Latest news with #SecretaryofState
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Committee backs bills to require paper ballots and prohibit ballot drop boxes
CHEYENNE — Legislators voted to sponsor bills addressing the state's use of paper ballots and ballot drop boxes during Friday's Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee meeting. The two bills, which would require paper ballots be the default voting method in each county and would prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes, are in alignment with legislation that Secretary of State Chuck Gray backed earlier this year. During the meeting, Gray repeatedly referred to President Trump's executive order 'Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,' saying these bills are essential to achieving the president's objectives. The bills also align with Gray's 'election integrity' agenda. Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Bryan Miller echoed Gray's concerns. 'National politics have driven a big distrust in the election system, and that distrust is very prevalent in Wyoming at the moment,' Miller said. 'Bottom line, the perception is the reality.' Though Gray and Miller insisted that these bills are essential to election security, opponents of the bills noted that they responded to perception, rather than addressing any documented errors. Wyoming League of Women Voters President Linda Barton told the committee that they should heavily consider the input of the county clerks, and avoid supporting legislation that takes away local control for the sake of national agendas. 'The bills before you today do not meet that standard,' Barton told the committee. 'Instead, they erect barriers; impose costly, unfunded mandates; reduce access, and risk undermining public trust in our elections.' Barton noted that voter access should be considered alongside election integrity. 'We must carefully consider the real-life effects on both election administration and voter access,' Barton said. 'For many Wyoming voters — shift workers, farmers, ranchers, people with health challenges, and those facing immediate harsh weather — barriers to voting are more than theoretical.' The committee was originally set to hear 11 bills Friday morning, but later voted to only work four for the sake of time. The committee also worked on two draft bills, one prohibiting 'ballot harvesting' and one addressing voter registration procedures, which will be revisited during their November meeting. Ballot harvesting refers to the practice of individuals collecting and submitting completed absentee or mail-in ballots on behalf of other voters, rather than the voters submitting their own ballots directly. Paper ballots The committee voted to sponsor the draft bill on pen and paper ballots, which would require counties to use pen and paper as the default method to mark ballots for Wyoming elections, with exceptions for people with disabilities. Laramie County is the only county in the state that doesn't currently provide pen and paper ballots as a default measure. Instead, the county uses an 'express voting' system as its default. Voters insert a card into a machine, select their candidates on a touchscreen and receive a printed ballot with a list of their votes. Gray specifically took issue with the barcodes produced during the process, which encodes the voters' selections. 'Relying on barcodes decreases the trust in our elections, because electors cannot verify that the barcodes on their ballots correspond with the candidates they voted for,' Gray said. 'This bill will increase confidence in our elections, because voters will trust that their ballot was counted accurately when they fill them out with pen and paper.' These electronic voting systems are largely used to increase accessibility for voters who may not be able to fill out a paper ballot without assistance. Gray noted that, further down the line, he would support accessing options that are still accessible, but do not include barcodes. There have been no documented cases of inconsistencies between barcodes and printed votes in Wyoming, Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin told the committee. There has been, however, one documented case in 2023, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where the voter's selection shown on the machine-generated code differed from the selections that appeared on the human-readable printout, Ervin said. Further investigation showed that the code accurately reflected the voter's choices, but a programming error had caused the text version to be incorrect. The votes were tabulated correctly based on the code. 'That same coding error is not exclusive to the express vote,' Ervin said. 'It could happen on the paper ballot, as well.' These errors have strengthened the argument for testing counting systems prior to an election, as opposed to restricting methods of voting, Ervin said. The other issue with the bill is how difficult it would be for Laramie County to comply with the bill by the 2026 election cycle. Laramie County is the largest county in the state, home to 16% of the voting population. In an email correspondence presented to the committee by Mary Lankford, a lobbyist for the County Clerks Association of Wyoming, Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee wrote that the bill would 'completely upend Laramie County's elections, a recipe for disaster for Wyoming's largest county that could impact elections across the state.' According to Lee, Laramie County would have to completely change its operational plans and would have to acquire additional voting equipment. That equipment would also have to be installed and tested by the vendor prior to undergoing additional required logic and accuracy tests. 'Laramie County does not have the staff, money or time to make such a drastic change in voting operations,' Lee wrote. The committee voted amend the bill's effective date to 'effective immediately' and then voted to sponsor the draft bill, with Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, and co-chair Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, opposed. Ballot boxes The committee also voted to sponsor a bill that would prohibit the use of drop boxes for the delivery of ballots. Instead, absentee ballots would have to be mailed in or delivered by hand. 'I remain convinced that the use of unstaffed and unattended ballot drop boxes is not secure or the best means for our state,' Gray told the committee, referencing a few instances in which ballot boxes were tampered with, including recent arson cases in Oregon. One of the major concerns with prohibiting the use of ballot boxes is limiting voter access. Many blue-collar workers in Wyoming have jobs that require long hours, Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, told the committee. 