RandySF
RandySF's JournalArkansas abortion measure's signatures from volunteers alone would fall short, filing shows
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The signatures collected by volunteers for an Arkansas abortion-rights measure would fall short of the number needed to qualify for the ballot if those are the only ones counted, according to an initial tally from election officials filed Thursday with the state Supreme Court.
The filing from the secretary of state’s office comes after the court ordered officials to begin counting signatures submitted, but only those collected by volunteers. Arkansans for Limited Government, which used volunteer and paid canvassers, has sued the state for rejecting its petitions.
The Arkansas secretary of state’s office said it determined that 87,675 of the signatures were collected by volunteers, which alone would fall short of the 90,704 signature threshold from registered voters required to qualify. The filing said it could not determine whether another 912 signatures were collected by paid canvassers or volunteers.
Organizers submitted more than 101,000 signatures on the July 5 deadline in favor of the proposal to scale back Arkansas’ abortion ban. But state officials rejected the petitions days later, claiming the group did not properly submit documents regarding paid canvassers it used.
Justices are considering whether to allow the abortion-rights campaign’s lawsuit challenging the rejection to go forward. It’s not clear the next step for justices, who have not ruled on the state’s request to dismiss the abortion campaign’s lawsuit.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2024/07/25/abortion-ballot-measure-count/1ea39112-4ad7-11ef-9149-c75da5dd9201_story.html
CNN survey finds 48 states say Harris can get on ballot instead of Biden, rejecting claim switch breaks state laws
The election authorities of at least 48 states, both Republicans and Democrats, say there are no obstacles that would prevent Vice President Kamala Harris from getting on election ballots if she becomes the official Democratic presidential nominee, as expected.
The findings of a CNN survey of all 50 states undercut the claims of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said both before and after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday that there are legal “impediments” in some states to a party switching presidential candidates as the Democrats did. There was not a single state election authority that told CNN Harris would face a ballot issue as the official nominee; election authorities in two states, Florida and Montana, did not respond to requests for comment, but a review of the states’ ballot access rules suggests Harris is not likely to face an issue there either.
Johnson, a lawyer, said on ABC News Sunday that “it would be wrong and I think unlawful in accordance to some of these state rules for a handful of people to go in the backroom and switch it out because they’re – they don’t like the candidate any longer.” He said on CNN Monday that “in some of the states, there are impediments to just switching someone out like that.”
But experts on election law say that is not true, since the Democrats never named Biden as the official 2024 nominee or submitted his name to the states as their 2024 nominee. And election authorities around the country have now confirmed – telling CNN or saying in public statements that Harris will not face any obstacles getting on their ballots if she is formally chosen as the Democratic nominee next month.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/exclusive-cnn-survey-finds-48-states-say-harris-can-get-on-ballot-instead-of-biden-rejecting-claim-switch-breaks-state-laws/ar-BB1qFq39?ocid=BingNewsVerp
Water and wastewater upgrades could be on Petersburg's ballot this fall
Voters in Petersburg will likely get to decide whether to fund upgrades to the town’s wastewater and water infrastructure. Last week, the Petersburg Borough Assembly voted in favor of a proposition to borrow more than $19 million dollars for the projects. It needs to pass a third vote to be on the ballot this fall.
The borough plans to change its wastewater system because of new state and federal regulations. Utility Director Karl Hagerman said currently, the department treats wastewater by screening out larger solids, and letting sludge settle. Then they pump the treated wastewater into the ocean near town. But that’s different from disinfection.
“We discharge into Frederick Sound, without disinfection and the permit parameters that we have in place, we’ve met those without any issues,” he said. “So myself and other members of the department feel that this is really not needed. But the state of Alaska does have authority over water quality standards, and they’re saying it is needed.”
Going forward, the department will have to disinfect wastewater to reduce fecal coliform – the bacteria that comes from sewage – before it’s piped into Frederick Sound. Right now the department relies on what’s called a mixing zone – an area around the wastewater outflow where it’s diluted by ocean water. Hagerman said there’s no evidence of high levels of the bacteria in Frederick Sound outside that mixing zone. He said the disinfection equipment required to meet the requirements will cost roughly $10 million dollars.
https://www.kfsk.org/2024/07/26/water-and-wastewater-upgrades-could-be-on-petersburgs-ballot-this-fall/
Voters to see bond issue on Nov. 5 ballot asking for support of new L-P District buildings
The Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District Board of Education approved a resolution to place a facilities bond issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The $53.5 million issue, if passed, will support the construction of a Pre-K-12 building.
The decision follows a thorough and inclusive process that engaged the community through surveys and focus groups, identifying the need to address the aging school buildings, according to a news release from the district.
