“Last week, State Board of Elections Executive Director Sarah Ball Johnson wrote all of the county clerks in Kentucky a memo, instructing them to approve all voter registration applications from people who are homeless — even if clerks can’t verify the addresses on the forms. The policy has been in place since 1998, but Johnson wanted to clarify it because of the number of applicants and newly elected county clerks.”  Full story at Fox 19.

North Carolina is ready to bypass only submitting a redistricting plan to DOJ and will go to court instead.  Charlotte Observer:

“But Republicans in North Carolina, like those in other states, plan to go to the courts at the same time. Rucho called the Obama Justice Department ‘probably the most politicized … of any that’s been seen in the past.’  Other states, including Virginia, have pursued the same dual strategy.

Rucho said it’s designed to ensure early approval of the new districts and prevent any delay in the 2012 elections.

Hans Von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a former Justice Department lawyer, said, ‘Any Republican-controlled state would be foolish not to go to court.’

‘The idea that North Carolina is going to get a fair, unbiased review from (the Justice Department) is highly unlikely,’ he said. ‘If they’re in court, they’re going to get a fair review and Justice isn’t going to be able to play games.’

In court, he argues, both sides would get a chance to present arguments. The Justice Department could simply send the state back to the drawing board.”

Full story on Section 203 settlement here.

Latest at PJ Tatler.

States which have recently passed voter identification laws should pay close attention.  The Civil Rights industry has targeted those laws and are asking the Eric Holder Justice Department to attack them.

“Despite some very important lawsuits, agreements, and legislative actions, voting rights in Indian Country are severely limited. Indians have had to fight to win the right to vote the way GIs had to fight the Germans in France and Germany—one block at a time.”  Full article at Native Times.

Here.

“I have read many of the pros and cons in The N&O. Whether by human error or fraud, I know of at least two instances when someone went to cast a vote only to be told he had already voted. An ID card would help alleviate some of the errors encountered.”  News and Observer.

The Oklahoman.

In South Carolina, the Herald Online reports the redistricting deadline now appears to be August 1; otherwise federal judges will need to draw the new districts.

“Legislative leaders say a compromise map for the state’s seven
congressional districts must be completed by the end of August to avoid a
panel of federal judges stepping in and doing the job.

That has
put leaders and legislative staff into overdrive, trying to tweak
proposed congressional maps for the Greenville and greater Charleston
areas while also building support for a new 7th Congressional District,
centered in Horry County and including the Pee Dee region.

Having failed to pass a redistricting plan last week, legislators will return to Columbia July 26 for another shot.”