'My concern all along with this bill was the fact that it was eliminating the ability of a working man or woman to come into town at 7 o'clock at night and drop their ballot off,' Landen said. Gray responded to Landen's concern, saying that the working man was a priority of himself and Trump. 'Working people support these measures,' Gray said. 'There's no question about that.' He offered no supporting evidence to back up that assertion, however. Yin also pointed out that mailing ballots would effectively send them out of the state, as Wyoming no longer has a local U.S. Postal Service distribution center. The nearest distribution center is in Denver, Colorado, or Salt Lake City, Utah. 'It goes out of the state and then it comes back,' Yin said. 'And so how do I know that my ballot is more secured in the postal collection box than a box that's in the county courthouse in my county and will never leave the county?' Gray noted that election-related mail should not leave the state. The committee rejected an amendment to allow voters to deliver their ballots to a drop box in a county or other governmental entity's building; the box would be accessible from the building's exterior. The amendment would have required the drop box to remain under constant video surveillance, and only a county clerk or their designee would have access to the secured receptacle. The committee amended the bill's effective date to 'effective immediately' and then voted to sponsor the draft bill, with Landen, Yin and Case opposed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ongoing maintenance knocks 200K+ off voter list in Missouri
MISSOURI – In 'regular, extensive voter registration list maintenance,' local election authorities across the state have removed over 200,000 names from records. According to a spokesperson from the Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, just this year, officials have taken off over 207,000 names. More than 46,000 of those were names of deceased Missourians, and another 8,000 names were taken off due to felony convictions. The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County combined made up for nearly 58,000 of names removed from voter rolls. 'I actually still have goosebumps': Family of 3-year-old who died at daycare reacts to charges In exclusive data released to FOX 2 from the office, other reasons for voter registration removals included incomplete registrations, moving out of the state, request for removals, inactivity to delete NVRA, and more. Maintenance in this list is ongoing, according to the office. All individuals are contacted for removals to be confirmed. The updated lists come from a 'commitment to ensure accurate, secure, and transparent voter rolls, reinforcing the state's position as a national leader in election integrity,' according to a release. There were 4,286,342 registered voters in the State of Missouri as of November 2022, according to the office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Plans for new football stadium approved
Oxford United's proposed new 16,000-seater stadium has been granted planning permission. Cherwell District Council's planning committee gave the green light to the purpose-built ground, to be built on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington, after a four-hour meeting. Fans watched on in their football shirts during the meeting on Thursday evening, and some shouted "we got it" as the votes were counted. In total 14 councillors voted for the proposal, three abstained, and one voted against. The seven-hectare (17-acre) site will be located south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road, east of Frieze Way and near Oxford Parkway Station. The application will now be referred to the Secretary of State, because it goes against the district council's development plan and is on the green belt. Discussing the plans, councillors raised concerns about transport, finances and the environmental impact of the new ground. Adrian Sutton, from the Friends of Stratfield Brake, said during the meeting his group objected on "three critical grounds: greenbelt policy, public safety and ecological harm". He said: "The need to relocate is unproven, public safety has not been considered and the application does not take the precautionary approach required by Natural England." However, summing up before the vote, councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill called it "a tremendously exciting project". "It's huge in its potential for bringing community benefits to Oxfordshire as a whole - and to Kidlington itself," she said. But Green Party councillor Ian Middleton said he was "disappointed" by the outcome, and believed it would have a "devastating" impact on the community. "We always said we wouldn't support building on green belt unless there was local support," he said. Among those who spoke at the meeting was club steward Roland Clements, known as Roly, who was concerned about the future of the club if it did not get the stadium. He said: "I've watched generations walk through those gates... It's where families grow together." He told the meeting that the club helps fans to "feel part of something" and he pleaded for the council to "think about the people". After the meeting Jonathon Clarke, development director at Oxford United, said he was "absolutely delighted". "We're now one step closer to delivering on our goal of creating a once-in-a-generation venue for supporters and the wider community," he said. 'Huge relief' Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said she welcomed news with "with huge relief". She said: "This decision has provided a clear pathway to the construction of a modern facility that Oxford United and its fans deserve. "It secures the future of the club and will offer a host of economic and social benefits for the area." The club currently plays at the Kassam Stadium and its owner, Firoka Group, has agreed the U's can play there for two more seasons. There will now be an option to extend the deal for another year, which was conditional on planning permission for the club's proposed new stadium being granted. The council received about 4,900 responses from the public about the application and its planning report contained details of objections from local campaigners. The U's new complex is expected to include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre and community plaza. There were concerns that the proposed stadium would be built near ancient woodland but Natural England concluded that would not be the case. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram. More on this story New stadium site 'not near ancient woodland' Woodland delays Oxford United stadium decision Stadium proposal questioned over ancient woodland Club writes open letter addressing stadium concerns MP urges residents to comment on stadium plans Without a stadium, there is no Oxford United - CEO Football club unveils designs for new stadium Related internet links Oxford United Natural England Cherwell District Council
