Morning Bell: “Justice Blocks Voter ID at Every Turn”

“People seemingly voting after they’ve been dead for years. Drug kingpins buying votes from poor people to sway elections. Non-citizens being bussed to the polls and coached on how to vote. Stories of voting fraud are shocking, and states have been taking action to make sure that elections are secure. But the Justice Department, led by Attorney General Eric Holder, has blocked states at almost every turn.” Full story.

Morning Bell: “Justice Blocks Voter ID at Every Turn”

“People seemingly voting after they’ve been dead for years. Drug kingpins buying votes from poor people to sway elections. Non-citizens being bussed to the polls and coached on how to vote. Stories of voting fraud are shocking, and states have been taking action to make sure that elections are secure. But the Justice Department, led by Attorney General Eric Holder, has blocked states at almost every turn.” Full story.

WSJ: “Alabama Seeks Court OK for Redistricting, Bypasses DOJ”

The Voting Rights Act has been challenged more
in the last two years than in the previous 45 years, and as the state of
Alabama goes to court seeking approval for its redistricting plan, it’s also
looking to have the preclearance provision of the law declared
unconstitutional.

Alabama’s attorney general filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a federal court
approve a redistricting plan instead of the Justice Department, which has
jurisdiction to review the plan under Section 5 of the law, AP reported.
(The law allows jurisdictions to seek approval from one or the other.)   Link to Wall Street Journal.

WSJ: “Alabama Seeks Court OK for Redistricting, Bypasses DOJ”

The Voting Rights Act has been challenged more
in the last two years than in the previous 45 years, and as the state of
Alabama goes to court seeking approval for its redistricting plan, it’s also
looking to have the preclearance provision of the law declared
unconstitutional.

Alabama’s attorney general filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a federal court
approve a redistricting plan instead of the Justice Department, which has
jurisdiction to review the plan under Section 5 of the law, AP reported.
(The law allows jurisdictions to seek approval from one or the other.)   Link to Wall Street Journal.

DOJ Intervenes Over Who Should Be Louisiana Chief Justice

 

“The Justice Department filed a memorandum in federal District Court in New Orleans Friday suggesting that Judge Susie Morgan can and should order that Justice Bernette Johnson’s initial tenure on the Supreme Court under the provisions of a consent decree count toward the seniority that would place her in line to be chief justice next year. The memo, filed by attorneys with the voting section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, notes the Johnson was elected to a temporary seat on the court as a result of the Chisom voting rights lawsuit and that, “Pursuant to the terms of the consent judgment in this case, the tenure she gained in the Chisom seat counts toward her total tenure on the Supreme Court. This Court can and should resolve this question as an issue of federal law under the consent judgment in this case.”

NOLA has the story.

DOJ Intervenes Over Who Should Be Louisiana Chief Justice

 

“The Justice Department filed a memorandum in federal District Court in New Orleans Friday suggesting that Judge Susie Morgan can and should order that Justice Bernette Johnson’s initial tenure on the Supreme Court under the provisions of a consent decree count toward the seniority that would place her in line to be chief justice next year. The memo, filed by attorneys with the voting section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, notes the Johnson was elected to a temporary seat on the court as a result of the Chisom voting rights lawsuit and that, “Pursuant to the terms of the consent judgment in this case, the tenure she gained in the Chisom seat counts toward her total tenure on the Supreme Court. This Court can and should resolve this question as an issue of federal law under the consent judgment in this case.”

NOLA has the story.

Lessons from the Voter ID Debate in Kansas

“The latest data compiled by the Secretary of State of Kansas, Kris Kobach, about the state’s experience with voter ID once again shows that the claims by opponents of voter identification are wrong.  Contrary to the assertions of opponents to voter ID laws that there are large numbers of American voters without a government-issued photo ID, Kansas has had to issue a remarkably small number of IDs to individuals who did not already have one since its new law became effective—just 0.002 percent of registered voters.”

Full story.

Lessons from the Voter ID Debate in Kansas

“The latest data compiled by the Secretary of State of Kansas, Kris Kobach, about the state’s experience with voter ID once again shows that the claims by opponents of voter identification are wrong.  Contrary to the assertions of opponents to voter ID laws that there are large numbers of American voters without a government-issued photo ID, Kansas has had to issue a remarkably small number of IDs to individuals who did not already have one since its new law became effective—just 0.002 percent of registered voters.”

Full story.