The New York Times weighs in on Internet voting with a strong editorial, legislatures in South Carolina, Virginia, and Utah consider voter ID legislation, and Maryland's transition to optical scan voting generates debate over cost estimates.
This and more in today's Voting News below...
AZ: New technology planned for poll consolidation
http://verdenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=34762
GA: Election suit appeal fails
http://www.times-georgian.com/view/full_story/5665479/article-Election-suit-appeal-fails?instance=west_ga_news
IL: State Election Officials: No Red Flags in Rock Island County
http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11897058
Illinois State Board of Elections officials overseeing Thursday's set-up and testing of the election equipment for Tuesday's primary in Rock Island County found no red flags.
IL: RI County officials called before grand jury
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_375aeb8e-0afe-11df-a73d-001cc4c03286.html
KY: Former Perry circuit clerk pleads guilty in vote-buying scheme
http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/1115750.html
A former circuit clerk in Perry County pleaded guilty Thursday to taking part in vote buying in November 2008.
MD: State elections head says new voting system costly, not effective
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_028125950.html
A House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing Wednesday in Annapolis turned out to be an opportunity for state election officials to explain how the 2010 election will proceed.
MI: Grand Rapids clerk wants to cut number of precincts to save money
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/01/grand_rapids_clerk_wants_to_cu.html
MN: Polling place accessibility funds are awarded
http://www.hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12236:polling-place-accessibility-federal-funds-are-awarded&catid=13:capitol-news&Itemid=29
NM: Bill would resolve years-old question: Who has to maintain voting machines
http://newmexicoindependent.com/45343/bill-would-resolve-years-old-question-who-owns-voting-machines
January 27, 2010 - The state would be responsible for maintaining the state’s more than 1,000 voting tabulators if a Senate bill introduced this session becomes law.
NY: New voting machines to debut in September
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20406357&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=574908&rfi=6
When you go to the polls for the September primaries the old Shoup 3.2 mechanical voting machine, used in city polling places for about half a century, will be gone, replaced by Elections Systems & Software’s DS200 Scanner and the AutoMark Ballot Marking Device.
SC: SC senators reach deal on photo ID requirement
http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11897668
Legislators have worked out a compromise on a bill requiring South Carolina voters to show photo IDs before they cast a ballot.
SC: Compromise reached on voter ID bill
http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/1132521.html
SC: SC photo ID voting could affect 178,000 voters
http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/1129757.html
UT: House shoots down Medicare card as voter ID
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14287179
A sharply divided Utah House rejected a bill Thursday that would have allowed voters to show a Medicare card as identification at the polls in November.
VA: Senate Committee Vote Kills Obenshain's Voter ID Bill
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/82814897.html
January 27, 2010 - On Wednesday, Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) questioned the partisan effort of the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections to act to ensure the continued integrity of the electoral process in Virginia.
National: Internet Voting, Still in Beta [editorial]
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/opinion/28thu4.html
Internet voting is in its infancy, and still far too unreliable, but states are starting to allow it and the trend is accelerating because of a new federal law that requires greater efforts to help military and other overseas voters cast ballots.
International
Philippines: Congress may ask SC to stop full poll automation
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/28/10/congress-may-ask-sc-stop-full-poll-automation
[Note: The Philippines' transition to optical scan voting generates more daily coverage than is reasonable to index in this digest. Some of the more salient articles are indexed.]
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Optical scan funding: Maryland lawmakers hear testimony; some Illinois Clerks refuse to implement undervote warning; Russia considers e-voting
Today the Maryland House of Delegates' Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the funding of optical scan equipment for the 2010 elections. Governor Martin O'Malley has not included funding in his recently released budget. The Illinois undervote warning law inspires a few Clerks to refuse to implement it, and Russia looks at electronic voting in future elections.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
CA: County criticizes PUSD's tax ballot
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14280174
A mail-only ballot could lead to low voter turnout and cost Pasadena Unified more money than a consolidated election, a county election official said.
