September 26, 2016 •
Voting is a Right and a Responsibility
Voting is one of the most basic civil actions Americans can take. Our ability to vote in an election is a right we should not take for granted, but too often many do. It is a privilege that comes with […]
Voting is one of the most basic civil actions Americans can take. Our ability to vote in an election is a right we should not take for granted, but too often many do. It is a privilege that comes with responsibility. With our votes, we shape the future of our country.
September 27, 2016, is National Voter Registration Day. On this day, volunteers and organizations will be out in force in order to reach out to thousands of voters and citizens about the importance of voting and helping people register to vote. So check out the National Voter Registration Day website and see how you can help other citizens register.
But the effort to Get Out the Vote doesn’t end with National Voter Registration Day. Here are some more ways you can help:
- Make sure your registration record is up-to-date. If you moved recently, have you updated your record?
- Know where your polling location is. Has it been moved due to building closings or expected crowds?
- Help someone get to the polls on Election Day. Many people want to vote, but have trouble getting to the polling locations. Do you know someone who could use a lift?
- If your jurisdiction has early in-person voting, help someone get there to vote early.
- Help someone request an absentee ballot when it is not possible for them to make it to polls. And help them make sure it is mailed in time to count.
- Work the polls. Help other voters exercise their rights.
- Spread the word about voting importance on social media. The more people talk about it, the more people will know about it.
For more information on registering and voting, check out the National Voter Registration Day website.
And always remember to find out the answers to these questions:
- By when do you have to register?
- By when do you have to request an absentee ballot?
- Is there early in-person voting, and if so, where?
- When do the polls open and close?
- What candidates and issues are on the ballot?
The answers can be found on the website of your secretary of state’s office and local elections office.
#KeepUSstrong! #VoterRegistrationDay
September 22, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying New York:”Uber Gets Creative in Lobbying for Expansion into Upstate NY” by Patrick Lohmann for NewYorkUpstate.com Campaign Finance “Sheldon Adelson Focuses on Congressional Races, Despite Donald Trump’s Pleas” by Nicholas Confessore and Maggie Haberman for New York Times “GOP […]
Lobbying
New York:”Uber Gets Creative in Lobbying for Expansion into Upstate NY” by Patrick Lohmann for NewYorkUpstate.com
Campaign Finance
“Sheldon Adelson Focuses on Congressional Races, Despite Donald Trump’s Pleas” by Nicholas Confessore and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
“GOP Beat Fundraising Goal for Convention, New Filings Show” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
“Why Campaign Finance Laws Probably Won’t Stop Hannity and Lewandowski from Helping Trump” by Callum Borchers for Washington Post
California: “State Agency Under Fire for Pressuring Open-Government Groups It Regulates to Change Position on Legislation” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Florida: “Campaign-Finance Rules Won’t Be on Miami-Dade Ballot” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald
Iowa: “Ron Paul Aides Avoid Jail Time in Endorsement Scheme” by Grant Rodgers for Des Moines Register
Missouri: “Campaign Contribution Limits Clear First Hurdle in the City” by Rachel Lippmann for KWMU
Ethics
California: “Changes Coming to San Diego Ethics Commission” by David Garrick for San Diego Union-Tribune
Texas: “Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Admits to Getting ‘Jesus Shot’ but Avoids Criminal Charges” by Lauren McGaughy for Dallas Morning News
Elections
“Donald Trump Jr.’s Skittles Post on Twitter Fits a Pattern” by Jason Horowitz for New York Times
September 16, 2016 •
Missouri Legislature Holds Annual Veto Session
The Missouri General Assembly held its annual veto session on Wednesday, September 14. Lawmakers were successful in overriding some of Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes, including the vetoes of two highly controversial bills. One bill abolishes a state law requiring permits, […]
The Missouri General Assembly held its annual veto session on Wednesday, September 14. Lawmakers were successful in overriding some of Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes, including the vetoes of two highly controversial bills.
One bill abolishes a state law requiring permits, training, and background checks for those seeking to carry concealed weapons. The other requires voters to show a photo identification before casting a ballot. The voter ID law will take effect in 2017 only if voters pass a state constitutional amendment in support of it.
Photo of the Missouri State Capitol by Nickbigd on Wikimedia Commons.
September 1, 2016 •
Countdown to Election Day 2016
Today marks 69 days until Election Day 2016. The end to this year’s election is almost here and we can talk about 2017 after November 8th. In the meantime, State and Federal Communications is starting its own grassroots movement to […]
Today marks 69 days until Election Day 2016. The end to this year’s election is almost here and we can talk about 2017 after November 8th.
