Discussion leader: Bob Baker
8:15, DCA Lilian Gade Room
Special guest: John Visi, Darien Registrar of Voters
DMA Current Affairs
October topic-Election Regulations
Regulations: Past-Present-Future
Basic Authority: US constitution through first ten amendments has no mention of rules for elections; hence authority is granted to the several states.
Two broad divisions of regulations: (1) who is eligible to vote. (2) who may contribute, and by how much, to influence election results.
ELIGIBILITY
Three Constitutional amendments expanded voter eligibility. XVth Amendment (1870) said race could not be a limit on eligibility. XIXth Amendment (1929) said sex could not limit eligibility. XXVI Amendment (1971) stated eligibility cannot be denied to anyone age 18 or older.
Broad objectives: Insure all persons who are eligible to vote will have THE OPPORTUNITY to vote. No persons who are not eligible to vote WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE.
CONTRIBUTIONS to influence election results
Basic protection: permission is derived from First Amendment freedom of speech, freedom of press.
Broad objective: to insure all information relevant to an election is available to the voters.
Concerns: Ability to finance publication of views can give some individuals/organizations an unfair advantage.
Readings:
https://legaldictionary.net/voting-rights-act-of-1965/
Of note here is that contributions are not allowed from persons who do not have legal status in US.
Given that to gain participation to the next Dem. Debate, persons need to have a certain number of individual donations. How enforced?
https://www.thoughtco.com/current-political-campaign-contribution-limits-3322056
https://www.politicallawbriefing.com/2012/12/is-my-donation-really-anonymous/
https://www.fairvote.org/universal_voter_registration
The ‘Citizens United’ decision and why it matters – Center for Public Integrity
Voter Fraud is Real – Federalist
https://thefederalist.com/2016/10/13/voter-fraud-real-heres-proof/
Debunking the Voter Fraud Myth
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/debunking-voter-fraud-myth
Heritage Foundation
https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity/heritage-explains/voter-fraud
GOP Voter Fraud in North Carolina Invalidates Election
Kolback Voter Fraud Commission Disbanded
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/report-trump-commission-did-not-find-widespread-voter-fraud
https://www.thoughtco.com/current-political-campaign-contribution-limits-3322056
Dual registration and/or voting in the United States
It is not illegal to be registered to vote in more than one state.
It is illegal to vote more than once in the same election.
Many states do not address the issue of notifying a state from which a voter has moved when registering in a state to which the voter has moved.
States may remove a voter registration when a registered voter has not voted
for a specified number of times.
Readings suggested by John Visi – one of Darien Registrar of Voters
https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/foreign-influence/protected-voices
National Rifle Assn: Total Contributions | OpenSecrets
https://www.wsj.com/articles/honest-ads-act-is-false-advertising-11570995764