IL: State Capitol Q&A: Illinois primary also a test of new eVoter Web site
http://www.sj-r.com/state/x231958180/State-Capitol-Q-A-Illinois-primary-also-a-test-of-new-eVoter-Web-site
With the Feb. 2 primary election fast approaching, a Florida-based company is pushing a Web site to get Illinois voters prepared for the polls.
IL: Undervote law stirs clerks, prompts recall
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2010/01/26/61168315/index.xml
It [the law requiring undervote notification] has caused such consternation among county clerks, one filed a suit that was dismissed and inspired a handful of refuseniks who will not follow it.
IL: La Salle voters need to listen for ballot beeps
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=396429
A "beep-beep-beep" from the ballot scanner on election day will be a signal for La Salle County voters that there may be more voting to do. Or not.
IL: Early voting totals down as deadline approaches
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/01/early-voting-totals-down-as-thursday-deadline-approaches.html
Early voting for the Feb. 2 primary ends Thursday, and while turnout has been relatively low this year, election officials still expect a last-minute rush of people trying to beat the deadline.
MD: No funding for new voting machine system
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_026233125.html
Gov. Martin O’Malley did not include funding for a new voting system in his proposed budget for fiscal 2011.
That doesn’t mean, however, that advocates for a system some feel is more accountable to the voters will stop pressuring lawmakers to proceed with a new system — a change the Maryland General Assembly approved of, but did not provide funding for, during the 2007 legislative session.
MA: Marlborough may become first Mass. town to require voter ID
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1685421601/Marlborough-may-become-first-Mass-town-to-require-voter-ID
If the city's proposal to require all voters to show identification at polls is approved, it will be the state's first municipality with such a rule.
International
Philippines: Smartmatic: some sectors 'salivating' to punish us
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182649/smartmatic-some-sectors-salivating-to-punish-us
Smartmatic, the supplier of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the 2010 elections, said on Wednesday that some sectors were "salivating" to penalize it over the reported delay in the delivery of the equipment.
Philippines: Manual count possible in 30 percent of precincts
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182590/manual-count-possible-in-30-percent-of-precincts
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is bracing for the possibility of holding manual vote-counting in 30 percent of polling precincts nationwide even as officials expect poll machines to be delivered on time and pass field tests.
Russia: Russia studying Indian EVMs for its own elections
http://www.ptinews.com/news/487134_Russia-studying-Indian-EVMs-for-its-own-elections
Russia is taking a leaf out of Indian elections and is studying the use of electronic voting machines (EVMS) and electors photo identity cards (EPIC) for implementation in its federal, regional and local polls.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
CA: County criticizes PUSD's tax ballot
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_14280174
A mail-only ballot could lead to low voter turnout and cost Pasadena Unified more money than a consolidated election, a county election official said.
IL: State Capitol Q&A: Illinois primary also a test of new eVoter Web site
http://www.sj-r.com/state/x231958180/State-Capitol-Q-A-Illinois-primary-also-a-test-of-new-eVoter-Web-site
With the Feb. 2 primary election fast approaching, a Florida-based company is pushing a Web site to get Illinois voters prepared for the polls.
IL: Undervote law stirs clerks, prompts recall
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2010/01/26/61168315/index.xml
It [the law requiring undervote notification] has caused such consternation among county clerks, one filed a suit that was dismissed and inspired a handful of refuseniks who will not follow it.
IL: La Salle voters need to listen for ballot beeps
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=396429
A "beep-beep-beep" from the ballot scanner on election day will be a signal for La Salle County voters that there may be more voting to do. Or not.
IL: Early voting totals down as deadline approaches
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/01/early-voting-totals-down-as-thursday-deadline-approaches.html
Early voting for the Feb. 2 primary ends Thursday, and while turnout has been relatively low this year, election officials still expect a last-minute rush of people trying to beat the deadline.
MD: No funding for new voting machine system
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_026233125.html
Gov. Martin O’Malley did not include funding for a new voting system in his proposed budget for fiscal 2011.
