Board of Elections meeting, April 28, 2009

PhillyBurbs.com, April 29, 2009: "Board discusses ways to improve elections: Judges of election want to count absentee ballots before the polls close, force party loyalists to keep their distance from voters and allow early voting. . . ."

Supreme Court and Voting Rights Act

"A Turning Point for Voting Rights Law: Room for Debate Blog," NYTimes.com, April 29, 2009. "The Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on the constitutionality of a central provision of the Voting Rights Act, considered one of the most effective civil rights laws passed by Congress. The provision, known as Section 5, requires states and local governments with a history of discrimination to obtain advance federal permission, or 'preclearance,' before changing their election laws."

"Pennsylvania doesn't need new voter ID law"

By Kathryn Boockvar, Morning Call, April 7, 2009. "The state Senate State Government Committee recently tabled a bill that would require photo IDs for all voters after scores of voters across the state expressed concerns about the burdens imposed by the bill. Some senators have expressed interest in revising the bill and giving it further consideration, but the Senate should listen to the voters and throw out the bill altogether." [continued>>]

Update from Brad Blog re 2009 Holt bill

The BRAD BLOG: "Holt's Election Reform Bill Edges Away from Disastrousness Prior to Introduction: 'Final' draft for introduction, committee process sees important improvement following criticism from BRAD BLOG last month; but substantive concerns still remain; a review of the good, the bad and the still ugly..."