Video & Transcript Research : 'civilian voting'

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 13th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Voters promptly repealed ranked-choice voting in 2009 with almost 71% of the vote.
  • voted it out.
  • Voting Rights Act.
  • , limited voting, and ranked-choice voting.
  • voting.
Summary: The committee began with member introductions and then heard House Bill 2123 on foreign national participation in elections. Staff explained that current law requires certifications from candidates, political committees, and political advertising sponsors that foreign nationals were not involved in financing or decision-making. The proposed substitute would raise the threshold for when those certifications are required, and an amendment would raise it further, effectively limiting the requirement mostly to ballot measure activity. Prime sponsor Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon said the existing paperwork burden makes campaigns harder without solving much, and that the bill would reduce unnecessary requirements while preserving protections where federal law does not already bar foreign money, especially in ballot measures. The committee then took up House Bill 2210 on ranked choice voting for local elections. Staff described the bill as allowing local governments to adopt ranked choice voting, changing the top-two primary structure to a top-five process for participating jurisdictions, and setting rules for ballot design, tabulation, and voter education. Rep. Lisa Gregerson framed the bill as a temporary tool to protect fair elections amid federal uncertainty and possible Voting Rights Act changes. Supporters, including Fair Vote Washington, Washington Bus, Sightline Institute, and several advocates, argued ranked choice voting could improve representation, expand voter choice, and help communities of color, young voters, military and overseas voters, and underrepresented groups. Opponents, including Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, several county auditors, and other witnesses, said the system is confusing, costly, and may increase ballot errors or lower turnout, especially for language-minority and disabled voters. The hearing on HB 2210 was paused partway through to move to other bills. House Bill 2411, on expanding the state shared leave program, would allow state employees to use donated leave if they are victims of hate crimes or if they or a family member are affected by immigration enforcement actions. Rep. Osman Salahuddin said the bill fills a gap exposed by a recent ICE detention case involving a state employee and would help workers remain employed during traumatic disruptions. OFM, the Office of Equity, and the Washington Federation of State Employees supported the bill, saying it is a low-cost way to help coworkers support one another. Some witnesses questioned whether the bill would apply to people without legal status, while others argued that state employment already requires legal documentation. Online and in-person opponents criticized the bill as unnecessary or as benefiting undocumented people. The committee also heard House Bill 2281, which would strengthen government-to-government consultation with tribes and add protections for tribal traditional cultural places. Staff said the bill would require timely notice, meaningful consultation, and a higher legal standard before state agencies could burden tribal cultural practices, with a possible superior court claim if the standard is violated. Vice Chair Rep. Chris Stearns said the bill is meant to protect Native identity and sacred sites from destruction and to use a strict-scrutiny-like standard when state actions burden tribal religious practices. Tribal and faith-based supporters backed the bill as a needed safeguard for sacred places and sovereignty, while industry groups warned it could create broad veto power, permitting uncertainty, and significant costs. The hearing on HB 2281 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2206, which adopts the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act to expand and standardize voting access for military and overseas voters in state and local elections. Staff said the bill would broaden the definition of overseas voters and improve ballot access and enforcement. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs strongly supported the measure, and a witness who had lived overseas as a child described herself as one of the small number of people affected and asked for clearer review of UOCAVA status. An opponent argued the bill would allow never-residents to vote in Washington and cited North Carolina court decisions rejecting similar provisions. A Verified Voting representative supported a committee amendment to remove stray electronic portal language. The hearing on HB 2206 was still underway at the end of the transcript.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 16th, 2026 at 08:00 am

