Election Law Program Pilots Three Online Platforms of State Election Codes in Colorado, Florida and Virginia
October 19, 2016
Wondering what the Virginia election code has to say about campaign volunteers and others at the polls? Want context on statutes that govern when voter registration ends in Florida? Curious about how Colorado election statutes impact voter registration lists?
In advance of next month’s election, the Election Law Program, a joint project of William & Mary Law School and the National Center for State Courts, is piloting three online platforms of state election codes in Colorado, Florida and Virginia. Teams of election experts have annotated their state’s election code to give context for how the law operates in these states. In addition, case law, regulations, advisory opinions, and administrative guidance are linked to relevant statutes to provide a full picture of how election codes in Colorado, Florida, and Virginia function.
Given the importance of judicial decision making surrounding elections, and public confidence in our system of elections, the goal of the eBenchbook project is to provide a tangible resource to judges hearing election cases and to help journalists and members of the public understand how state election laws work.
Election litigation, once a rarity, has become increasingly common since Bush v. Gore. The Election Law Program’s eBenchbook will be a welcomed resource for judges deciding election-related cases,” explains the Hon. Terry Lewis, a Leon County, Florida circuit judge who played a central role in Bush v. Gore in 2000.
Whether you are a judge, a legal or media professional, or a citizen who wants to know more about the law of elections, we welcome you to explore the site for an understanding of how election laws help to shape the contours of our democracy.
Interested in an eBenchbook for your state? Contact us at ebenchbook@wm.edu for information about adding your state to this resource.
To explore the Election Law eBenchbook, visit ebenchbook.wm.edu.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Green
Co-Director, Election Law Program
rgreen@wm.edu
Amy McDowell
Co-Director, Election Law Program
amcdowell@ncsc.org