Author: Jerrick Adams

  • In North Carolina, South Carolina, overlapping court orders modify absentee/mail-in procedures

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    With 27 days until Election Day, overlapping court orders in North Carolina and South Carolina have modified absentee/mail-in voting procedures. North Carolina On Sept. 22, the North Carolina State Board of Elections announced a series of proposed modifications to the state’s absentee/mail-in voting procedures: Absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadline extended to 5 p.m. on Nov. 12…

  • Seventh Circuit considers whether public-sector unions can refuse to represent non-members

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    Seventh Circuit considers whether public-sector unions can refuse to represent non-members          On Sept. 29, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard arguments in Sweeney v. Raoul, a challenge to an Illinois state law requiring public-sector unions to represent all employees within a bargaining unit, both members and non-members.…

  • Ohio lawmakers consider five donor disclosure bills in wake of Householder arrest

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    Ohio lawmakers consider five donor disclosure bills in wake of Householder arrest Between July 27 and Sept. 21, Ohio state lawmakers introduced at least five separate bills dealing with disclosure requirements for donors to select nonprofit entities. All of the bills propose expanding donor disclosure requirements for select groups making political expenditures, although the specific…

  • Ninth Circuit rejects challenge to dues deduction practices for public-sector union members in Washington

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    Welcome to Union Station, our weekly newsletter that keeps you abreast of the legislation, national trends, and public debate surrounding public-sector union policy. Ninth Circuit rejects challenge to dues deduction practices for public-sector union members in Washington On Sept. 16, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected a challenge…

  • Absentee/mail-in voting witness requirements in the 2020 general election

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    Heading into the Nov. 3 general election, six states are expected to require absentee/mail-in voters to obtain the signature of a witness or notary in order to have their ballots counted. They are: Alabama: Two witnesses or one notary Alaska: One witness Mississippi: Notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths Missouri: Notary or other…

  • Pennsylvania modifies several mail-in voting procedures

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    In the last two weeks, a court order and a settlement have resulted in modifications to several mail-in voting procedures in Pennsylvania. State directs counties not to reject ballots due to signature mismatch On Sept. 14, the League of Women Voters and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh dropped a lawsuit against the state after…

  • SEIU settles class-action lawsuit over dues deductions for home healthcare workers

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    SEIU settles class-action lawsuit over dues deductions for home healthcare workers                    Earlier this month, the Service Employees  International Union, Healthcare Illinois and Indiana agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over dues deduction practices as applied to home healthcare workers. Who were the parties to the suit?   The plaintiff was Hydie…

  • Federal judge finds Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 orders unconstitutional

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    On September 14, 2020, Judge William Stickman IV, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, struck down some of Penn. Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) COVID-19 orders as violations of rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Various Pennsylvania counties, businesses, and elected officials brought the lawsuit County of Butler v. Wolf, which…

  • What states allow absentee/mail-in ballots to be counted before polls close?

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    Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

    The rules and procedures governing absentee or mail-in ballots vary widely from state to state. One key difference is when states are allowed to begin counting absentee or mail-in ballots. Thirty-four states do not allow absentee/mail-in ballot counting to begin either until Election Day or after polls close. Sixteen states allow officials to begin counting…

  • Class-action lawsuits over repaying public-sector union fees rejected

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    Third Circuit rejects class-action lawsuits over repaying public-sector union fees                    On Aug. 28, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed two lower court rulings that public-sector unions cannot be held liable for repaying fees collected from non-members before Janus v. AFSCME. Who…