Campaign Finance

National: “Biden Faces a Cash Gap with Trump. He Has to Close It Virtually.” by Shane Goldmacher (NewYork Times) for Salt Lake Tribune

California: “Watchdog to Review Rules Letting California Politicians Raise Money for Charity” by Laurel Rosenhall for Calmatters

Elections

National: “Campaigning in the Age of Pandemic: Biden and Sanders as amateur video hosts” by Annie Linskey and Matt Viser (Associated Press) for MSN

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Goes It Alone, Holding Elections Next Week Amid Fears of Infection and Voting Chaos” by Amy Gardner for Washington Post

Ethics

California: “‘They’re All Tainted by It.’ Federal Corruption Cases Deal New Blow to Trust in City Hall” by David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes (Los Angeles Times) for Yahoo News

Michigan: “Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith Resigns Amid Criminal Charges Against Him” by Christina Hall for Detroit Free Press

Lobbying

Canada: “New B.C. Lobbying Laws Come into Force in May” by Haley Woodin for Business in Vancouver

Illinois: “Pandemic Derails Illinois’ Lobbying Reform Commission Ahead of Key Deadline” by Greg Bishop for The Center Square

New York: “Cuomo Pulls Back on Proposed Donor Disclosures for Nonprofits” by Kay Dervishi for City and State

In response to several states postponing congressional and presidential primary elections to limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has been updating some of the campaign finance report due dates related to those elections.

The law requires many reports, such as pre-election reports, electioneering communications reports, and reports accounting for independent expenditures, base their due date and their covered periods upon the actual date of the election.

The FEC will adjust the deadlines for the relevant reports related to postponed elections.

Specifically, the FEC has directed that if a state postpones its election after the deadline for the applicable pre-election report, participating committees must file an additional pre-election report due 12 days before the new election date.

Otherwise, committees need only file the pre-election report for the new election date.

A political campaign affected by a postponement may continue to accept contributions until the date of the rescheduled election.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Arizona Campaign Finance Initiative Campaign Suspends Signature Gathering” by Ryan Byrne for Ballotpedia.com

Elections

National: “Frustrated Gamblers Turn to Politics as the Only Game in Town” by Tony Rehgan for Politico

National: “Trump Won the Internet. Democrats Are Scrambling to Take It Back.” by Jim Rutenberg and Matthew Rosenberg (New York Times) for MSN

Michigan: “Whitmer to Clerks: Send all new registrants an absentee ballot for May 5” by Beth LeBlanc for Detrit News

Lobbying

National: “Trump Administration Rules Gun Shops ‘Essential’ Amid Virus” by Lisa Marie Payne for AP News

Florida: “Council Committee Plans to Subpoena Bidders, Investment Banks in JEA Probe” by Mike Mendenhall for Jacksonville Daily Record

Campaign Finance

Washington: “U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Hear Challenge to Seattle’s ‘Democracy Vouchers’” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Elections

New York: “New York Delays Presidential Primary, Special Election to June” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Moves Primaries to June 2 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Ethics

National: “A History of the Trump War on Media – the Obsession Not Even Coronavirus Could Stop” by Manuel Roig-Franzia and Sarah Ellison for Washington Post

National: “Justice Department Reviews Stock Trades by Lawmakers After Coronavirus Briefings” by David Shortell, Evan Perez, Jeremy Herb, and Kara Scannell for CNN

Lobbying

National: “Forget Washington – Corporate America Is Focused on Governors Right Now” by Sam Sutton for Politico

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-27 on March 29 suspending rules under Michigan election law for elections on May 5.

Additionally, the Governor instructed local clerks, county clerks, and election administrators to immediately begin preparations to conduct the election primarily by mail.

The Department of State may assist with the mailing of absent voter ballot applications and preparation of postage-prepaid absent voter ballot return envelopes for the return of voted ballots.

Gov. Whitmer is encouraging all voters to vote by absentee ballot.

However, each jurisdiction must maintain at least one location on election day where any voter can appear in-person to receive and submit a ballot.

The Election Commission has suspended the normal requirements for absentee balloting in the June 2 presidential and state primary elections.

Gov. Eric Holcomb postponed the presidential and state primary elections to June 2 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Indiana Election Commission Order 2020-37 authorizes the temporary suspension of the state’s statutory absentee voting eligibility requirements.

