Arizona Governor Brewer signs measure changing voting laws

The legislation, which will take effect later this year, sets up a
procedure to stop sending early ballots to voters who have not used them
in two election cycles.  Rep. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, said the people this is most likely to
affect are voters who are newly signed up through registration drives,
voters who, at least initially, may be less in the habit of voting.  Link

“Supreme Court keeps us waiting on UT affirmative action, voting rights”

The U.S. Supreme Court is prolonging the suspense in several
blockbuster cases. No ruling today in the challenge to the University of
Texas affirmative action policy. Also no ruling today in a case from
Shelby County, Ala., that could decide the future of Section 5 of the
Voting Rights Act — the part that requires Texas and other jurisdictions
with a history of discrimination to seek federal OK before changing any
element of election procedures, from polling sites to voter IDs and
congressional maps. Next day for decisions is Monday. That’s the final day of the Court’s
term, though the justices likely will add another day next week to
issue rulings.

Dallas News

Ex-Ark. lawmaker sentenced to probation, 9 months home confinement, fine for election fraud crimes

A
former east Arkansas lawmaker and his father were each sentenced
Thursday to three years of probation, including nine months of home
detention, and fined for conspiring to commit election fraud in a scheme
that included destroying ballots and exchanging money and food
for votes.

Former Democratic Rep. Hudson Hallum,
who pleaded guilty last year to the conspiracy that helped him win his
seat in a 2011 special election, apologized at his sentencing hearing in
federal court in Little Rock. He resigned in September days after
pleading guilty.

Associated Press.


New Hampshire voter ID talks break down, second phase to go into effect

Reports out of New Hampshire (here and here) on the inability to reach a compromise and the next stages.

Voters at municipal elections this fall without acceptable ID cards will
have to get their picture taken after a House-Senate summit to change
the law fell apart Monday.  State Sen. David Boutin, R-Hooksett, said
there is no chance the two sides will get together before Thursday’s
deadline for any legislative compromise.  “The Senate has gone as far as it’s going
to go. We’re done here and now the secretary of state is going to be
very busy implementing the second phase of Voter ID that now goes into
effect this September,” Boutin said during an interview.

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett statement on SCOTUS ruling



Press Release:


 


“In 2004, Arizona voters enacted Proposition 200, a ballot measure that required voters to show ID at the polls and proof of citizenship when they register to vote,” said Secretary of State Ken Bennett. “After nearly 10 years of legal proceedings, we were disappointed to learn that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the state’s ability to require additional documentation of citizenship from a voter who doesn’t provide it on the federal voter registration form.


 


“While disheartened with the court’s decision, we were encouraged by its recognition that Arizona is not prohibited from denying registration based on information in the state’s possession which indicates the applicant is not eligible — precisely the procedure currently employed by the state’s county recorders.


 


“In addition, we plan to renew our request of the Election Assistance Commission to include information necessary to determine eligibility on the federal form as suggested by Justice Scalia. If the Commission once again refuses, we plan to pursue further litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act to include this information to determine eligibility.


 


“Election integrity starts with voter registration. We strongly believe citizenship is the foundation from which eligibility is derived and we will continue to look for ways to ensure only eligible citizens are casting ballots in our elections.”