Hi, John,
Welcome back to "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly," your go-to source for the latest voting news. In today’s edition, we cover the North Carolina Governor improving voting access for people impacted by Hurricane Helene, the Ohio Supreme Court upholding ballot drop box restrictions, and judges in Georgia and Florida denying requests to extend voter registration deadlines despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and Milton.
So, buckle up and join us as we navigate the world of voting — where The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly all meet. 😉
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😃 THE GOOD: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed a new Hurricane Helene relief bill, enacting temporary provisions to improve voting access for those displaced by the storm. The bill allows voters to return mail-in ballots in person to election officials in counties other than where they are registered, accommodating those forced to relocate. The legislation makes voting more accessible to those impacted by the storm by permitting the relocation of polling places as needed and expediting the process to set up new voting locations.
😠 THE BAD: The Ohio Supreme Court upheld new restrictions on ballot drop boxes introduced by the Secretary of State. Under these restrictions, voters cannot deposit ballots for their family members in a secure drop box and must return them directly to the Board of Elections office and sign a form when they do so. This ruling also applies to people who assist voters with disabilities in casting their ballots. While drop boxes are available 24/7, Board of Elections offices are only open at select times. This ruling has sparked debate over access to drop boxes and potential barriers for voters who need assistance.
😡 THE UGLY: Judges in Georgia and Florida denied requests to extend voter registration deadlines despite disruptions caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Advocates urged a federal judge to push the deadline back by a week in Georgia, arguing that the storm hindered registration efforts, particularly in affected communities. Similarly, plaintiffs sought a 10-day extension in Florida beyond the October 7 deadline, citing widespread power outages and displacement caused by the hurricane. However, the courts in both states ruled against modifying the deadlines.
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