This will allow all voters to cast their ballots by mail.

Due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, state lawmakers will consider a bill to postpone upcoming municipal elections at least until June.

Additionally, lawmakers will consider allowing Gov. Kristi Noem to delay the presidential primary from June 2 to July 28.

The elections bill is one of at least nine last-minute bills related to COVID-19 to be considered on the last working day of the 2020 legislative session.

Lawmakers are expected to discuss and vote on bills remotely without gathering in Pierre.

On March 28, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.12 to move elections scheduled for April 28 to June 23 due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The postponement affects the presidential primary and special elections including:

• The 37th Congressional District
• The 50th Senate District
• The 12th, 31st, and 136th Assembly Districts

The executive order also reschedules a special election for Brooklyn City Council 37th District to June 23.

Campaign Finance

National: “Watchdog Calls for Investigation into Mississippi Congressman’s Campaign Spending” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom for Center for Responsive Politics

Elections

National: “Bernie Sanders Says He’s Staying in the Presidential Race. Many Democrats Fear a Reprise of Their 2016 Defeat.” by Sean Sullivan, Michael Scherer, and David Weigel for Washington Post

Ethics

California: “Former L.A. Councilman Mitchell Englander to Plead Guilty in Corruption Case” by David Zahniser, Dakota Smith, and Joel Rubin for Los Angeles Times

Massachusetts: “Sen. Dean Tran Stripped of Leadership Position After Committee Report Says He Used Public Staff for Campaign Work” by Steph Solis for MassLive.com

Lobbying

National: “The Race for Virus Money Is On. Lobbyists Are Standing By.” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Campaigns Hit Up Lobbyists for Cash with In-Person Events Ending” by Megan Wilson for Bloomberg Government

Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske announced plans to conduct an all-mail election for the June 9, 2020 primary election.

All active registered voters in Nevada will be mailed an absentee ballot for the primary election.

Voters will be able to mark their ballot at home and then return it by mail using a postage-prepaid envelope.

Voters can also drop off a ballot in person at a designated county location.

This announcement applies only to the June 9, 2020 primary election.

In order to accommodate same-day voter registration, as well as assist voters who have issues with the ballot mailed to them, at least one in-person polling location will be available in each county.

Gov. Steve Bullock issued a directive on Wednesday authorizing counties to conduct upcoming elections entirely by mail.

The directive allows counties to decide whether to adopt a mail ballot for the June primary election.

Montanans are still permitted to vote in person during the 30-day voting window, even if they have received a mail ballot.

If counties choose to participate in mail voting for the June primary, they must submit plans to do so.

Mail ballots would be released on May 8 and early voting would be available in person through the close of the primary election on June 2.

Voters will not be required to pay postage to return their ballots by mail.

The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) advises required companies to file Business Entity Disclosures (FORM BE) as soon as possible if they are currently operational or otherwise able to file by the deadline, March 30.

ELEC will provide a grace period for any business entities during their period of closure if a business is affected by the current public health emergency.

To receive the grace period business entities may send a request by email to efiling@elec.nj.gov is required.

The request must indicate the business entity and the duration of the closure if known.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the coronavirus response bill on March 27 eliminating in-person voting for almost everyone who has not previously voted in the presidential and state primary elections.

All voting will now be replaced with extended mail-in voting.

House Bill 197 voids Directive 2020-06, issued by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, moving the Ohio presidential and state primary election to June 2.

The bill requires the Office of Secretary of State to send a postcard to every registered voter, notifying them of the procedures to obtain an application for an absentee ballot and the procedures and deadline to return it.

Registered voters who have not already cast a ballot in the March 17 primary election, or in any special election held on the day of the primary election, may vote using an absentee ballot.

In person voting is only available for certain disabled voters and voters who are unable to receive mail.

All applications must be received by April 28 or postmarked on or before April 27 and received by mail not later than May 8.

For the purpose of the campaign contribution limits, the date of the 2020 primary election is March 17.

However, the statements of contributions and expenditures required to be filed after the primary election must be filed not later than 4:00 p.m. on June 5.

The bill is effective immediately.

On March 25, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 422 to move the state general and presidential primary election from April 28 to June 2.

Lawmakers passed the postponement due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.

Additionally, Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated his support for rescheduling the election and is expected to sign the bill into law.