DOJ is probing attacks on voting rights, says U.S. attorney general
Attorney General Merrick Garland has warned that the Department of Justice is keeping a serious and comprehensive watch on changes being made to voting laws across the country, particularly in light of the redrawing of electoral maps after the 2020 census and the “unusual round of second examinations” states and counties have made regarding the 2020 presidential election. In response to questions about the limitations placed on his department’s power after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling known as Shelby County v. Holder, the current Attorney
Legislature and governor approve Maine’s new voting districts
Following Oregon, Maine has become the second state in the union to approve its new electoral districts in response to the 2020 Census. Unlike many states, Maine requires that new voting maps be approved by a two-thirds supermajority of both chambers of its legislature, which many analysts say helps protect the state from partisan gerrymandering. The lines were drawn by a bipartisan apportionment committee, and approved by the legislature with little conflict. Maine Senate President Troy Jackson said the agreement was reached, “because we
Initiative changing state voting rules to begin gathering signatures after canvassers’ OK
A Michigan organization known as Secure MI Vote has received approval from the Michigan Board of State Canvassers to begin collecting signatures for a proposal to change a number of Michigan voting laws and strengthen identification requirements for voters. If 340,047 valid signatures are acquired within 180 days, the proposals may be submitted to the Michigan Legislature, and if approved by that body, would not require Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signature to become law. A voting rights advocacy organization known as Voters Not Politicians
Abbott says Texas vote audits aren’t all about Trump
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott is insisting that his Secretary of State’s decision to audit the 2020 election results in several counties is not entirely due to former President Trump’s recent call to “get to the bottom of the 2020 election scam!” Facing questions after a much-criticized audit in Maricopa County, Arizona simply reaffirmed Biden’s victory there - and by an even greater margin than previous thought - Governor Abbott defended Texas’s decision to proceed with its own audits in broad civic terms: “Why
Native American Voting Rights acts introduced in Congress
Freshman Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) has introduced a new bill known as the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA), or S. 2702. The bill includes provisions that would require poll workers everywhere to accept all tribally-issued forms of identification; help voters without addresses or access to mail delivery to more easily register to vote, as well as to acquire and submit ballots; and facilitate the creation of more polling places on tribal lands. US Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-3) and Tom Cole (R-OK-4) have