Restrict books

'They need to figure this out'

Mail-in ballots would be required to include a bar code when being processed by the Postal Service‚ as an extra level of election security under a measure set to be advanced Tuesday by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.  Oversight Chairman James Comer‚ R-Ky.‚ announced Friday that his committee would hold a markup on several bills‚ including this one called the Vote by Mail Tracking Act. At a time when almost any election bill is highly divisive and mail-in voting has become increasingly contentious‚ HR 5658 has attracted broad bipartisan support.  As noted in my book “The Myth of Voter Suppression‚” mail-in and absentee voting account for the largest number of adjudicated cases of voter fraud‚ ballot harvesting‚ and overturned election results.   A December poll conducted by Rasmussen Results‚ sponsored by the conservative Heartland Institute‚ found that 1 in 5 voters who voted by mail in 2020 admitted to election fraud of some sort.  The bipartisan support behind mandating bar codes on mail-in ballots doesn’t mean it’s a certainty that the bill will pass. A nearly identical bill was advanced by the committee in 2022‚ cosponsored by then-ranking member Comer and then-Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney‚ D-N.Y. However‚ that bill didn’t pass either the House or Senate.  The legislation slated for action Tuesday differs from the earlier version in carving out an exception for overseas military ballots‚ where absentee ballots often originate by other means than the Postal Service‚ such as military or international mail. The bill clarifies that “ballots mailed within the United States for all federal elections be mailed in an envelope with a unique Postal Service bar code that allows the ballot to be tracked in the mail.” The legislation also requires that the bar code used by election officials meets the Postal Service’s design requirements and standards for mail-processing machines to read‚ and includes an official election mail logo.  This year’s bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Nancy Mace‚ R-S.C.; Byron Donalds‚ R-Fla.;  Brian Fitzpatrick‚ R-Pa.‚ Juan Ciscomani‚ R-Ariz.; Katie Porter‚ D-Calif.; Kweisi Mfume‚ D-Md.; and Gerry Connolly‚ D-Va.; as well as the District of Columbia’s nonvoting delegate‚ Eleanor Holmes Norton‚ a Democrat. As voting by mail increases‚ supporters of the bill note that the legislation is at least a step forward to increasing confidence in mail-in ballots. They also say it would require accountability on the part of state and local governments that expand voting by mail.  Republicans who back the measure say they support having a better idea of where mail-in votes originated.  “Americans’ faith in our electoral system is foundational to our democracy and we must do everything possible to restore and maintain confidence in that institution‚” Fitzpatrick said in September when the bill was introduced. “Our bipartisan legislation will ensure that every mail-in ballot is up to [the Postal Service’s] standards‚ able to be tracked‚ and marked as official election mail.” Democrats also voiced support for ensuring that votes will be counted.  “We need to make voting more accessible for the American public‚” Connolly said. “As more people choose to vote absentee by mail‚ this simple measure will ensure all ballots are trackable and every valid vote is counted.” The National Association of Counties‚ which represents the jurisdictions that run most elections in America‚ posted in November that the legislation “would improve efficiency and transparency in order to allow voters to see that their vote is delivered and maintain confidence in our elections.” Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.  The post House Panel Set to Advance Bar Codes as Ballot Requirement for Mail-In Voting appeared first on The Daily Signal.

UK's NetZero Diktats Such a ZERO With Voters‚ Pols Are Duckin' 'n Chuckin'