In the meantime, State and Federal Communications is starting its own grassroots movement to Keep US Strong and we have thousands of pins to deliver to you. Just send an e-mail to ebartz@stateandfed.com and we will deliver a box of our VOTE pins to you…And, be on the lookout for our bi-annual VOTE card.
I cannot express how important it is for everyone to VOTE this year. I may be preaching to the choir, but we all know people who are thinking about not voting. Let’s get this movement started to make sure everyone knows how important it is to VOTE.
Does anyone have any question about how I feel about voting? How else can you help?
Glad you asked.
Take senior citizens or anyone with difficulties to your local Board of Elections to VOTE before November 8th. I have taken my parents directly to the Summit County Board of Elections and the staff has noticed and even thanked me for helping.
Work at your Board of Elections on November 8th. I keep wanting to do this and need to stop making excuses about not doing so. Those octogenarians who are currently staffing the voting places aren’t getting younger and we are decades away from on-line voting.
Get out the VOTE pin. We started these in 2012 and it definitely takes time for them to go viral…We have plenty to spare.
Until next month, clear your calendar so you can VOTE on November 8th or make plans to vote early—either at your local Board of Elections or by absentee ballot.
#KeepUSstrong.
President and CEO
@elizabethbartz
August 29, 2016 •
North Dakota Special Election Scheduled for Same Day as General Election
A special election for the North Dakota House of Representatives District 15 will take place on November 8, 2016. The District 15 seat is vacant following Rep. Curt Hofstad’s recent death due to a heart attack. Candidates for the special […]
A special election for the North Dakota House of Representatives District 15 will take place on November 8, 2016.
The District 15 seat is vacant following Rep. Curt Hofstad’s recent death due to a heart attack.
Candidates for the special election will be nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.
August 24, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying New York: “NY State Ethics Watchdog Investigating Nonprofit with Ties to Large Corporate Political Donor” by Larry Kaplan for Nonprofit Quarterly Campaign Finance “Sanders’ New Group Exempt from Campaign Finance Laws” by Jasper Craven for VTDigger.org Florida: “On 2nd […]
Lobbying
New York: “NY State Ethics Watchdog Investigating Nonprofit with Ties to Large Corporate Political Donor” by Larry Kaplan for Nonprofit Quarterly
Campaign Finance
“Sanders’ New Group Exempt from Campaign Finance Laws” by Jasper Craven for VTDigger.org
Florida: “On 2nd Try, Miami-Dade Commissioners Approve Petition Count” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald
Ethics
Connecticut: “Malloy Releases Funds Withheld from CT Watchdog Agencies” by Keith Phaneuf for CT Mirror
Indiana: “FBI Looking for Foul Play in Creation of Indiana Vaping Law” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star
Elections
“Hillary Clinton’s 15,000 New Emails to Get Timetable for Release” by Mark Lander and Steven Lee Myers for New York Times
“Racism and Talk of Religious War: Trump staff’s online posts” by Jeff Horwitz (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer
Virginia: “McAuliffe Restores Voting Rights to 13,000 Felons” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Inside the Conservative Push for States to Amend the Constitution” by Michael Wines for New York Times
August 23, 2016 •
Ohio Bill Could Eliminate Unnecessary Elections
Recently introduced legislation could eliminate unnecessary elections if only one person is on the ballot. The special primary set for September 13, for example, will cost taxpayers $500,000 despite there being only one person on the ballot to become the […]
Recently introduced legislation could eliminate unnecessary elections if only one person is on the ballot.
The special primary set for September 13, for example, will cost taxpayers $500,000 despite there being only one person on the ballot to become the Democratic nominee going into the November special general election.
Ohio Sen. Frank LaRose, who introduced Senate Bill 347, believes forcing county boards of elections to hold uncontested primary elections is a waste of both time and resources. His proposal would remove the requirement to hold a primary when only one candidate is certified and would allow the secretary of state to declare the lone candidate the party’s nominee.
