Update on VA Policy on Voter Registration, Appeals Court Denies Lawsuit

A federal appeals court issued a decision in Preminger v. Peake upholding the Veterans Administration (VA) policy that bans voter registration drives in its facilities. The court decided that the rule does not violate the First Amendment. Four years ago Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee tried to conduct voter registration at a VA facility and was stopped due to a rule that prohibits partisan political activity at VA hospital. The committee sued in 2004 charging that the policy violated the First Amendment.

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Activists Urge Ex-Offenders with Felony Convictions to Vote

Grassroots activists are urging ex-offenders with felony convictions to vote. A detailed article highlighting the activists' efforts appeared in today's Washington Post. The Post article focuses mainly on efforts to urge ex-offenders in Florida to vote. Ex-offenders in Florida with felony convictions are now eligible to vote thanks to a law passed in 2006, which allows non-violent ex-offenders with felony convictions to vote if they have completed probation, paid restitution, and do not have any charges pending.

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Decision in Florida Third Party Voter Registration Case

On April 28, 2008, the Brennan Center, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Florida, the AFL-CIO of Florida, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 79, challenging a revised Florida voter registration law that imposes excessive fines on voter registration groups and risks preventing eligible Florida citizens from registering and voting in the 2008 elections. The law does not have any exceptions for innocent mistakes or potential state misconduct.

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Interesting Case on Whether A Church Violated Campaign Finance Law

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church v. Unswort, a challenge to Montana's election campaign reporting laws. The Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church held an event in May 2004, and during which the Rev. B.G. Stumberg urged parishioners to sign petitions at the church in support of a constitutional ban on gay marriages. Advocates filed a complaint arguing that the church inappropriately held an event to support a political cause subject to the state's political contribution reporting requirements.

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Group Files Lawsuit Against the FEC Asserting Issue Advocacy

A new 527 group called The Real Truth About Obama, Inc. ("RTAO"), has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Department of Justice to prevent them from enforcing FEC reporting rules for political committees. RTAO plans to run issue ads examining the Democratic presidential candidate's position on abortion and other policy positions issues.

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Indirect Campaign Intervention or Issue Advocacy?

An article from MSNBC's online magazine, Contribute, discusses the ways that 501(c)(3) organizations, according to the report, actually engage in illicit campaign intervention.

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Groups Challenge Law Restricting Nonprofit Voter Registration Efforts

The Brennan Center for Justice, along with pro bono law firms filed a lawsuit in Albuquerque challenging a New Mexico law that makes it difficult for groups to conduct voter registration drives. According to the press release, the state law is "an unconstitutional burden on free speech and association by impeding civic groups from helping eligible voters to register."

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Bill Introduced to Require the VA to Help Veterans Register to Vote

After many years, the issue of allowing voter registration at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities is slowly gaining support. The VA announced that it would assist veterans with voter registration and permit voter registration drives by groups that were vetted by the agency's attorneys, and then reversed this policy within two weeks. Fortunately since then, Members of Congress and some voting rights advocates have been objecting to the VA's policy.

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Hostility towards Voter Registration?

The Tampa Tribune has reported on Florida's noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act's (NVRA) requirement that voter registration be provided at public assistance offices. "Florida is failing to help low-income residents register to vote when they sign up for public assistance, say voting rights advocates who may sue over the issue. [. .

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Yes, the NAACP Still Can't Endorse Candidates

The Baltimore Sun has highlighted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the fact that it is not allowed to engage in partisan politics, not surprising, as all 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from doing so. "Individually, many NAACP members have lauded Obama's nomination as a victory for racial progress.

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