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:

Federal Election Laws

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

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746800630/north-carolina-gop-operative-faces-new-felony-charges-that-allege-ballot-fraud

What is Ballot Harvesting?

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

https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Press-Releases/2019-Press-Releases/Secretary-Merrill-Senator-Blumenthal-Hold-Election-Cybersecurity-Discussion

https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Press-Releases/2019-Press-Releases/Secretary-Merrill-Responds-to-Senate-Intel-Committee-Report-on-Russian-Interference\

The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organizations | Internal Revenue Service

How Planned Parenthood Influences Elections in Washington State – Family Policy Institute of Washington

National Rifle Assn: Total Contributions | OpenSecrets

https://www.wsj.com/articles/honest-ads-act-is-false-advertising-11570995764