August 17, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Florida: “After #StartCounting Didn’t Work, Miami-Dade Group Sues Elections Dept.” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald Campaign Finance Washington: “Judge Gives Attorney General Green Light to Follow Tim Eyman’s Money” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer Ethics Kentucky: “Correction: […]
Lobbying
Florida: “After #StartCounting Didn’t Work, Miami-Dade Group Sues Elections Dept.” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald
Campaign Finance
Washington: “Judge Gives Attorney General Green Light to Follow Tim Eyman’s Money” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Ethics
Kentucky: “Correction: Feuding Governors Story” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Lexington Herald-Leader
Missouri: “Faith Leaders Go on Trial for Protesting Missouri Senate for Medicaid Expansion” by Celeste Bott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Pennsylvania: “Jury: A.G. Kane Guilty of Perjury, Obstruction, All Other Charges” by Craig McCoy, Angela Couloumbis, and Laura McCrystal for Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia: “D.A. Williams Belatedly Reports $160,050 in Gifts” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer
Elections
“The Psychiatric Question: Is It Fair to Analyze Donald Trump from Afar?” by Benedict Carey for New York Times
“Transcribers’ Agony: Frustrated Not by What Trump Says but How He Says It” by Daniel Libit for CNBC
August 16, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “Obama Facing Pressure to Rip Up His Lobbyist Rules” by Sarah Wheaton for Politico Campaign Finance District of Columbia: “‘Shadow Campaign’ Donor and Mastermind Sentenced to Three Months Behind Bars” by Ann Marimow, Mike DeBonis, and Rachel Weiner for […]
Lobbying
“Obama Facing Pressure to Rip Up His Lobbyist Rules” by Sarah Wheaton for Politico
Campaign Finance
District of Columbia: “‘Shadow Campaign’ Donor and Mastermind Sentenced to Three Months Behind Bars” by Ann Marimow, Mike DeBonis, and Rachel Weiner for Washington Post
Montana: “Groups Change Ad Strategies before Campaign Finance Deadline” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for McClatchyDC
New Mexico: “Legal Loophole Allows Last-Minute Money in Bernco Race to Remain Hidden” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth
Texas: “Texas Ethics Commission Chases ‘Campaign in a Box’ Spending” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune
Ethics
“Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief” by Andrew Kramer, Mike McIntire, and Barry Meier for New York Times
Alabama: “Ethics Commission Schedules Special Meeting to Address Backlog” by Mike Cason for AL.com
Massachusetts: “City Employees Undergo Ethics Refresher Course” by Meghan Irons for Boston Globe
Elections
“Will Donald Trump Hand State Capitols to Democrats?” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic
“Inside the Failing Mission to Tame Trump’s Tongue” by Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
August 15, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Thought the U.S. Was Divided Already? Just Watch as Elections Go Digital.” by Stephen Ansolabehere for Washington Post California: “Lawmakers Weaken Bill to Ban Behind-the-Scenes Communications at Coastal Commission” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times Campaign Finance Alaska: […]
Lobbying
“Thought the U.S. Was Divided Already? Just Watch as Elections Go Digital.” by Stephen Ansolabehere for Washington Post
California: “Lawmakers Weaken Bill to Ban Behind-the-Scenes Communications at Coastal Commission” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “Anchorage Rep. LeDoux’s New Fundraising Effort Targets Lobbyists, Bar Owners” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News
New Jersey: “Voters to Decide on Belmar Pay-to-Play” by Paul Williams for Asbury Park Press
New Mexico: “New Mexico Election Officials Fix Campaign Spending Glitch” by Associated Press for KOB
Ethics
“Criticize Politicians on Twitter? They Might Block You” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer
New York: “For Cuomo, Passing Ethics Bill Was Urgent, Signing It Was Not” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette
Elections
“One Ally Remains Firmly Behind Donald Trump: The N.R.A.” by Nick Corasaniti and Alexander Burns for New York Times
“Hack of Democrats’ Accounts Was Wider Than Believed, Officials Say” by Eric Lichtblau and Eric Schmitt for New York Times
“Is Trump Wrecking Both Parties?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
Redistricting
North Carolina: “Federal Judges Find NC Legislative Districts Unconstitutional” by Lynn Bonner for Raleigh News & Observer
August 8, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Campaign Finance “Fueled by Small Donations, Donald Trump Makes Up Major Financial Ground” by Nicholas Confessore and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times New Jersey: “Extortion or Politics? A Detailed Look at Sweeney’s Claim vs. Unions’ Pension Threats” by Susan Livio (NJ […]
Campaign Finance
