Author: Jerrick Adams

  • Oklahoma legislature convenes special session to approve health emergency declaration

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    Governor Kevin Stitt (R) called the Oklahoma State Legislature into a special session, set to convene at 8:00 a.m. April 6, 2020, to approve his declaration of a statewide health emergency. To date, 24 legislatures have suspended their sessions (two of these – New York and Vermont – have since reconvened). One state – Minnesota…

  • Judge denies Alaska State Employees Association request for court order for COVID-19 guideline compliance

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    On March 31, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews denied a request from the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA), an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, seeking an injunction regarding the state’s COVID-19 guidelines for government workers. The ASEA informed members on March 23 it would seek a court order…

  • Alabama, Missouri issue stay-at-home orders

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    On April 3, Alabama and Missouri issued orders closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. Alabama’s order is in effect from April 4 through April 30. Missouri’s order is in effect from April 6 through April 24. To date, 42 states have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders…

  • West Virginia postpones statewide primary to June 9, 2020

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    On April 1, 2020, Governor Jim Justice (R) issued an executive order postponing West Virginia’s statewide primary, including its presidential preference primary, to June 9, 2020. The primary was originally scheduled to take place on May 12, 2020. According to the press release announcing the postponement, “Secretary of State [Mac] Warner said his office continues…

  • Idaho to conduct May 19, 2020, primary election by mail

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    On March 30, 2020, Governor Brad Little (R) and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney (R) announced that Idaho’s May 19, 2020, primary election would be conducted entirely by mail. According to the press release announcing the change, “The Governor and Secretary of State will work with the Attorney General and the clerks of Idaho’s 44…

  • Policy under review: donor disclosure requirements on independent expenditure and electioneering communication disclaimers

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    Last month, we explored donor disclosure requirements for non-PAC entities making independent expenditures. This week, we examine donor disclosure requirements on independent expenditure and electioneering communication disclaimers. An independent expenditure is an advertisement that explicitly advocates for the election or defeat of a clearly identified political candidate. An independent expenditure originates outside of a candidate’s…

  • Iowa to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in the June 2, 2020, primary election

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    On March 31, 2020, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) announced that his office would send absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in the state in advance of the June 2, 2020, primary election. Forms were set to be mailed to voters in mid-to-late April. Seventeen states have implemented changes to their absentee…

  • New York postpones presidential primary, special elections to June 23, 2020

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    On March 28, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) issued Executive Order No. 202.12, postponing the state’s presidential preference primary to June 23, 2020. New York’s primary election for congressional, state, and local offices had already been scheduled to take place on June 23, 2020. The presidential preference primary was originally scheduled for April…

  • FLRA formally proposes rule change allowing federal workers to stop paying union dues after first year of membership

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    On March 19, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would allow federal workers to stop paying union dues at any time after a statutory one-year period of dues payment. Up to this point, federal workers have only been permitted to rescind their union-dues assignments at one-year…

  • Delaware becomes latest state to postpone elections in response to coronavirus outbreak

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    On March 24, Delaware postponed its presidential preference primary election to June 2. It was originally scheduled to take place on April 28. Delaware is the latest state to postpone elections in response to the coronavirus outbreak. To date, the following 10 states and one territory have postponed statewide primary elections: Alaska: In-person voting in…