The Independent
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Top South Dakota official apologizes for releasing voter data
South Dakota's top elections official has apologized for the state releasing information about voters who also were seeking public assistance, such as food aid. Secretary of State Monae Johnson made the voter registration rolls of more than 600,000 voters public last month to comply with a new state law. But the spreadsheet of voter information also included a field for source of registration, which disclosed whether an individual registered to vote at a public assistance agency, such as those offering housing help and food assistance. Federal law prohibits the government from releasing information about those receiving public assistance. The data leak drew condemnation from across the state, and the American Civil Liberties Union called it an 'egregious violation of voters' privacy rights.' Johnson apologized on Friday. 'As Secretary of State, I take full responsibility for the release of this information. My office is committed to both transparency and protecting voter privacy," Johnson said in statement. 'Upon discovering the issue, we acted immediately to remove the data and prevent further dissemination.' The information was taken off the website Friday, the day after the ACLU sent a letter to the office demanding the state fix the issue. Individuals who had their information disclosed have been notified by mail, and those with access to the information will be asked to delete it. The secretary of state also clarified that registering at a public assistance agency does not necessarily mean an individual is receiving benefits. In South Dakota, a person can register to vote at driver's license exam stations, disability service offices, military recruitment centers and county auditor offices in addition to public assistance agencies. The ACLU is now encouraging those who were impacted to fill out their legal intake form. "Essentially, voters who exercised their right to register to vote at public benefits offices were punished for it through this substantial privacy violation,' ACLU South Dakota Advocacy Manager Samantha Chapman said. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is appointing legal counsel to represent the Secretary of State's office and the state legislature in case of potential lawsuits.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan Voting Guide: 2025 primaries, what you need to know
Tomorrow is Election Day for communities across the region that have primary ballots this year. The Detroit mayoral race is one of the biggest questions in the region, with incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan seeking the governor's office next year, the seat is open and has 9 candidates running. After tomorrow that race will be narrowed to two for the November general election. Mayoral races in Dearborn Heights, where the sitting mayor also isn't seeking re-election, and a bond proposal in Livonia to replace the police station is also set to be hotly contested. Elsewhere in Wayne County are elections in Hamtramck, Plymouth, Taylor and Westland. In Oakland County Pontiac and Southfield both have municipal elections, and in Macomb County New Baltimore and Sterling Heights are both holding primaries. How to register to vote? Registering to vote in Michigan is extremely simple. There are three different ways to register: online, by mail, or in person at your clerk's office. Registering by mail and online for the Aug. 5 election has closed, but people can still register in person. The state of Michigan makes it simple to register to vote – just go to the Secretary of State's website and fill out the information. If you've moved recently, you should check that your address is correct so that you'll be able to vote in person or receive your mailed ballot. How to check your registration If you're worried about your registration status, check it now. To vote in Michigan you have to be a U.S. citizen, live in the state, and not currently be serving time in prison. Pre-registering to vote is available to anyone who is at least 16 years old - though someone can only cast a ballot after turning 18. Six months after they turn 17, the state will automatically register them to vote. If they are 18 years old by election day, they will be permitted to vote. To register, someone must show proof of where they live, which can include either a driver's license or state ID, a current utility bill or bank statement, or a paycheck. The application can be filled out online, at a Secretary of State branch office, at the clerk's office, or through the mail. Once the application is processed, the clerk's office will send a voter registration card. Tracking absentee ballots The state website also allows voters to track the status of their ballot for anyone worried it did not arrive on time. Michigan's site does require you to submit your voter information to track this – doing so will confirm if your ballot was received on time or not. How to vote in person To vote in person, you need to know where your precinct is and then make sure you're at least in line by the time polls close. You are not required to present your identification to vote. However, you will likely be asked for your identification. If you choose not to present it, you can sign an affidavit swearing that you are eligible to vote. When do polls open and close In Michigan, polls open at 7 a.m. local time and remain open until 8 p.m. Polls in Michigan close at 8 p.m. local time. For most of the state, that's 8 p.m. ET. However, there's the far west corner of the Upper Peninsula that's in central time – which means those polls will close at 8 p.m. CT, (9 p.m. ET). What's on my ballot You can preview your ballot now on the state of Michigan's website. Once you open the Secretary of State's website, enter your legal name, birth month and year, and zip code. Then you'll be presented with a sample ballot. How to report voting issues If there are major issues in your precinct, the state of Michigan wants to hear from you. They have provided forms on the Secretary of State's site for you to file a complaint. You can also track any problems that are resolved. Solve the daily Crossword
