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January 13, 2011

January 13, 2011

In Focus This Week

I. In Focus This Week

:Arial; color:black;”>Is 2011 the year of voter ID?:10pt;”>Photo identification legislation filed in statehouses across the country

M. Mindy Moretti

While more than half of the states in the U.S. require a voter to show some form of identification in order to cast a ballot there are still only two states, Georgia and Indiana, which require a photo ID with no exceptions (Oklahoma’s new law takes effect July 1, 2011). In total, nine states require or request a voter to show photo identification and 18 states require an ID of some sort, ranging from a driver’s license to a utility bill.

With statehouses across the country getting back to work in the New Year, experts expect that number to increase in 2011. In a number of states, some legislators are so eager to start the fight that voter ID legislation has been pre-filed in advance of the session.

In the past, the discourse over voter ID has been heated. In South Carolina, legislators walked out of the statehouse in protest and in Texas, one legislator was brought in on a hospital bed in order to vote against voter ID.

“I tend to doubt the dynamics of voter/photo identification will change very much,” said Michael J. Pitts, associate professor of law at Indiana University School of Law. “I think you’ll see voter/photo ID get passed where Republicans control all the levels of government and generally not get passed where they don’t.”

Currently, nearly a dozen states have legislation circulating through the process or are planning to introduce it when their sessions convene. Here is a sampling of some of that legislation:

Mississippi: In 2009, voter photo ID legislation fell one vote short of passage in Mississippi. Following the defeat, supporters of photo ID garnered enough signatures to place a photo ID initiative on the ballot for the next general election. In spite of that, at least one voter photo ID piece of legislation has been filed. HB0233 would require a photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote. In addition, another piece of legislation HB0462 would provide a free Mississippi voter photo ID card for any voter who does not have a driver’s license.

Missouri: The legislature in the Show Me state want voters to show them their IDs and are once again tackling photo ID in the 2011 session. SB3 requires a voter to show some form of state or federal issued photo ID. The legislation also provides for reimbursement from the state for “all costs incurred by the election authority associated with implementing the new identification requirements.”

Montana: H152 amends the state’s current voter ID law—which allows a voter to show a photo ID or two other types of ID — to limit possible types of ID to photo only. The bill has been referred to the House State Administration Committee.

North Carolina: Although no legislation has yet been filed — the General Assembly convenes on Jan. 26 — Republican members of the Assembly have said that passing photo ID legislation in the first 100 days of the session is a top priority. Although the Republicans now control the General Assembly which experts say makes the passage of photo ID more likely, Gov. Bev Perdue is not necessarily sold on the idea.

South Carolina: The very first bill filed in this year’s session S1 would require voters to show a photo ID to vote. If the voter does not have a photo ID, they may cast a provisional ballot. Exceptions are made for religious opposition to having a photo taken.

Texas: Rep. Charles Anderson pre-filed HB539 on Jan. 6 which would require a voter to show a photo ID or two forms of other ID including a utility bill or bank statement. In addition House Elections Committee Chairman Todd Smith, who led the charge over voter ID in 2009, introduced HB401. The legislation is modeled after Georgia’s photo ID law and in addition to requiring a photo ID to vote would also authorize creation of a voter identification card. According to the Star-Telegram, the outlook for a voter ID measure has changed dramatically after a Republican sweep in the November elections and two Democrats’ recent defections.

Wisconsin: This week, Republicans in Wisconsin introduced a bill that would require a photo ID to vote in the Badger state. According to the legislators, the bill is modeled after Indiana’s voter ID law and would allow voters only to cast a ballot with a photo ID, those without would cast a provisional ballot. The legislation includes a provision to provide free identification to those who cannot afford it and would exempt those living in senior housing or nursing homes if an election official is sent to the facility. In addition to introducing the legislation, Representative Jeff Stone and Senator Joe Leibham also announced their plans to amend the state’s constitution to include voter photo ID.

Voter ID, and in particular photo ID, played a central role in several states during the 2010 campaign cycle. Although nothing has yet to make its way through the legislative pipeline, expectations are high that Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and New Mexico will see movement on the voter ID front this legislative session. All states are now in session or will be by the end of the month.

