2019 US Miscellaneous Election Thread

[San Lumen]

https://thefulcrum.us/voting/new-york-r ... ice-voting

I dont know how reliable this source is and it might be getting a bit in the weeds but according to this article New York City will be voting on a referendum in November on whether to adopt Instant Runoff Voting or Ranked Choice voting. If it were to pass it would be huge victory for those who advocate for election reform.

[Shrillland]

https://thefulcrum.us/voting/new-york-ranked-choice-voting

I dont know how reliable this source is and it might be getting a bit in the weeds but according to this article New York City will be voting on a referendum in November on whether to adopt Instant Runoff Voting or Ranked Choice voting. If it were to pass it would be huge victory for those who advocate for election reform.

Not much in the objective press, but this NPR article from the Syracuse station seems to confirm it: https://www.waer.org/post/advocates-say-ranked-choice-voting-will-give-more-power-people

There are, in fact 17 initiatives the Charter Revision Commission have sent to the ballot, mostly for smaller procedural and administrative changes: https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-city/charter-revision-commission-approves-17-ballot-initiatives.html

[San Lumen]

https://thefulcrum.us/voting/new-york-ranked-choice-voting

I dont know how reliable this source is and it might be getting a bit in the weeds but according to this article New York City will be voting on a referendum in November on whether to adopt Instant Runoff Voting or Ranked Choice voting. If it were to pass it would be huge victory for those who advocate for election reform.

Not much in the objective press, but this NPR article from the Syracuse station seems to confirm it: https://www.waer.org/post/advocates-say-ranked-choice-voting-will-give-more-power-people

There are, in fact 17 initiatives the Charter Revision Commission have sent to the ballot, mostly for smaller procedural and administrative changes: https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-city/charter-revision-commission-approves-17-ballot-initiatives.html

There is a chance for a rather large ballot in nyc this year based on this. Who do you think will win the Kansas City mayoral election Tuesday in your expert opinion?

[Shrillland]

Not much in the objective press, but this NPR article from the Syracuse station seems to confirm it: https://www.waer.org/post/advocates-say-ranked-choice-voting-will-give-more-power-people

There are, in fact 17 initiatives the Charter Revision Commission have sent to the ballot, mostly for smaller procedural and administrative changes: https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-city/charter-revision-commission-approves-17-ballot-initiatives.html

There is a chance for a rather large ballot in nyc this year based on this. Who do you think will win the Kansas City mayoral election Tuesday in your expert opinion?

Well, based on the performance and the number and places of endorsements, I think Jolie Justus will win it myself.

[San Lumen]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/beta.washi ... utType=amp

In a huge ruling the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling on a challenge to districts in the Virginia House of Delegates on allegations of racial discrimination. In is important to not the court didn’t explicitly issue a ruling they merely ruled the Virginia GOP did not have standing to challenge the lower court ruling.

Democrats are likely slightly favored to win both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly on November. Of note a result of the redrawn lines Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox was drawn into a slightly Democratic leaning district.

[Shrillland]

Well, the votes are in, and in Florida, both state House seats are Holds for the Republicans. In Kansas City, Quinton Lucas has been elected mayor 58-42%, rising from homelessness in his younger days to becoming mayor of Missouri's largest city and an Ivy League graduated-lawyer.

Next week, New York is the nerve centre of action with primaries for judicial races in all five boroughs and a city councillor in Manhattan...but those are a little down ballot for us. What is relevant to our thread is a state by-primary for SD-57(Chautauqua-Salamanca). This is a deep red district whose former senator resigned in February to take up a leadership job at Cornell AgriTech's Centre of Excellence for Foodand Agriculture. Only one Democrat's running, and of the two Republicans, I'll say that George Borrello will win since he's also running for the Conservatives and the Independent Americans.

[San Lumen]

Well, the votes are in, and in Florida, both state House seats are Holds for the Republicans. In Kansas City, Quinton Lucas has been elected mayor 58-42%, rising from homelessness in his younger days to becoming mayor of Missouri's largest city and an Ivy League graduated-lawyer.

Next week, New York is the nerve centre of action with primaries for judicial races in all five boroughs and a city councillor in Manhattan...but those are a little down ballot for us. What is relevant to our thread is a state by-primary for SD-57(Chautauqua-Salamanca). This is a deep red district whose former senator resigned in February to take up a leadership job at Cornell AgriTech's Centre of Excellence for Foodand Agriculture. Only one Democrat's running, and of the two Republicans, I'll say that George Borrello will win since he's also running for the Conservatives and the Independent Americans.

