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Voting & Elections 03.29.2023

Miami Herald (Op-Ed): Speak up, Floridians, before the Legislature takes away our right to speak freely

We are being silenced in Florida, with dangerous legislation making its way through the state Legislature that could stifle the ability of everyday Floridians to speak freely. House Bill 991 and the companion bill Senate Bill 1220 would dramatically change our state’s defamation laws and allow for monetary judgments when elected officials or others think they’ve been slighted on social media or in critical press reports. By doing away with the long-held standard of proving actual malice or ill intent in a defamation case, Florida would be inviting frivolous lawsuits to proliferate and arming elected officials and others with the ability to silence outspoken critics.

Voting & Elections 03.28.2023

Texas Tribune: Texas may be about to scrap a voting security system it can’t replace

“ERIC was somehow bad because some people here characterized Pew as this ultraliberal foundation funding all of this ultraliberal and crazy stuff," said Julia Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana. The organization was a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the state in 2017. “[IDEA] was a political stunt. And our voter rolls continue to need attention,” Vaughn said. “We gave up on trying to convince [Indiana state officials] to join ERIC a long time ago. They proactively said, ‘We don’t want anything to do with this.’ And we’ve got other fights to take on here. And now nobody’s paying attention to the issue.”

03.27.2023

Colorado Politics: Proposal to cap candidate contributions in Colorado's local elections advances

Elizabeth Steele with the nonprofit Colorado Common Cause said even if HB 1245 doesn’t apply to all cities, it will make a difference in leveling the playing field for voters and candidates alike. Steele said it will increase the value of support from everyday citizens, and make it easier for candidates who aren’t independently wealthy to run for office. “HB 1245 might not address some of the issues we are reading about related to money in the mayoral races in Denver and Colorado Springs … but it will address other important contests throughout the state where large money interests can easily outspend and out-speak the voices of ordinary citizens,” Steele said.

Money & Influence 03.25.2023

The Oregonian: Port of Morrow commissioners, already under investigation, keep voting on Amazon’s data center tax deals

Kate Titus, of the good government organization Common Cause Oregon, said elected officials should consider more than just their minimum legal requirements when conducting the public’s business. “There’s what the law mandates, but above and beyond that, there’s also what’s ethical. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s ethical or in the best interest of the people,” Titus said. “Public perception matters. Elected officials can’t just follow the letter of the law, they need to follow the spirit of the law,” Titus told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Ultimately, elected officials have an obligation to work in the best interests of the town, not Amazon and not for themselves.”

Voting & Elections 03.23.2023

Houston Chronicle: New Texas House committee debates gun-free zones, magazine sales

The bill received pushback from gun safety advocates like Katya Ehresman, the voting rights program manager at Common Cause Texas. She said the legislation would make some voters and poll workers feel unsafe. “Texas has endured a period of increasing political violence and intimidation, especially against election workers,” Ehresman said. “HB 636 would create confusion amid existing state and federal laws and increase intimidation.”

Voting & Elections 03.23.2023

Ohio Capital Journal: Revived measure to require 60% for Ohio constitutional amendments gets first hearing

Catherine Turcer, of Common Cause Ohio, argued Huffman is attempting to “play games” with the Ohio Constitution. “It is inappropriate to cherry-pick an election in August which is likely to have poor voter turnout,” Turcer argued. “For more than 100 years, Ohioans have had the right to come together, gather enough signatures, and place a proposal on the ballot.” “Citizen-led ballot measures aren’t overused,” she added. “We haven’t had one on the ballot since 2018. It’s unnecessary to make the process more complicated and it’s disrespectful of voters.”

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