Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Appeals court judges expressed concern Thursday about whether to overrule Congress' determination that some southern states and other jurisdictions still must have federal election monitoring to protect minority voting rights.read more >>

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) After a setback last week, opponents of Ohio's new elections law submitted additional signatures in hopes of putting the measure before voters in a 2012 repeal effort.

Democrats and their allies loaded a U-Haul truck full of more than 166,000 signatures to deliver to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) just more than a week after he said they were more than 9,500 short of the roughly 231,000 they needed.

Among other changes, the election overhaul shortens the swing state's early voting period.read more >>

Voters heading to the polls in Massachusetts would have to bring along photo identification if they approve a petition initiative to adopt voter identification requirements.

The petition initiative, filed by Mansfield selectman Olivier Kozlowski, would require all voters to present government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or state identification card, before they get a ballot in state or local elections.read more >>

With jobs and federal aid at stake, U.S. cities are lining up to contest their 2010 census counts as too low. A decade ago, there were 1,200 challenges filed by cities, towns and counties. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is predicting a big jump in that number, due in part to tighter budgets that make local officials more sensitive to potential drop-offs in federal money for Medicaid and other programs.

Nearly $450 billion in federal aid is distributed to states based on population each year, or roughly $1,500 per person. read more >>

PHOENIX (AP) - A former Arizona Supreme Court justice is urging current justices to decide whether three nominees for the state redistricting commission are eligible for appointment.

Former Justice Stanley Feldman represents supporters nominee Paul Bender, an Arizona State University law professor.

Republican legislative leaders say Bender is ineligible because he's a tribal judge.read more >>

September 24, 2009

MANCHESTER, Ky. – When Bill Sparkman told retired trooper Gilbert Acciardo that he was going door-to-door collecting census data in rural Kentucky, the former cop drew on years of experience for a warning: "Be careful."

The 51-year-old Sparkman was found this month hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.read more >>

September 11, 2009 FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. – State governments and civic groups are sinking scarce dollars into the phone banks, TV ads and door-knocking commonly seen in political campaigns to pump up numbers in the upcoming census. They've got a vested interest in going beyond the U.S. Census Bureau's planned $300 million blitz to try to persuade households to fill out the 10-question form they will receive early next year. Clout in Congress and billions of future federal dollars ride on the once-a-decade head count.read more >>

Elderly Floridians may need a driver's license, passport or state identification card to vote under a sweeping elections bill that won approval from a Senate committee Thursday but drew opposition from voting rights groups.

Republican lawmakers who supported the bill (SB 956) said it's needed to crack down on fraud and make other needed changes in the voting system.read more >>

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate chairman on Tuesday urged Attorney General Eric Holder to sue any states that aren't helping needy citizens to register to vote.

Federal laws call for state agencies to try to register people to vote when they are distributing aid, such as food stamps and unemployment benefits.read more >>

Some say it would cut fraud; others argue it discriminates

Associated Press
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

AUSTIN — Efforts to create new ID requirements for Texas voters sparked impassioned debate Monday in the Legislature, where Democrats and Republicans are squabbling over the proposals as the crucial 2010 elections approach.read more >>