"County's absentee ballot restrictions lifted" This Merced County-Star article begins: "A federal judge has lifted restrictions on Merced County’s ability to print or issue ballots for the Oct. 7 statewide election.

On Friday, the U.S. District Court in Fresno barred the county from printing, issuing or receiving absentee ballots pending the outcome of a case alleging voter rights violations.

But, according to Merced County Auditor Steve Jones, the county was informed over the weekend that the judge’s order had been amended and the county was allowed to go ahead with the printing and issuing of ballots."

Appeal in suit challenging the use of touchscreen votes A panel of Ninth Circuit judges will hear the appeal in Weber v. Jones on October 8. According to a press release I just received, the case "challeng[es] the constitutionality of paperless 'touchscreen' voting machines which do not permit voter-verified ballots and a true external recount in the event of a contested election." The case was heard by Judge Wilson, who also decided the Common Cause v. Jones punch card suit and the recent ACLU punch card suit. Links to some case-related documents, including the lower court opinion, are available here.

"Judging Campaign Finance" The Washington Post offers this editorial on the McCain-Feingold appeal to be heard on Monday by the Supreme Court.

"Reform Only Diverts Campaign Cash" The Boston Herald offers this report.

-- 
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and William M. Rains Fellow
Loyola Law School
919 South Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015-1211
(213)736-1466
(213)380-3769 - fax
rick.hasen@lls.edu
http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/hasen.html
http://electionlaw.blogspot.com