“Fueled by Small Donations, Donald Trump Makes Up Major Financial Ground” by Nicholas Confessore and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
New Jersey: “Extortion or Politics? A Detailed Look at Sweeney’s Claim vs. Unions’ Pension Threats” by Susan Livio (NJ Advance Media) for NJ.com
Ethics
California: “The Coliseum Case is the Latest Embarrassment for D.A.’s Corruption Unit” by Paul Pringle and Rong-Gong Lin II for Los Angeles Times
Connecticut: “Budget Director: Governor Can Cut Watchdog Agencies’ Funding” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) for Washington Times
District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Member Tries to Tamp Down Furor Over Conflict of Interest” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Hawaii: “Yamane Heads City Ethics Panel” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat
Virginia: “Former Va. First Lady Maureen McDonnell’s Corruption Case on Hold” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post
Virginia: “DC-Area Mayor Faces Drug Charges After Meth-for-Sex Sting” by Matthew Barakat (Associated Press) for ABC News
Elections
“Democrats, Looking Past Mere Victory, Hope to End the Trump Movement” by Amy Chozick for New York Times
“U.S. Seeks to Protect Voting System from Cyberattacks” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times
Kansas: “Kansas Republicans Reject Gov. Sam Brownback’s Conservatives in Primary” by Mitch Smith for New York Times
Tennessee: “A Lawmaker Was Jailed for Stealing Campaign Signs. His Bail Came from a Surprising Source” by Lindsey Bever for Washington Post
August 3, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Lobbyists Woo Potential Freshmen Long Before Election Day” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call California: “S.F. Ballot Measure Takes Aim at Lobbyists’ Fundraising” by Noah Arroyo for San Francisco Public Press California: “Billion-Dollar Beverly Hills Development Challenged Because of […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Woo Potential Freshmen Long Before Election Day” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
California: “S.F. Ballot Measure Takes Aim at Lobbyists’ Fundraising” by Noah Arroyo for San Francisco Public Press
California: “Billion-Dollar Beverly Hills Development Challenged Because of Ex-Mayor’s Lobbying” by Kim Christensen for Los Angeles Times
California: “Bill to Ban Private Communications by California’s Coastal Commissioners Gets Sidetracked” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
“Women Are Finally Breaking into the Top Tier of Political Donors” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
“Court: Super PAC Can Use Candidates’ Names” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
Minnesota: “New Boss at Minnesota Campaign Board Is Old Hand” by Brian Bakst for Minnesota Public Radio
Elections
“Left Turns to Ballot Measures to Enact Political Change” by Reid Wilson for The Hill
“The States Where Third-Party Candidates Perform Best” by Russell Berman and Andrew McGill for The Atlantic
North Dakota: “Federal Judge Bars North Dakota from Enforcing Restrictive Voter ID Law” by Michael Wines for New York Times
August 2, 2016 •
Michigan to Hold Special Primary Election
Gov. Rick Snyder has called for a special primary election to take place August 30. Candidates will be running to fill the vacancy created after the sudden death of state Rep. Julie Plawecki, who served the 11th House District. The […]
Gov. Rick Snyder has called for a special primary election to take place August 30.
Candidates will be running to fill the vacancy created after the sudden death of state Rep. Julie Plawecki, who served the 11th House District.
The general election for the completion of Plawecki’s term will be held November 8, with the winner serving through the end of 2016.
August 1, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Campaign Finance “After Lying Low, Deep-Pocketed Clinton Donors Return to the Fore” by Nicholas Confessore and Amy Chozick for New York Times California: “California Treasurer Cracks Down on Pay to Play” by Kyle Glazier for The Bond Buyer California: “Feds […]
Campaign Finance
“After Lying Low, Deep-Pocketed Clinton Donors Return to the Fore” by Nicholas Confessore and Amy Chozick for New York Times
California: “California Treasurer Cracks Down on Pay to Play” by Kyle Glazier for The Bond Buyer
California: “Feds Say Azano Wanted to ‘Buy a Mayor’” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune
Washington: “Attorney General Seeks Contempt Order against Tim Eyman” by Rachel La Corte (Associated Press) for Tacoma News Tribune
Ethics
Hawaii: “Here’s The Deal Honolulu Made with Its Departing Ethics Director” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat
Utah: “Judge Grants State’s Motion to Dismiss Corruption Charges against Mark Shurtleff” by Ben Lockhart and Dennis Romboy for Deseret News
Elections
“Clinton’s Convention Is Made for TV. Trump’s Was Made for Twitter.” by Jim Rutenberg for New York Times
“Wikileaks Posts Hacked DNC Voicemails” by Marshall Cohen and Tom LoBianco for CNN
“And Then There Was Trump” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
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