Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson to Holder: “emboldened by the Justice Department”

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson writes to Eric Holder:

“The New Black Panther Party has been emboldened by the Justice Department’s refusal to prosecute them for past and current crimes,” he said. “They must be stopped now before their incitement to violence and bloodshed becomes a tragic reality in Florida and across this nation. Swift and aggressive action by your office would show that the DOJ is still committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, not just blacks, and that you’re seeking justice for all parties involved in this unfortunate case. I hope that you’ll do the right thing. The nation is watching.”

VA Voter ID: Pass, Amend or Table?


As the Virginia General Assembly prepares to reconvene today to consider vetoes and amendments, the Virginia Electoral Board Associations recommends tabling Voter ID:


 


In a letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate Privileges & Elections committees (respectively, Delegate Mark Cole and state Senator Mark Obenshain) and those committees’ members, the president of the Virginia Electoral Board Association (VEBA), Renee B. Andrews of Falls Church, has asked the General Assembly to table the two voter ID bills passed earlier this year. Barring that, Andrews asked that the delegates and senators reject some of Governor Bob McDonnell’s proposed amendments to the bills (now designated as SB1ER and HB9ER).

Full story here.

My House Judiciary Testimony

Today, I testify to the House Judiciary Committee about the Voting Section at the Justice Department and the 2012 elections, along with Eric Eversole and Cleta Mitchell.  The hearing is at 9 a.m.  My written testimony is here.  The link to the video stream is here.  Lite blogging unless Lex and Tabella pick up the slack today.

AZ Voter ID Law Upheld by U.S. Appeals Court


A victory for Arizona’s autonomy to ensure election integrity:


The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Arizona’s voter-approved 2004 law requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before receiving a ballot. . . Arizona can demand to see certain forms of identification that proves citizenship, the court ruled. And if someone doesn’t have those forms of ID, paying the fees to obtain the ID isn’t the same as a “poll tax.”


But still a federally-forced reliance on the “honor system”:


However, the court also ruled that Arizona must not refuse federal voter-registration forms, which work on the honor system by asking applicants to check a box saying whether they’re U.S. citizens. Arizona can’t replace that form with its form that requires proof of citizenship, the court ruled.


 


The case can still be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.


Gonzalez v. Arizona ruling here.  Phoenix New Times story here.

Testifying to House Judiciary Committee Wednesday

I will be testifying to the House Judiciary Committee (Constitution Sub) about the DOJ Voting Section on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.  Joining me will be Cleta Mitchell and Eric Eversole.  Stay tuned for links and written testimony here.  Topics include military voting, Section 203 (speak English “well” still counts against 10,000), Voter ID, and the lack of Section 8 enforcement.  Posting here.

Ohio Legislators Sue SOS for Following Federal, Not State, Rules on Provisional Ballots


Ohio’s elections chief is violating the state constitution by requiring county election boards to follow a federal court decree instead of state law when it comes to counting provisional ballots, GOP lawmakers alleged in a lawsuit Monday.   


 


A 2006 state law laid out the requirements for when such ballots are counted. . . in 2010 then-Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, entered into a federal consent decree that was more lenient when it comes to provisional ballots.  Current Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, has issued orders to county election boards telling them to follow the consent decree when dealing with provisional ballots.  Monday’s lawsuit, brought by Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus and No. 2 House Republican Lou Blessing, says such action is unconstitutional.


 


Full story here.