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Anti-Initiative Bill in Florida Gets More Bad Publicity

Posted on April 20, 2009 by adminApril 20, 2009

This article in the April 20 issue of the West Volusia Beacon newspaper in Florida concerns the bill that would make it illegal to pay initiative circulators on a per-signature basis. The story highlights criticism of the bill from civic organizations. The bill also injures petitioning by making it illegal for anyone to talk to voters waiting in line, so that petitioning at the polls would become impossible. Also the bill provides that initiative petitioners must have their photo and address on file with the county elections office.

Alabama House Passes Bill for Overseas Voters to Vote by Internet

Posted on April 20, 2009 by adminApril 20, 2009

On April 16, the Alabama House passed HB 711 by a margin of 89-3. It establishes a test program to let overseas voters vote by internet, in the 2010 election.

South Carolina County Republican Party Files Lawsuit for a Closed Primary for Itself

Posted on April 20, 2009 by adminApril 20, 2009

On April 16, the Greenville County, South Carolina Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit for the purpose of obtaining a closed primary for itself. Currently, South Carolina does not have registration by party, so any voter can choose which party’s primary to vote in. Harms v Hudgens, 6:09-1022-HFF. The case was assigned to Judge Henry Floyd, a Bush Jr. appointee. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news.

Oklahoma Bill to Ease Initiative Rules Makes Headway

Posted on April 19, 2009 by adminApril 19, 2009

On April 6, the Oklahoma House passed SB 852, which it makes it easier to get initiatives on the ballot. The bill had already passed the Senate, although the version of the bill in the House differs from the Senate version, so more legislative action is needed. The bill expands the period of time in which to circulate the initiative petition from 3 months to one year. It eliminates the rule that petitions must be on 14 inch long paper, which makes it easier to distribute blank petition forms via computer (most printers attached to home computers have trouble if the form must be on paper that is different from the standard 11 inches). The bill also provides that if someone challenges the “gist statement” (the short explanation of what the initiative does), that challenge must be fought out before the initiative gets its signatures, not afterwards.

Another bill, SJR13, which reduces the number of signatures for initiatives, has only passed the Senate so far, not the House.

N.Y. Times Attacks Florida Bill to Ban Paid Circulators for Initiatives

Posted on April 19, 2009 by adminApril 19, 2009

The New York Times of April 18 editorially attacked the Florida bills that make it illegal to pay initiative circulators on a per-signature basis. The Times didn’t actually discuss that issue, but the bills are omnibus election law bills with many, many provisions. The Times attacked other parts of the bills; see the editorial here. The bills are S956 and HB CS/497. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.