#remote voting

Electors can now vote without going to polling stations; mock trials for remote voting to begin soon

Image Source : PTI Mock trials for remote voting to begin soon  Mock trials for a remote voting facility for electors would begin soon, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has said. In his message to mark the 11th National Voters’ Day, he said a research project on remote voting using cutting-edge technology has already begun. “There has been a good progress in this regard and mock trials…

Jones: “Remote Voting” and “Proxy Voting” Declared Unconstitutional by Legislative Counsel

Legislative Counsel has ruled that legislators can’t “call it in” – they must be physically present at committee hearings or Floor sessions to cast votes

  El Cajon, CA – State Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) today publicly released an official opinion by the Office of Legislative Counsel that declares it unconstitutional to allow legislators to cast votes by “proxy” or by “remotely calling in”…

Clare Foran, Haley Byrd, and Manu Raju at CNN:

House Democrats on Friday approved a rules change to allow lawmakers to vote while away from Washington during the coronavirus pandemic, a move that will allow the chamber to operate remotely for the first time in its more than 200-year history.

Democrats approved the rules change, which stands to significantly alter the way the House conducts legislative business, over Republican opposition with a vote of 217-189.

Republicans protested the rules change as a partisan power grab that will upend institutional tradition, while Democrats argued the change was needed to ensure that lawmakers can continue to legislate safely and effectively amid the pandemic.

Lawmakers will next vote on a Covid-19 aid package with a price tag of more than $3 trillion, which House Democratic leaders have expressed confidence will pass despite Republican opposition as well as pushback from some moderate and progressive Democrats.

The rules change will authorize temporary implementation of remote voting by proxy in the event of a public health emergency due to the coronavirus. It also allows for remote committee proceedings during the pandemic.

Under the rules change, lawmakers who cannot or do not want to travel during the pandemic will be allowed to designate proxies by sending letters to the House clerk. Proxies will be required to "receive exact written instruction" from the members who are using them as proxies, according to the House Rules Committee.

Any given member can serve as a proxy only for up to 10 other lawmakers.

Once enacted, the authorization for remote voting and remote committee work will remain in place for a 45-day period, after which it could be extended if the public health emergency persists.

The resolution also greenlights higher-tech options for remote voting in the future after a system is developed and certified, directing the chair of the House Administration Committee to study the feasibility of using technology to vote remotely in the House.