Category «Free Speech»

After the Voting Ends: The Steps to Complete an Election

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) – An election isn’t over when the polls close. It’s over when election administrators complete their postelection activities and the election results are certified. As with everything else related to elections, state law governs these postelection processes—and there are 51 models. (The states plus Washington, D.C.). This webpage reviews …

Subjects: Congress, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research

Federal Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition Technology

CRS report via LC – Federal Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition Technology, October 27, 2020: “Law enforcement agencies’ use of facial recognition technology (FRT), while not a new practice, has received increased attention from policymakers and the public. Some of the concerns raised revolve around the accuracy of the technology, including potential race-, gender-, and …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Congress, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research, Privacy

How to return your mail-in ballot without using the postal service

Popular Information: “There are 44 states that don’t require any reason to vote by mail or allow concerns about COVID-19 as a valid reason. All 44 states provide alternatives to the USPS to return your mail-in ballot. The details of these alternative return methods are listed below. Six states — New York, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Congress, Free Speech, Government Documents

Postal Service ordered to increase late trips for election mail

Bloomberg News via Seattle Times – “Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was ordered to immediately begin expanding mail delivery with extra trips and later deliveries after the U.S. Postal Service failed to improve performance less than a week before the election. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington late Tuesday granted an emergency request to enforce …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Courts, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research

The U.S. Presidential Election: Managing the Risks of Violence

International Crisis Group – 28 October 2020 – The U.S. Presidential Election: Managing the Risks of Violence: “The 2020 U.S. presidential election presents risks not seen in recent history. It is conceivable that violence could erupt during voting or protracted ballot counts. Officials should take extra precautions; media and foreign leaders should avoid projecting a …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Government Documents, Legal Research

Here Is The Last Day Mail-In Ballots Will Be Accepted In Every State

BuzzFeedNews – “Millions of people are voting by mail in the 2020 election — many for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic. In order to ensure your ballot is counted, officials suggest mail-in ballots be sent in early, especially given USPS delays. Many states suggest sending your ballot at least one week before …

Subjects: Free Speech, Government Documents, Knowledge Management

Over 40 million people already voted by mail. Here’s how to track your ballot online

CNET – “You may be able to track your ballot using BallotTrax, or through the website for your state’s Secretary of State. “Americans have been voting early this year ahead of the 2020 elections, with more than 61.2 million votes already in and nearly 41 million of those being mail-in votes. And if you’ve decided to vote by mail …

Subjects: Free Speech, Government Documents, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

United States of America, General Elections, 3 November 2020: Interim Report

Politico: “The first 2020 U.S. election report by international observers makes for sober reading, Ryan Heath emails us. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe — which has 47 member countries including the U.S. — has deployed 30 experts around the U.S. to monitor all aspects of the election through October. While that’s well …

Subjects: Congress, E-Records, Free Speech, Government Documents, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Social Media

ADL Launches Online Election Incident Reporting Tool in Response to Concerns of Extremist Interference

“In response to growing concerns that extremists could attempt to interfere at the polls in the next few weeks as Americans cast their ballots, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) has established a new online incident reporting tool that will enable voters to flag any potential hate crimes or disruptions involving extremists. In addition to an online …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Free Speech, Knowledge Management, Legal Research

USPS IG Report – Operational Changes to Mail Delivery

“This report responds to an August 7, 2020, congressional request regarding concerns that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s modifications to U.S. Postal Service staffing and policies had an adverse effect on Postal Service operations, leading to slower and less reliable mail delivery. This report also responds to a number of recent similar congressional requests. We are …

Subjects: Congress, E-Records, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

The Problem of Free Speech in an Age of Disinformation

The New York Times – The First Amendment in the age of disinformation. “…The United States is in the middle of a catastrophic public-health crisis caused by the spread of the coronavirus. But it is also in the midst of an information crisis caused by the spread of viral disinformation, defined as falsehoods aimed at …

Subjects: Censorship, Civil Liberties, Education, Free Speech, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Health Care, Internet, Knowledge Management, Legal Research, Legislation, Libraries, Search Engines, Social Media