News
New Jersey's dark money law delayed
The donors behind New Jersey's most politically influential groups will remain a mystery indefinitely after a federal judge hit the pause button on a law that would have outed such "dark money" actors.
Set to go into effect later this month, the law would have required social welfare nonprofits and other nonprofit political organizations to disclose donors that gave more than $10,000 as well as spending related to elections and other political activity that exceeded $3,000. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed the measure into law in June, despite previously vetoing the bill and calling it unconstitutional.
Soon after the governor signed the bill, though, Americans for Prosperity — a libertarian group funded by the Koch family, who would be affected by these new disclosure requirements — sued the state, arguing the law violated the First Amendment and targeted certain groups over others.
Poverty, isolation among voting barriers for Native Americans
A congressional hearing in Phoenix this week on voting rights and election administration in Arizona provided a stark reminder of the obstacles many Native Americans face just to cast a ballot.
Patty Ferguson-Bohnee, director of the Indian Legal Clinic at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, told members of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections that to "understand the challenges faced by Native American voters, one must recognize the vast differences in experiences, opportunities and realities facing on-reservation voters."
Florida voter forms still say felons cannot register to vote
Voting rights activists in Florida are complaining to election officials because they believe the state's voter registration forms are not clear that convicted felons who have completed their sentences can now register to vote.
This is the latest dispute over implementation of the Amendment 4 ballot initiative passed by 65 percent of Florida voters last fall, revising the state's constitution to automatically restore voting rights for convicted felons.
Florida's registration forms and online registration system state that felons "cannot register until your right to vote is restored" – a continuation of the language used on the form prior to approval of the amendment.
Elsewhere — and less prominently — the forms do note that voting rights are restored upon completion of all terms of a sentence including parole and probation "pursuant to section 4, Art. VI of the Florida Constitution."
That's the change made by the ballot initiative, but advocates argue not many people are going to understand the legal reference.
Debate
Sentrism: A new word for a needed brand of politics
It's time to shake up political labels with the addition of the sentrist, says former congressional candidate Dave Anderson.
Community
Can ranked-choice voting revive our democracy?
Ranked-choice voting has been getting a lot of attention. Proponents believe it could increase moderation, eliminate the spoiler problem, improve civility in campaigning, make politics more competitive, and improve female representation. Join New America on Oct. 10 to have a conversation about RCV.