ID Rule for Absentee Voting is Blocked in Ohio

A federal judge yesterday ruled that voters in Ohio will not have to meet identification rules if voting absentee, agreeing with the groups that filed suit that the law is vague and applied differently throughout the state. Earlier this week two groups, the Service Employees International Union Local 1199 and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, filed a lawsuit to block the new law regarding voter identification.

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Senator Grassley Asks ACORN for Information On Political Activities

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported that Senator Grassley (R-Iowa) has written a letter to the national President of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) asking 62 questions to determine whether or not the organization violated tax exemption laws. In his letter to ACORN, Grassley expresses concern about recent reports that suggest ACORN has committed election and voter fraud in submitting false voter registration forms.

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More Examples of Prohibited Political Activity for Sector

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported that the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division of the IRS is planning on releasing its exempt organization work plan in November. The TE/GE Division plans to provide tax-exempt organizations with more examples to help them clearly understand the distinction between what is and is not considered prohibited political activity.

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National Voter Assistance Hotline

The Election Protection coalition is launching their voter assistance hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE (687-8683) and the poll location web site http://www.MyPollingPlace.com. This hotline sponsored by People For the American Way Foundation, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and NAACP will provide voters with free, state specific answers to their voting questions. Trained volunteers will be available to respond to problems such as voter identification requirements, problems with voting machines, or voter intimidation.

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IRS Asked to Investigate Kansas Churches

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) requested the Internal Revenue Service investigate churches in Kansas for possible violation of IRS rules in helping with Attorney General Phill Kline's re-election. Numerous churches distributed campaign literature and videos that favored Kline. According to CREW, a memo written by Kline was released by Kansas news groups that described his plans to get churches involved in his re-election campaign.

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Pastor Endorses Congressional Candidate in Minnesota

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the IRS against the Minnesota church, Living Word Christian Center, claiming that Pastor Mac Hammond violated the church's tax-exempt status by endorsing congressional GOP candidate Michele Bachmann. The church claims that his remarks were a mistake and a misunderstanding of the IRS rules. However, CREW claims that the church's response is not enough, calling on the IRS to apply the appropriate fines and penalties. News of Bachmann's speech first appeared Sunday on the blog, Minnesota Monitor.

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More Problematic Voting Predictions

This comprehensive New York Times article covers a number of various problems that may arise on Election Day. Electronic voting machines are arriving late, and there is a shortage of educated people to work them. Vendors for the new machines are even looking to computer science graduate students and websites such as Monster.com for help. As well, many poll workers and voters could be unsure in some areas whether or not voter identification laws will be in effect or not. New computerized statewide voter registration rolls have also left many voters off the registration lists.

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2004 Voting Problems Remain

As the November election gets closer and closer, attention continues to focus on the problems surrounding the voting process along with various speculations about how this mid-term election will pan out. However, there is reason for such awareness. The Century Foundation, Common Cause and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights have published "Voting in 2006: Have We Solved the Problems of 2004?" This report is a follow up to their report on the voting problems found on Election Day in 2004. Unfortunately, their study found that since 2004, not enough has changed.

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"Nonprofits Fight Terror Guidelines"

This Wall Street Journal article summarizes the work of OMB Watch and others who have responded to the Treasury's revised Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines. As OMB Watch has noted in it's analysis, the Treasury has moved or modified certain language, while the main focus of the guidelines is maintained. OMB Watch's commentary on the latest revision says the information-collection recommendations remain "burdensome and unrealistic." Charities also argue that certain federal agencies have begun referencing the guidelines in discussions with nonprofits as if they had the force of law.

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Report Summarizes Priorities of Nonprofits

The Nonprofit Congress, an initiative of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (NCNA) has put out "Voices from the Field: The National Meeting Briefing Book", which summarizes the priorities of nonprofits. Six key priorities of nonprofits are outlined, which include; Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness; Nonprofit Collaboration; Advocacy and Grassroots Community Activities; Partnerships with Government and Business; Public Awareness and Support of the Nonprofit Sector; and Social Change.

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