That is a big upset in Kansas City

As far as the New York district is concerned the by election for the district will be held on Election Day. It will almost certainly stay Republican as it’s one of the reddest districts in the state

[San Lumen]

https://pilotonline.com/news/government ... ef342.html

In an update to VA SD-16 there will be an independent challenger in Waylin Ross to disgraced former delegate and convicted felon Joe Morrissey. Ross was an aide to Morissey when he served in the House of Delegates. Morissey has hinted he might caucus with the Republicans should he win.

[The Archipelago Territory]

gerrymandering should be illegal

It is, but the catch is that you have sue to prove it. And those who gerrymander argue that it isn't as part of their defense. Pennsylvania got its congressional districts redrawn because of a court order as the result of a lawsuit.

The Supreme Court only recognizes 3 types as illegal

[Shrillland]

The plaza expands again with our first addition from Maine.

Maine will be voting on an amendment that would allow people with physical disabilities that prevent them from signing their own names such as Parkinson's, ALS, Quadriplegia, or double amputees, to use an alternative signature to sign onto ballot initiatives. Currently, the state constitution requires original signatures only. Maine's already passed laws allowing alternative signatures for candidate petitions, so I think this one will pass.

[Shrillland]

And another state gets added to the plaza with a question in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania will be voting to include Marsy's Law to the Constitution. Like all the others, this will pass.

[San Lumen]

And another state gets added to the plaza with a question in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania will be voting to include Marsy's Law to the Constitution. Like all the others, this will pass.

What is Marsy's law?

[Shrillland]

And another state gets added to the plaza with a question in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania will be voting to include Marsy's Law to the Constitution. Like all the others, this will pass.

What is Marsy's law?

https://www.ballotpedia.org/Marsy%27s_Law_crime_victim_rights

10 states have it and the votes are always approved by huge margins.

[Shrillland]

Another state joint the plaza, this time it's New Jersey.

New Jersey will be voting on an amendment that would extend the $250 property tax deduction that veterans currently receive if they happen to be property owners or co-op shareholders to retirement centres and nursing homes that house veterans. The centres would be required to pass the deduction to their veteran residents in the form of credit or outright payment by cheque or debit. Since it does good by vets, this will pass.

[Shrillland]

In the only race last night, George Morello won his GOP primary in New York's SD-57(Chautauqua-Salamanca). Next week...nothing! Nothing to do at all, enjoy the Fourth, everybody!...or don't as the case may be.

[Blargoblarg]

Tiffany Caban has won the Democratic primary for the District Attorney of Queens, New York. Since that borough is heavily Democratic, she'll likely also win in the general against the Republican candidate.

[The Archipelago Territory]

I think Weld and Bennet are the best candidates to run. Sadly they won’t win the primaries.

[San Lumen]

In the only race last night, George Morello won his GOP primary in New York's SD-57(Chautauqua-Salamanca). Next week...nothing! Nothing to do at all, enjoy the Fourth, everybody!...or don't as the case may be.

This thread will probably go quiet through the month of July but August is a busy month with several by elections and primary elections including in Mississippi.

[Duhon]

Quiet through July? Not so fast, Florida:

Florida felons will have to pay court-ordered financial obligations if they want their voting rights restored under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday. The legislation requires those with felony convictions to pay court fees and fines to be eligible to vote.

During the spring legislative session, Democrats argued that such a restriction goes against the spirit of the constitutional amendment voters passed in November. Amendment 4, which restores voting rights for felons other than convicted murderers and sex offenders, was approved with 64.5 percent of the vote.

The language in that amendment said felons must complete their sentences. Republicans interpreted that to include restitution, court costs, fines and fees imposed by a judge at sentencing. DeSantis echoed that interpretation in a memo that accompanied the new law.

"Senate Bill 7066 enumerates a uniform list of crimes that fall into the excluded categories and confirms that the amendment does not apply to a felon who has failed to complete all the terms of his sentence," DeSantis wrote.

Democrats said that creates a hurdle that voters didn't intend when they approved the amendment. They also argued the original intent of the felon voting ban was to repress the minority vote, because minorities historically have been disproportionately convicted of felonies.

More than 2,000 people with felony convictions added their names to the Florida voting rolls during the first three months of 2019, according to a recent study by the Brennan Center. Of those, the average income was $15,000 less than that of the average Florida voter.

