Federal Panel Upholds Georgia Voter ID Law

A federal panel recently upheld a Georgia law that requires individuals to present a government issued ID when they cast their vote. Democrats were against the law because they feel that it may disenfranchise minority and low-income voters. Supporters of the law argued that it would prevent voter fraud. No evidence was presented, however, that indicates that voter fraud is a major problem in Georgia.

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OMB Watch, Others Submit Written Comments for FEC Public Hearing

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) will hold a public hearing on Jan. 14, 2009 on ways to improve compliance, policies, and enforcement procedures. Written comments were due on Jan. 5 and have been posted on the FEC website.

To see the comments that OMB Watch submitted, click here.

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Texas GOP Attempts to Institute Voter ID Requirement

Texas Republicans attempted to institute a voter ID requirement two years ago and failed. Now, according to the Houston Chronicle, they have renewed their efforts. The measure that failed two years ago "would have required voters to produce some type of photo ID before being allowed to cast ballots." It was approved in the House, but failed in the Senate.

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Activists Want IRS to Investigate Mormon Church for Support of Proposition 8

The Mormon Church took an active role in encouraging California voters to support Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that sought to ban same-sex marriages in California. Proposition 8 passed 52 percent to 48 percent. The Mormon Church encouraged members to vote yes on Proposition 8 and helped to fund initiatives in support of Proposition 8.

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Is Blogging Lobbying?

Washington State Regulators are contemplating whether online political activism constitutes lobbying. Unlike journalists, lobbyists are legally required to register with the state, and submit detailed financial reports and the particular issues they are involved with. According to the Associated Press, the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) "was asked by some lobbyists whether calls to action made over the Internet fell under any lobbying regulations, and the agency began probing the topic." Eventually the topic shifted to blogging.

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Georgia GOP Seeking to Shorten Early Voting

After an unprecedented turnout during early voting in Georgia, state GOP leaders are seeking to shorten the early voting period. According to the Associated Press, "Republican lawmakers are considering proposals for next year's legislative session that would shorten Georgia's early voting season."

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ACS Hosts Post-Election Voting Issues Call

The American Constitution Society hosted a call on Nov. 6 in which voting rights experts discussed voting issues that occurred before and during the election, as well as what happens now that the election is over. The panelists were Allison Hayward, a George Mason Law Professor and former Chief of Staff and Counsel for Federal Election Commissioner Bradley Smith, Pamela Karlan, a Stanford Law Professor and voting expert, and Daniel Tokaji, an Ohio State Law Professor and Associate Director of OSU's Election Law Project.

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AU Files IRS Complaint Against NC Religious Organization

On Oct. 30, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) filed an IRS complaint against the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for engaging in partisan electioneering. The Convention hosted Michelle Obama, wife of then Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, at an event on Oct. 29.

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CAIR Filed an IRS Complaint Against Clarion Fund for Anti-Muslim Film

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed an IRS complaint on Sept. 30 against the Clarion Fund, a nonprofit organization that distributed an anti-Muslim film to 28 million households in swing states during the presidential election season. The DVD, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," was distributed in papers in at least 10 states.

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Virginia NAACP Sues State Officials For Lack of Election Preparedness

The Virginia NAACP sued Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, the Virginia Board of Elections and its executive secretary, Nancy Rodrigues, and registrars and election officials in Richmond, Norfolk and Virginia Beach on October 27 for a lack of election preparedness. The lawsuit claims that the state is unconstitutionally failing to allocate enough voting machines, poll workers and polling places. The NAACP alleges that the problem is particularly acute in heavily minority precincts and that the state's failures can result in long lines and ultimately voter disenfranchisement.

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