“My sense is that for better or for worse, the trend toward the adoption of photo identification requirements at the state level will continue,” Pitts said. “Moreover, with the federal government now divided between Democrats and Republicans, there is no prospect for federal legislation that would pre-empt state photo identification laws.”

Election News This Week

II. Election News This Week

  • A federal judge upheldWashington’s primary systemagainst a challenge from the state’s Republican and Democratic parties, but he struck down the way Washington runs elections for the parties’ grassroots organizers. Under the new system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation and their party preferences are listed on the ballot. Washington’s voters adopted a new primary system in 2004.According to The Associated Press the political parties don’t like the new system because it means they won’t necessarily have a candidate in the general election. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the new system in 2008, but said it could create confusion depending on how the ballots were designed. The case came back to U.S. District Court in Seattle, and Judge John C. Coughenour ruled this week that the ballots make clear that the candidates listed are not necessarily endorsed by the political party they prefer – and thus, the ballots don’t violate the parties’ First Amendment right of association.
  • Another Tuesday in the New Year meant another election, this time in snow and ice covered Mississippi where voters were casting their ballots in three special elections. On Monday, Governor Haley Barbour issued a statement that despite the weather, the elections would proceed as planned. In Lee County, the circuit clerk’s office and other county officials worked together to make sure that election workers were able to get to their polling places on time on Tuesday. Circuit Clerk Joyce Loftin told a local television station early in the day, “We’ve had to assist a few poll workers in getting to their precincts this morning, but through the supervisors, election commissioners, and sheriff’s department we’ve done that and I think everybody’s up and going.” Election officials and others worked this weekend and Monday to make sure the voting machines were in place, and the area immediately around polling stations was clear of any snow or ice.
  • Personnel News: Late last week, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced his resignation in order to take a position with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Governor Steve Beshear appointed Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker to complete Grayson’s term. Walker has already said she will run for the open seat. After 33 years with the Butler County [Ohio] Board of Elections, Director Betty McGary is resigning effective January 20. According to the Cincinnati Inquirer, McGary, who served as either deputy director or director for more than three decades, was a champion for the voting public who “really believed in the process.” Also in Ohio, Johnnie Maier, a Democratic member of the Stark County Board of Elections since 2006, has resigned in order to run for office. Phillip Braithwaite was named the new president of Hart InterCivic effective January 1. Braithwaite served as senior vice president and general manager for Hart InterCivic, managing daily operations. Reno lawyer Scott F. Gilles has been named elections deputy for the Nevada secretary of state’s office. Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett named Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele to serve as secretary of the commonwealth. Aichele must be confirmed by the state Senate. And in a “where are they now” moment, former Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is returning to the law firm she helped create in 1988 to focus on election law; and Chris Nelson, former South Dakota secretary of state was recently sworn in as the newest member of the state’s public utilities commission.

Research and Report Summaries

III. Research and Report Summaries

electionline provides brief summaries of recent research and reports in the field of election administration. Please e-mail links to research to sgreene@pewtrusts.org.

Engaging America’s Youth through High School Voter Registration Programs – Jody Herman and Lauren Forbes, Project Vote, December 2010: Data on youth participation in elections and the impact high school voter registration programs could have if implemented across the country is reviewed. Project Vote conducted an online survey to assess programs in place across the country and presents these findings at the state level, discusses barriers to implementing these programs, and examines best practices.

Opinions

IV. Opinions 

California: Election fixes

Connecticut: Ballot problems, II

Indiana: Vote centers, II, III

Mississippi: Voting Rights Act

Montana: Vote-by-mail, II, III

North Carolina: Instant-runoff voting, II; Voter ID

Tennessee: Rutherford County

Texas: Voter ID

Virginia: Felon voting rights

Washington: Election reform; Top-two primary

Wisconsin: Same-day registration; Voter ID, II, III, IV, V, VI; Election reform

Job Openings

V. Job Openings

electionlineWeekly publishes election administration job postings each week as a free service to our readers. To have your job listed in the newsletter, please send a copy of the job description, including a web link to mmoretti@electionline.org. Job postings must be received by 5pm on Wednesday in order to appear in the Thursday newsletter. Listings will run for three weeks or till the deadline listed in the posting.

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