News

Arizona Argues Its Case at Supreme Court

Arizona Attorney General Thomas C. Horne told the Supreme Court on Monday that states carry the "burden" of determining voter eligibility and they can demand residents prove their citizenship before registering to vote. Conservative-leaning Justice Antonin Scalia seemed to agree with Arizona, saying a sworn oath of citizenship "is not proof at all." Arizona and its supporters -- including other states with plans for similar laws -- say a signature isn't enough to combat voter fraud. And they argue the federal voting-rights law doesn't say that states can't impose additional citizenship requirements.

Supreme Court Hears Arizona Voter ID Case

With the fate of a crucial provision of the Voting Rights Act hanging in the balance, the Supreme Court hears another case challenging the right of a state to put in place new voting requirements Monday. At stake in the case--Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.-- is whether or not an Arizona law requiring Arizonans to show proof of citizenship at the voting booth will be upheld.

Iowa Photo ID Bill Moves Out of House Committee

DES MOINES (AP) -- House Republicans moved forward on Feb. 28 with a proposal that would require Iowa voters to show photo identification at polling places. Lawmakers in the House State Government Committee approved the legislation in a 12-8 vote split along party lines. The measure is backed by Secretary of State Matt Schultz, who has filed identical bills in the House and Senate.

The Case of the Phantom Ballots

MIAMI, FL--The first phantom absentee ballot request hit the Miami-Dade elections website at 9:11 p.m. Saturday, July 7. The next one came at 9:14. Then 9:17. 9:22. 9:24. 9:25. Within 2½ weeks, 2,552 online requests arrived from voters who had not applied for absentee ballots. They streamed in much too quickly for real people to be filling them out. It had all the appearances of a political dirty trick, a high-tech effort by an unknown hacker to sway three key Aug. 14 primary elections, a Miami Herald investigation has found. The plot failed. The elections department's software flagged the requests as suspicious. The ballots weren't sent out. But who was behind it? And next time, would a more skilled hacker be able to rig an election? Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/23/v-print/3250726/the-case-of-the-phantom-ballots.html#storylink=cpy

Tennessee Supreme Court Hears Voter ID Case

Tennessee's Supreme Court was asked Feb. 6 to decide whether the state's voter ID law deprives people of the right to vote or if it's a necessary safeguard to prevent election fraud. And in a related issue, the court must determine whether a city-issued library card with a photo can be used as identification to vote.

Iowa Photo ID Bill to Be Introduced

DES MOINES (AP) -- Senate Republicans said on Jan. 24 that they would introduce legislation requiring that Iowans present photo identification in order to vote.

Liberal Groups in North Carolina Mobilize Against Voter ID Bill

Raleigh, N.C. -- A group of left-leaning organizations said Jan. 23 that requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls would "stack the deck" against fair and open elections in North Carolina. Republican legislative leaders say they plan to consider a voter ID bill when the General Assembly reconvenes next week.