Upon completion, the project will deliver a 123,289-square-foot facility at an estimated total cost of just over $71. 2 million. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) will contribute about $15.7 million, with the district contributing just over $2 million. The community portion will amount to $53.5 million.
https://www.times-gazette.com/story/news/education/2024/07/26/loudonville-perrysville-board-putting-bond-issue-on-november-ballot/74547289007/
Arlington leaders set big bond package for fall ballot
In their last significant action before heading off on a nearly two-month hiatus, Arlington County Board members on July 23 sought Circuit Court approval to place five local bonds totaling just over $272 million on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Both court authorization and voter approval of the package are largely assured, the former being essentially pro-forma and the public not having turned down a single Arlington bond issue in 45 years.
On the ballot will be:
• $72.4 million for transportation, including Metro.
• $25.8 million for parks and recreation.
• $76.2 million for community infrastructure.
• $14.2 million for utilities.
• $84 million for schools.
https://www.gazetteleader.com/arlington/news/arlington-leaders-set-big-bond-package-for-fall-ballot-9271941
Asheville voters will see an $80M GO bond referendum on the November ballot
ASHEVILLE - Voters will see a new referendum on the November ballot for an $80 million general obligation bond package to fund housing, transportation, public safety and parks and recreation projects citywide.
Asheville City Council held the required public hearings and voted July 23 to adopt the bond categories and referenda — the final step needed to place the bond on the ballot.
Finance Director Tony McDowell reminded council of the considerable capital needs faced by the city, for which about $16 million is allocated annually from the general fund.
“Unfortunately, that amount of money does not allow us to meet all of our needs, and as a result, most of the projects that you all approved during the recent budget process for our (Capital Improvement Program) are primarily maintenance projects,” he said.
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/07/25/asheville-council-finalizes-80m-go-bond-package-for-nov-5-ballot/74526003007/
Secretary of State Finds Minn. Election Misinformation Source
(TNS) — The office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has traced the recent spread of misinformation about the state’s presidential ballot to a snarky AI chatbot named Grok, which is available to premium users of the social media platform X.
After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race Sunday, screenshots circulated on social media showing Grok responding to a question about whether states' presidential ballot deadlines had passed. The chatbot cited nine states, including Minnesota, where it claimed ballots are “locked and loaded” for the Nov. 5 presidential election.
“So, if you’re planning to run for president in any of these states, you might want to check if you’ve already missed the boat,” the chatbot responds. “But hey, there’s always 2028, right?”
Except that’s not true.
Minnesota’s deadline isn’t until Aug. 26, and no other state’s deadline has passed for candidates to get on the ballot for president and vice president. Still, the faulty information has been shared across several social media platforms and is getting millions of views, Simon said.
https://www.govtech.com/security/secretary-of-state-finds-minn-election-misinformation-source
Vero Beach voters to make decisions on downtown's future; 2 referendums on Nov. 5 ballot
VERO BEACH — The ease of improving downtown hinges on two referendums, both of which will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.
One would more than double the density of housing downtown, from 17 units per acre to 36 units per acre; another, more technical issue, would allow transfer of development rights.
Transfer of development rights allows one property owner the ability to buy already-approved but unbuilt units from another property owner and develop at a higher density.
"As we try to make the city more attractive to young people, you have to give them incentive to be here," said Mayor John Cotugno. "The referendums lay the foundation for creating those incentives."
https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2024/07/26/vero-beach-downtown-density-in-hands-of-voters-on-november-ballot-election-day-indian-river-county/74475535007/
Saginaw bus service tax renewal on August ballots
SAGINAW, MI — A Saginaw-based transit authority hopes to keep momentum moving forward with a request for a tax renewal on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot.
Saginaw residents in the city will weigh a 3.2-mill levy that’d span 2026-2030 and support Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services operations, county election records show.
Voters green-lit the previous STARS millage, which expires next year, in March 2020. The proposal earned hearty support, with 5,153 voters favoring it compared to 2,080 people opposed to it.
STARS officials estimate the renewal will net $1.8 million in the first year.
https://www.mlive.com/politics/2024/07/saginaw-bus-service-tax-renewal-on-august-ballots.html
Fresno County being sued over recent ballot measure to move elections for DA and Sheriff
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County is being sued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber over Measure A.
The ballot measure, which was approved by nearly 55 percent voters during the March 5th election, meant elections for District Attorney and Sheriff will take place during the gubernatorial election cycle instead of moving them to the presidential election cycle
A 2022 California law required charter counties, that did not specify when said elections would be held prior to January 2021, to move them to the presidential cycle. Presidential elections typically have the highest voter turnout.
The lawsuit was announced in a news release from Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz.
https://abc30.com/post/fresno-county-being-sued-recent-ballot-measure-move/15100710/
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
Home country: USA
Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 02:53 PM
Number of posts: 63,224