Meet the Man Behind the Texas Voter ID Lawsuit

Meet the Man Behind the Texas Voter ID Lawsuit

By EditorJul 26, 2016
Texas - U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey was a state legislator in Texas when that body passed a comprehensive Voter Identification law.  He had misgivings after witnessing the legislative debate and eventually sued.  North Texas public radio's Rick Holter sat down with Veasey, who represents Texas' 33rd congressional district, to discuss what brought him to sue and whether he thinks the recent Fifth Circuit ruling will relieve the harms he says it causes to some voters. Listen below.  
Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules,
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U.S. Census Bureau Extends Comment on Residence Rules

U.S. Census Bureau Extends Comment on Residence Rules

By EditorJul 25, 2016
Washington DC - The Census Bureau is extending the comment period on the Proposed 2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations, which was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2016. The comment period for the proposed criteria, which would have ended on August 1, 2016, is now extended until September 1, 2016. The full text of the Bureau's message is below.   The U.S. Census Bureau is committed to counting every person in the 2020 Census once, only once, and in the right place. The fundamental reason that the decennial census is conducted is to fulfill the Constitutional requirement (Article I,…
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VA State Supreme Court Blocks Executive Order Restoring Voting Rights to Felons

VA State Supreme Court Blocks Executive Order Restoring Voting Rights to Felons

By EditorJul 25, 2016
Virginia - On Friday, Virginia's state supreme court blocked governor Terry McAuliffe’s move to restore voting rights to felons that have completed their sentence in a scathing 4-3 opinion that chided the state's top executive for the “unprecedented scope, magnitude, and categorical nature” of the executive order. Read more in the Wall Street Journal. The court emphasized that the governor's clemency powers were meant to be affected on a case-by-case basis.       11,600 former felons are already registered to vote under the now defunct order. Those registrations will now be cancelled per the court's order. Dissenting judges contended that the…
Redistricting,
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Texas Appeals Court Rejects Voter ID Law. Sort of

Texas Appeals Court Rejects Voter ID Law. Sort of

By EditorJul 25, 2016
Texas - This Wednesday the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a major blow to the 2011 Texas Voter ID law which has been in effect now since 2013.  The main legal challenge against this law, which specifies 7 types of photo identification that must be used to register and vote - has been that it violates the Voting Right Act both because it was passed by the legislature with an intent to discriminate against poor and minority voters and because in practice, it has a discriminatory effect on those groups. With respect to the discriminatory effect claim, the…
Casedocs, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules,
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Delaware Passes Law Restoring Voting Rights to Felons With Outstanding Court Debts

Delaware Passes Law Restoring Voting Rights to Felons With Outstanding Court Debts

By EditorJul 18, 2016
Delaware - Gov. Jack Markell on Wednesday signed a bill that allows felons to vote before they have paid all fines, fees and restitution. Previously, all fines, charges, fees associated with a conviction had to be satisfied before restoration of voting rights. The Delaware legislature recently removed a 5 year waiting period requirement for felons that served their sentences. According to the Washington Post, Delaware had been one of only 3 states requiring financial restitution as a condition of voting privilege restoration.
Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, , ,
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Judicial Watch to Defend Voters Challenging Constitutionality of Maryland’s Congressional Redistricting Maps

Judicial Watch to Defend Voters Challenging Constitutionality of Maryland’s Congressional Redistricting Maps

By EditorJul 12, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC--( July 08, 2016) - A special, three-judge panel will consider a constitutional challenge to Maryland's gerrymandered congressional district map on Tuesday, July 12. Judicial Watch Attorney Robert Popper will appear before the panel on behalf of voters from each of Maryland's eight congressional districts. The plaintiffs challenging Maryland's congressional district plan include Maryland Delegates Neil C. Parrott and Matt Morgan, and former Maryland legislator and gubernatorial candidate Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey. Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit on June 24, 2015, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against Maryland's state administrator of elections and the…
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, ,
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(Video) Court to Decide Illinois Redistricting Reform Fate Soon

(Video) Court to Decide Illinois Redistricting Reform Fate Soon

By EditorJul 07, 2016
Illinois - Redistricting reform in Illinois will soon get a decision from a court on whether a proposed 11 member redistricting commission can be submitted to voters as a ballot initiative for an up or down vote.  Listen to this local ABC news station interview a representative from the reform group behind the ballot measure on its prospects.   http://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/?pid=1411236
Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORM, ,
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Colorado Redistricting Reform Fails

Colorado Redistricting Reform Fails

By EditorJul 06, 2016
Colorado - The State's Supreme Court has thrown out two constitutional ballot measures that would have changed how Colorado draws its congressional and state legislative maps. A 4-3 decision ruled that the measures were in violation of the state constitution's "single-subject" rule. The measures would have established a 12- member nonpartisan commission to redraw congressional and state legislative districts. Read more here.
Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORM, ,
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Book Review: Daley’s “Rat**cked” Tackles Redistricting Through the Decades

Book Review: Daley’s “Rat**cked” Tackles Redistricting Through the Decades

By EditorJun 27, 2016
New York - Pulitzer prize-winning writer Elizabeth Kolbert and staff writer for the New Yorker, reviews this book: "Ratf**ked," detailing the Republican party's Redistricting Majority Project or "REDMAP." This was a strategic effort beginning decades ago to realign the electoral map in favor the party.  Written by David Daley, editor of Salon.com - the book describes its provocative title as an actual term of art, associated with dirty tricks for partisan advantage; gerrymandering was one of them.  Spoiler alert: the Voting Rights Act helped their efforts, especially in the 1990's.  Interestingly, Kolbert's article identifies Virginian Patrick Henry as the first person…
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, REFORM, , , , ,
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