State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2206 relates to adopting national standards for uniformed and overseas civilian voting.
  • Representative Waters votes aye. Waters? Aye. Representative Waters votes aye. Walsh?
  • Representative Doglio votes aye. Farivar? Aye. Representative Farivar votes aye.
  • Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns? Aye. Representative Stearns votes aye.
  • Representative Doglio votes aye. Farivar? Aye. Representative Farivar votes aye.
Summary: The committee began in executive session with staff briefing several bills and amendments. House Bill 2206 on uniformed and overseas civilian voting was discussed with multiple amendments, but it was ultimately pulled from consideration for the day. House Bill 2123 on foreign national donors was taken up with a proposed substitute and an amendment raising the certification threshold to $6,000; members debated transparency and burden on auditors, and the substitute bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote. House Bill 2120, which would remove two JLARC reporting requirements, also passed out of committee unanimously. House Bill 2411, authorizing shared leave for state employees involved in immigration enforcement actions or who are victims of hate crimes, was amended for clarity and federal-law consistency and then reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote after some members expressed reservations about its complexity. The committee then opened hearings on House Bill 2309, which would prohibit state civil service job classifications from requiring a postgraduate degree as the only way to qualify unless required by law. The prime sponsor and OFM testified that the bill would reduce barriers to state employment and expand the applicant pool while preserving competency standards. Testimony was generally supportive, with witnesses describing the measure as consistent with broader efforts to use skill-based hiring and value lived experience. The committee also heard House Bill 2205 on sports wagering. The bill would allow tribal sports wagering to accept wagers from customers physically present at any tribal gaming facility, and would allow wagering on Washington college teams while continuing to prohibit bets on the performance of individual Washington student-athletes. The sponsor and tribal witnesses said the bill would bring existing betting activity into a regulated market, improve integrity monitoring, and support tribal collaboration; university and Washington State University representatives opposed it, warning of harassment, integrity risks, and expanded exposure for student-athletes. A taxpayer advocacy witness urged broader online sports betting access, while tribal and gaming witnesses emphasized regulation and consumer protection. No final action was taken on the hearing bills before adjournment.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government & Tribal Relations Feb 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mena: Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns: Aye.
  • Mena: Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns: Aye.
  • Representative Stearns votes aye. Waters votes aye. Do not pass.
  • Mena: Mena votes aye. Representative Mena votes aye. Stearns: Aye.
  • Vote yes, do-do-do-do-do-do-do, vote yes, do-do-do-do-vote yes for the Washington State Shark Bill.
Summary: The State Government and Tribal Relations Committee met on policy cutoff day and took executive action on eight measures. Members first heard brief descriptions of House Bill 2514, creating a work group for the Global War on Terror Memorial; House Bill 2352, aligning the state conflict-of-interest threshold with the 1% municipal threshold; House Bill 2475, concerning agency implementation of Office of Equity guidelines; House Bill 2206, updating uniformed and overseas voting rules; House Joint Resolution 4210, removing directional limits on regular legislative sessions; House Bill 2447, naming the bluntnose sixgill shark the state shark; House Bill 2661, modernizing the Public Records Act through a JLARC review/work group; and House Bill 2572, expanding voting services for tribal members, overseas and service voters, and voters with disabilities. The committee adopted Amendment Omley 314 to HB 2475, changing the bill so agencies would report how they would implement equity guidelines, rather than being required to follow them directly. HB 2475 then passed 4-3, with some members supporting the flexibility and others objecting that the bill was too narrow and did not adequately address tribal language access. On HB 2206, several amendments were withdrawn; Omley 297 and Omley 288 were adopted, while Omley 294 and Omley 295 were rejected. The adopted changes clarified the definition of overseas voter and made a technical cleanup, and the substitute bill passed 4-3. Members supporting the bill emphasized ballot access and consistency with federal law, while opponents raised concerns about voter nexus to Washington and possible security or abuse issues. HB 2514, HB 2352, HB 2447, HB 2661, HB 2572, and HJR 4210 all advanced out of committee as well. HB 2514 passed unanimously, HB 2352 passed 6-1, HB 2447 passed unanimously after lighthearted discussion, HB 2661 passed unanimously after adoption of the Walsh striking amendment shifting the task force work to JLARC, HB 2572 passed 4-3 with concerns focused on the electronic ballot portal, and HJR 4210 passed 5-2, with supporters saying it would give the legislature more time to make policy and opponents warning it could open the door to a year-round legislature. The chair closed by thanking members and staff and announced the committee would reconvene the following Tuesday for a tentative agreement and work session.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Feb 5th, 2026