Critics said the bill will disproportionately impact low-income individuals who can't afford to pay their financial obligations after their release, prompting fears of permanent disenfranchisement. Florida is one of a handful of states where fees and fines are the sole source of funding for the courts.

The American Civil Liberties Union has supported the restoration of voting right for felons and says it will now sue the state over the newly signed law.

"Losing the right to vote—a basic right of citizenship—is one of the many collateral consequences triggered by a felony conviction, and an unjust obstacle to returning citizens' full participation after they complete their sentence," the organization said in a statement. "We are bringing this lawsuit on behalf of ten Floridians, all of whom have achieved a great deal since their conviction."

Not sure if this fits here or in Loth's thread, but anyway, scootin' --

[Shrillland]

There actually is one vote coming up next week, and it's a larger one. NC-3(Jacksonville-Outer Banks) is having its GOP primary runoff after Greg Murphy and Joan Perry were the top two choices back in April. Perry now has the support of FreedomWorks whilst Murphy has Women for Trump on his side. Considering how well he did, I think he'll win it here and in September.

[Telconi]

Quiet through July? Not so fast, Florida:

Florida felons will have to pay court-ordered financial obligations if they want their voting rights restored under a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday. The legislation requires those with felony convictions to pay court fees and fines to be eligible to vote.

During the spring legislative session, Democrats argued that such a restriction goes against the spirit of the constitutional amendment voters passed in November. Amendment 4, which restores voting rights for felons other than convicted murderers and sex offenders, was approved with 64.5 percent of the vote.

The language in that amendment said felons must complete their sentences. Republicans interpreted that to include restitution, court costs, fines and fees imposed by a judge at sentencing. DeSantis echoed that interpretation in a memo that accompanied the new law.

"Senate Bill 7066 enumerates a uniform list of crimes that fall into the excluded categories and confirms that the amendment does not apply to a felon who has failed to complete all the terms of his sentence," DeSantis wrote.

Democrats said that creates a hurdle that voters didn't intend when they approved the amendment. They also argued the original intent of the felon voting ban was to repress the minority vote, because minorities historically have been disproportionately convicted of felonies.

More than 2,000 people with felony convictions added their names to the Florida voting rolls during the first three months of 2019, according to a recent study by the Brennan Center. Of those, the average income was $15,000 less than that of the average Florida voter.

Critics said the bill will disproportionately impact low-income individuals who can't afford to pay their financial obligations after their release, prompting fears of permanent disenfranchisement. Florida is one of a handful of states where fees and fines are the sole source of funding for the courts.

The American Civil Liberties Union has supported the restoration of voting right for felons and says it will now sue the state over the newly signed law.

"Losing the right to vote—a basic right of citizenship—is one of the many collateral consequences triggered by a felony conviction, and an unjust obstacle to returning citizens' full participation after they complete their sentence," the organization said in a statement. "We are bringing this lawsuit on behalf of ten Floridians, all of whom have achieved a great deal since their conviction."

Not sure if this fits here or in Loth's thread, but anyway, scootin' --

If they're sentenced to pay restitution, is restitution not part of their sentence?

[San Lumen]

Tiffany Caban has won the Democratic primary for the District Attorney of Queens, New York. Since that borough is heavily Democratic, she'll likely also win in the general against the Republican candidate.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiffany- ... 48140e8b85
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/nyre ... ns-da.html
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz now leads by about a twenty votes! A recount will begin on Monday and could take up to five days.

People say their vote doesnt matter. Well here is proof that it does.

[Shrillland]

With all the votes in, Greg Murphy has won the NC-3 by-primary. He'll be going against Democrat Allen Thomas on September 10 and is likely to win in this fairly safe district.

Next week...nothing! Nothing until the 30th, so enjoy these doldrums!

[San Lumen]

https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justi ... tes-count/

in the Democratic Primary for Queens County District Attorney. Borough President Melinda Katz leads Tiffany Caban by only 16 votes after all ballots were counted!!! To anyone who says their vote doesnt matter where there is proof that it does.

In accordance with state law an automatic recount began today and is expected to take up to ten days to complete. There will likely be a fair number of contested ballots. Whoever emerges victorious will be heavily favored in November

[San Lumen]

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2019/07 ... brown.html

We may have a very important initiative to add to the plaza in Oregon. The state GOP has launched a petition for a recall of Governor Kate Brown. Its quite disturbing that when they can't win at the ballot box they resort to recall election to undo an election they lost freely and fairly.