housing markets. You have my word, my friends. Our commitment to Equal Protection – and to full participation in our nation’s elections – will not waver. Never.” Thanks to ElectionLawBlog for the link. The full speech is here. It is 3 pages long.

Presidential Candidate Birth Certificate Bill in Congress Gains 3 Texas Co-Sponsors

Posted on by June 17, 2009
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HR 1503, the bill in Congress to require presidential candidates to file a copy of their birth certificate when they file with the Federal Election Commission, now has 4 co-sponsors. The bill had been introduced on March 12 by Rep. Bill Posey (R-Florida). On May 5 the bill gained its first co-sponsor, Rep. Bill Goodlatte (R-Virginia). On June 12 it gained three more co-sponsors, all Republicans from Texas: Representatives John Carter, John Culberson, and Randy Neugebauer.

The bill also requires that presidential candidates submit “other documentation” if necessary to establish eligibilty to meet the Constitutional requirements.

New York Assembly Passes Pro-Term Limits Bill

Posted on by June 17, 2009
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On June 16, the New York Assembly passed A1224 by 135-11. It says that when term limits already exist in any local government, if the elected officials of that local government pass a bill or resolution to repeal term limits on themselves, the repeal won’t go into effect unless the voters also approve the repeal. The bill, if signed into law, would not be retroactive. However, if such a bill has been part of the state election law last year, New York City would have been forced to hold a new referendum on repealing term limits for Mayor and City Council.

Oklahoma Gazette Article on Ballot Access Reform Bill

Posted on by June 17, 2009
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The June 17 Oklahoma Gazette has this article on HB 1072, the bill to somewhat improve the ballot access law for new and previously unqualified political parties. The Oklahoma Gazette is Oklahoma City’s leading free weekly newspaper.

The legislature has adjourned for the year, but Oklahoma has two-year legislative sessions, so the bill will receive attention in 2010. It passed both houses this year, but in different form, and the conference committee didn’t act in 2009.

The Gazette article quotes a Common Cause official as saying that long ago, the Socialist Party was the second largest party in Oklahoma. That is an exaggeration, but it is true that after the 1914 election, the Socialist Party had 6 state legislators in Oklahoma. At the same time, there were 22 Republicans in the state legislature. The Socialist Party got 20.8% of the gubernatorial vote in 1914. Thanks to Micah Gamino for the link.