Agriculture and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:
  • I vote Republican for many reasons. However, I'm a true conservative.
  • And I just want to say please vote no on this bill for Alamians and protect them, or at least amend it
  • And I just want to say please vote no on this bill for Alamians and protect them, or at least amend it
  • Please vote no on this bill for Alamians and protect them, or at least amend it, slow down, do something
  • I voted Republican my whole life. Wasn't aware. >> I'd like to talk to you." sneak
Bills: SB71, SB71
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair for the vote. Okay, voting on SCR 7. Chair and vice chair vote: aye.
  • </c><00:20:34.360><c> No</c><00:20:34.560><c> vote.</c> Representative Garcia. No vote.
  • No vote.
  • </c> for the vote. Oh. for the vote. Oh.
  • >> Chair for the vote.
Bills: SCR7, SCR59, SCR182
Summary: The Committee on Health heard testimony on three concurrent resolutions. SCR-7 would affirm that hospitals must provide life-saving emergency care to pregnant people; supporters included the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, AAUW Hawaii, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and Hawaii Women’s Lawyers, with two individuals in opposition. A member raised a wording concern about “pregnant people” versus “pregnant women,” and the chair agreed to note the comment in the committee report. The committee then recommended passage, and the measure was adopted by vote, with Representatives Alcos voting no and Garcia not voting. SCR-59 SD1 would ask the governor to establish procedures allowing certain health care professionals to practice in Hawaii without a Hawaii-issued license during a state of emergency. The Hawaii Organization of Nurse Leaders strongly supported the resolution, citing emergency response problems during Kona low storms and the Lahaina wildfires when out-of-state licensed providers were available but could not serve. The committee recommended passage as is, and the recommendation was adopted, with Representative Garcia voting with reservations. SCR-182 would request that the governor and Department of Health work with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal military partners to explore a military-civilian trauma partnership to strengthen Hawaii’s trauma system. The Department of Health supported the measure, and a member suggested the title should reflect “Department of War,” while another member noted the federal department name has not changed; the chair said the comments would be noted in the report. The committee recommended passage, and the resolution was adopted without objection, with Representatives Martin and Olds excused.
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor (3-26-26)

Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll explain my vote, please. Yes.
  • I'll explain my yes vote. Girdler. I'll explain my yes vote.
  • I'll explain my vote, Senator Madden. I'll explain my vote, please. please. please.
  • I vote aye. Chair Wheeler. I vote aye.
  • I<00:14:44.240><c> vote</c><00:14:44.560><c> I.</c> I vote I. I vote I.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 24th, 2025

Elections

TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 30th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • ballot voted by mail.
  • This was clearly not curbside voting; it was clearly not intended for mass voting.
  • their right to vote.
  • The early voting clerk has all authority over early voting by mail and early voting in person.
  • Don't make it harder for people to vote. Just let people vote.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 30th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, I voted for Representative John Bucy III.
  • They go vote and register, you know, it's public information that they voted in the Republican or Democratic
  • To vote for, so I definitely see the validity of this bill and why it's necessary.
  • You weren't sure whether they could all vote for the different nominees or whether they could only vote
  • That the convention can vote for that candidate. That's correct, yes.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 8th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We are going to start hearing bills now and vote later.
  • And before Help America Vote, this is how you vote.
  • and voting by mail.
  • early voting vote centers and mail ballot batches.
  • The manual count was conducted for early voting vote centers of the eight precincts selected by the county
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, February 11, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Brown voted aye, Representative Locke voted aye, Representative Hoeft voted aye, Representative
  • Johnson voted aye, Representative Lucas voted aye, Representative Webb voted aye, Representative Weber
  • voted aye, Representative Yin voted aye, and Chairman Knapp voted aye.
  • </c> shall be a recount made of all votes. shall be a recount made of all votes.
  • </c><00:22:55.600><c> cast</c><00:22:55.919><c> for</c> votes and the number of votes cast for votes
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 11, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • The first file for our consideration is Senate File 28, Elections, Voting Machine, and Voting System
  • certified voting system is valid?
  • </c> chair vote I. All those opposed? chair vote I. All those opposed? &gt;&gt; No. &gt;&gt; No.
  • </c><01:10:28.159><c> So,</c> absentee voting. So, absentee voting.
  • Announce the vote. ahead. Announce the vote.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Election Laws Feb 10th, 2026

Joint Committee on Election Laws

Transcript Highlights:
  • if residents choose to do so, both through a local governing vote and a general vote of the public.
  • So ranked-choice voting lets people vote their values and still have their vote count and outcome.
  • Last May, the Boston City Council voted to approve a special petition regarding ranked-choice voting
  • You got 25 votes, you got one delegate. 32 votes, you got one delegate. 50 votes, two delegates. 63 votes
  • for ranked-choice voting.
Bills: H4916, H4262
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Health Committee Jan 14th, 2026