An elderly man was killed by another man over a stolen taco from Taco Bell‚ according to police in Michigan. The two men were living at a boarding house on Waldorf Street in Roseville when they got into a lethal altercation Wednesday night. 54-year-old Mark Newsome allegedly accused 72-year-old Dale Mitchell of stealing his taco before beating him to death. When police arrived‚ they found Mitchell injured on the floor‚ and Newsome was taken into custody without incident. Investigators said that Newsome struck Mitchell several times so violently that he died from the injuries. Roommates in the same home spoke to WJBK-TV and described what they heard and saw in the home. "Oh‚ God‚ it scared the hell out of me‚ it really did‚" said Bob McQuade. "There was blood all over upstairs‚" said Larry Melton. They said they were trying to sleep when they heard commotion and voices. "I could never believe he would’ve done something like that""To think a fight over food would escalate into murder‚" McQuade added. "It’s inconceivable."""Why are you doing this?'" Melton continued. "'Why are you doing this? Leave me alone. Quit‚ please quit.' that’s what I heard." Police Chief Mitchell Berlin said no weapons were involved. Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido released a statement about the incident. "If we've come to grips with life about fighting and killing somebody over a taco or food itself‚ there’s gotta be more to life than that‚" Lucido said. "It would have been a lot easier to walk away."Newsome was charged with second-degree murder and booked into the Macomb County Jail. "It’s just senseless‚" McQuade added. "I trusted Mark as my friend. I could never believe he would’ve done something like that." Here's a news report about the incident: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After announcing last year that she would not run for office in 2024‚ GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana has now indicated that she will seek re-election."Deciding where your duty lies - family‚ work‚ or country‚ is never an easy task. Earlier last year‚ I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family. However‚ looking where we are today‚ and urged by many of my constituents‚ I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress‚ with the current failed leadership in Washington‚ D.C.‚ on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on‚" Spartz said in a statement. "As someone who grew up under tyranny‚ I understand the significance of these challenging times for our Republic‚ and if my fellow Hoosiers and God decide‚ I will be honored to continue fighting for them. We must carry on the sacrifice of countless Americans for our liberties and keep the American dream alive for our children‚" the lawmaker added.Spartz‚ who grew up in Ukraine under the Soviet Union‚ has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2021.Her re-election bid announcement comes as a reversal from her announcement last year that she would not run for office in 2024."I won a lot of tough battles for the people and will work hard to win a few more in the next two years. However‚ being a working mom is tough and I need to spend more time with my two high school girls back home‚ so I will not run for any office in 2024‚" Spartz said in a statement last year.Spartz described then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year as a "weak Speaker‚" and McCarthy reportedly responded by saying that if Spartz was "concerned about fighting stronger‚" he wished the congresswoman would "not quit.""I wish @SpeakerMcCarthy would work as hard at governing our country as he does at collecting checks but his wish might come true‚" Spartz fired back in response. McCarthy‚ who was ousted from the role as House speaker last year‚ is no longer a member of Congress because he decided to leave office before the end of his term. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Texas police say that a missing woman was found at the border with Mexico after she was kidnapped by a homeless man she was trying to help. Lacey Lyn Overby was reported missing from Desoto on Thursday afternoon by her family. Overby's daughter said the 37-year-old registered nurse was on the phone when she tried to buy food for a homeless man. The family member said they heard a commotion before the phone call ended. Police issued an alert for the missing woman that said she was last seen at about 3:30 p.m. and had purchased food for the homeless man at Taco Casa in Lancaster. Later that day‚ at about midnight‚ she was found 400 miles away at the international bridge at the Laredo Port of Entry by police. She reportedly called police and said that she had been kidnapped and that the kidnapper was still inside the car. When police were able to find the woman‚ they said no one else was in the car‚ a 2015 Silver Chevy Malibu. "Ms. Overby was driving at the time‚ it is unknown if a weapon was involved‚" said Lt. Chris Huerta with the Desoto Police Department. "She was obviously very upset when law enforcement made contact with her last night‚ she was taken for medical exam just to be safe‚ to make sure she was ok‚" he added. "I can tell you that the family is with her at this time." She was able to give police a description of the man‚ who is said to be a Hispanic male 25-35 years of age and bald-headed. The woman is safe and has been reunited with her family. Police have not made any arrests and are asking for help from the public to identify the suspect. Here's a news report about the incident: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

House lawmakers plan to vote on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act‚ which would provide $17.6 billion to Israel‚ this week.

NBC News: Republicans Pounce on Rise in Violent Crime in Washington‚ D.C.

AS IF! CBS Got an Alternate Offer After Biden WH Declined Super Bowl Halftime Interview