Blawg Republic - ELECTION LAW NEWS http://www.blawgrepublic.com/cat/Election-Law/ ELECTION LAW NEWS Condesa Inc. Blawg Republic http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006647.html Private Sector Job Creation Move your mouse pointer across the graphic to get additional information.... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006646.html Shelby County challenge to Section 5 might be closer to Supreme Court The Birmingham News reports: The chances that Shelby County's challenge to the Voting Rights Act will make it to the U.S. Supreme Court have improved since the Justice Department announced it is rethinking its position in a similar North Carolina... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006645.html Elected officials can raise campaign money to pay off debts The Birmingham News reports: Newly elected public officials can hit up donors for thousands of dollars in campaign funds during their first weeks in office, under a decade-old interpretation of Alabama campaign finance law. State law allows candidates to raise... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006644.html Siegelman files petition in US Supreme Court (with court docs) The Birmingham News reports: Former Gov. Don Siegelman today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his 2006 conviction in a government corruption case arguing that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of bribery. The petition was filed with... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006643.html Two GOP Congressional candidates promise to impeach Obama The Mobile Press Register reports: Riehm and Young were asked if they would commit to introducing articles of impeachment against President Barack Obama. Both gave a resounding 'yes,' drawing vigorous approval from the crowd. ... Young qualified his answer, saying... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006642.html Former judge barred for life from the bench The Montgomery Advertiser reports: Former Montgomery County family court Judge Patricia Warner and the Judicial Inquiry Commission filed an agreement Friday that forbids Warner from ever serving as a judge in Alabama again. Warner has lived in North Dakota since... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006641.html Etowah County redistricting plan precleared The Gadsden Times reports: Etowah County officials were notified by the Department of Justice that the redistricting plan submitted by the commission has been precleared. Commissioners in September approved the resolution to alter the county's district lines and sent the... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006639.html Interesting defense to an ethics complaint The Selma Times-Journal reports: A letter of complaint filed by the State of Alabama Ethics Commission against Valley Grande councilwoman Donna Downs inquiring about a monetary donation to Dallas County High School has been found to have no merit. During... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006640.html Georgia: "New ethics bills could make lawmakers' extramarital affairs with lobbyists even more difficult" Fresh Loaf (Atlanta) reports with the tantalizing headline above: A diverse coalition of ethics advocates are doing cartwheels over new legislation expected to be soon introduced by state Rep. Tommy Smith, R-Alma, that would clamp down on lobbyist gifts, tighten... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006638.html Legislative redistricting may be late in the session The Montgomery Advertiser reports: The state Legislature may not take up reapportionment until close to the end of the 2012 regular session, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said Friday. The Legislature will have to address redistricting in the next... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006637.html Jefferson County judicial candidate disqualified on residency grounds The Birmingham News reports: Virginia Meigs will not be certified as a Republican candidate for Jefferson County District Judge Place 3, the Alabama Republican Party said today. The state party's candidate committee upheld a challenge to Meigs' residency, the Alabama... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006635.html Jefferson County will not provide services for city elections The Birmingham News reports: County Manager Tony Petelos said today Jefferson County will not be able to assist this year with municipal elections because not enough county workers remain to do the work. Because of funding cuts financially stricken county,... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006636.html "Two state candidates for Congress can’t vote for themselves" The Tuscaloosa News reports: Stan Pate of Tuscaloosa is one of two Republican candidates for Congress who will not be able to vote for themselves in Alabama's March 13 primary because they do not live in the districts they want... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006633.html GOP boots another incumbent party-switcher The Huntsville Times reports: The Alabama Republican Party steering committee voted Tuesday to to remove Marshall County Circuit Judge Howard Hawk from the GOP primary ballot. Hawk, who is seeking re-election, switched to the Republican Party in December 2010. While... http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006634.html Birthers lose second case before Judge Lee The Birmingham News reports: The Jefferson County judge who dismissed a Luverne man's lawsuit to block President Obama from Alabama ballots today also ordered him to pay the state Democratic Party's court costs and lawyer fees within 45 days. Lawyers...