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • that bill over until we get to a point to where we feel that it's something that can be brought for a vote
  • > for</c><00:05:47.199><c> or</c><00:05:47.440><c> for</c><00:05:47.680><c> a</c><00:05:47.919><c> vote
  • </c><00:05:48.720><c> But</c> brought for or for a vote. But brought for or for a vote.
Bills: HB31, HB31
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Mar 27th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • preferential voting.
  • And when people go into that voting booth and vote for the person with the most votes, they're expecting
  • 14% of the vote.
  • I was a ranked-choice voting, instant runoff, preferential voting skeptic.
  • It's why voting methods are sort of independent of the voting process.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • voting, and in-person voting.
  • Senate Bill 2753 establishes a single continuous in-person voting period, combining early voting and
  • employees working in early voting, and then you stop early voting, and now you can switch your whole
  • , or early voting.
  • And I'm sorry, if you can't manage to vote in 15 days, you probably weren't going to vote anyway.
Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills. SB 447 would let the City of Mission in Hidalgo County permanently move its municipal elections from May to the uniform November election date if it chooses. The bill was described as permissive and intended to increase turnout and reduce costs. Mission’s mayor testified in support, saying voters had already approved the change by a wide margin in a charter amendment election. The bill was left pending after no objection. SB 2217 focused on standardizing election data reporting and reconciliation across counties to improve transparency and comparability. Testimony was generally supportive of the goal, but Dr. Laura Presley and others flagged technical issues, including a discrepancy between a three-ballot mismatch threshold in existing law and a 1% threshold in part of the bill, plus a definition issue involving central accumulators. Supporters said consistent auditing and reconciliation would help election integrity, while the bill was also left pending. The committee then took up SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period that would combine early voting and Election Day into one uninterrupted process, with precinct consolidation and other changes. Supporters said it could simplify administration, reduce equipment changes, and improve security by using one set of machines. Opponents and neutral witnesses raised concerns about cost, staffing, ballot security, reporting changes, weekend voting, and whether the bill was ready for implementation; several urged a pilot or study instead. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. SB 505 would create a process for election workers, candidates, party officials, and measure proponents or opponents to request explanations of election irregularities, with escalation to the Secretary of State for audit or enforcement if responses were unsatisfactory. Supporters said it would provide a way to resolve irregularities and restore confidence, while opponents argued it was too broad, lacked guardrails against abuse, and could be used by partisan actors to pressure counties. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 311 would expand Texas’s online voter registration system to first-time registrants and others, with supporters citing efficiency, lower costs, and broader access, and opponents raising concerns about signature verification and implementation details. Testimony was cut short because of the session deadline, and the bill had not been disposed of in the excerpt.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • voting, and in-person voting.
  • period, combining early voting and election day voting with no gaps in between.
  • employees working in early voting, and then you stop early voting, and now you can switch your whole
  • or early voting.
  • And I'm sorry, if you can't manage to vote in 15 days, you probably weren't going to vote anyway.
Summary: The House Committee on Elections met with a quorum present and heard several election-related bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The first measure, SB 447, would allow the City of Mission to move its municipal elections from May to November on a one-time, permanent basis. Supporters, including Mission’s mayor, said voters had already approved the change by a wide margin and argued it would improve turnout and reduce costs. The bill was left pending after no objection. The committee then heard SB 2217, which was described as a transparency measure to standardize election data reporting and reconciliation across counties. Testimony focused on a technical issue involving discrepancy thresholds for electronic voting system reconciliation, with one witness urging the bill be aligned with existing law’s “more than 3” standard rather than a 1% threshold, and another suggesting a definition fix. The bill was left pending. Members also heard SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period by combining early voting and election day into one uninterrupted period, with a committee substitute making it a pilot and permissive. Supporters said it could simplify administration and improve security, while opponents warned it would increase costs, require more staffing and equipment, delay results, and create logistical problems for counties. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 505 would let certain election stakeholders request explanations of irregularities from election officials and, if unresolved, escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for audit or possible conservatorship. Supporters framed it as a tool for accountability and transparency, while opponents called it overly broad and vulnerable to abuse. The bill was left pending. The committee also took up HB 311, which would expand online voter registration to first-time registrants and direct state agencies to develop a pathway for Texans without a driver’s license to register online. Supporters argued it would modernize the process, reduce errors, and save money, while opponents said first-time applicants still need a wet signature and raised concerns about signature verification and implementation. Due to the late hour and floor deadline, testimony was cut off, the names of remaining witnesses were read into the record, and the bill was left pending before the committee adjourned.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 9th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • You go to vote, most of them are going to vote close by their neighborhoods. voting locations in there
  • County-wide voting, vote centers as they are.
  • voting.
  • voting.
  • are voting. voting or not voting.