That doesn’t mean, however, that advocates for a system some feel is more accountable to the voters will stop pressuring lawmakers to proceed with a new system — a change the Maryland General Assembly approved of, but did not provide funding for, during the 2007 legislative session.
MA: Marlborough may become first Mass. town to require voter ID
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1685421601/Marlborough-may-become-first-Mass-town-to-require-voter-ID
If the city's proposal to require all voters to show identification at polls is approved, it will be the state's first municipality with such a rule.
International
Philippines: Smartmatic: some sectors 'salivating' to punish us
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182649/smartmatic-some-sectors-salivating-to-punish-us
Smartmatic, the supplier of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the 2010 elections, said on Wednesday that some sectors were "salivating" to penalize it over the reported delay in the delivery of the equipment.
Philippines: Manual count possible in 30 percent of precincts
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182590/manual-count-possible-in-30-percent-of-precincts
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is bracing for the possibility of holding manual vote-counting in 30 percent of polling precincts nationwide even as officials expect poll machines to be delivered on time and pass field tests.
Russia: Russia studying Indian EVMs for its own elections
http://www.ptinews.com/news/487134_Russia-studying-Indian-EVMs-for-its-own-elections
Russia is taking a leaf out of Indian elections and is studying the use of electronic voting machines (EVMS) and electors photo identity cards (EPIC) for implementation in its federal, regional and local polls.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Oregon special election winds up, Cybersecurity in the news, CO lawsuit settled
In Oregon, voting ends today in a statewide election today on two tax measures. Turnout is expected to be high. Oregon elections are all vote by mail. NPR's Fresh Air does a program on cyber-crime; hopefully at least some who are interested in the Internet transmission of secret, voted ballots listened to the show. Internationally, the Phillipines' planned adoption of optical scan voting continues to generate a flurry of news media coverage.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
CA: Yee proposes law to let voters register on election day
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_14267253
CO: Primary election to take place by mail
http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2010/01/25/012610_3a_primary_mail.html
Mesa County voters will go to their mailboxes rather than their local school or town hall to cast their ballots in this year’s primary election.
CO: Secretary of state, activist groups settle voting suit
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14266743
The Colorado secretary of state's office and a trio of activist groups have reached a settlement in a voting lawsuit that rattled the state's election system in the days prior to the 2008 election.
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Oregon-votes-on-higher-taxes-for-rich-businesses-82684412.html
With a surge of last-minute votes expected, Oregon voters will decide Tuesday whether to impose higher taxes on businesses and people whose income is well into six figures.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100127-249674/Comelec-Machines-have-16-hr-batteries
Phillipines: Comelec to open PCOS source code for public review
http://www9.gmanews.tv/story/182544/comelec-to-open-pcos-source-code-for-public-review
Phillipines: 6,739 surplus poll machines
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240422/6739-surplus-poll-machines
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
CA: Yee proposes law to let voters register on election day
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_14267253
CO: Primary election to take place by mail
http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2010/01/25/012610_3a_primary_mail.html
Mesa County voters will go to their mailboxes rather than their local school or town hall to cast their ballots in this year’s primary election.
CO: Secretary of state, activist groups settle voting suit
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14266743
The Colorado secretary of state's office and a trio of activist groups have reached a settlement in a voting lawsuit that rattled the state's election system in the days prior to the 2008 election.
The groups — Colorado Common Cause, Mi Familia Vota and the Service Employees International Union — sued then-Secretary of State Mike Coffman, claiming that he wrongly canceled tens of thousands of voter registrations too close to Election Day. Coffman said the cancellations were for legitimate reasons.
IL: Sparse ballot takes shape next month http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2010/01/26/madison/news/0124cvj-madelection0.txt
IL: Officials: Undervote rule may confuse some http://www.southtownstar.com/news/election/2012002,undervoting-0126.article Some county election officials in Illinois worry voters will be confused and voting might take longer on Election Day because of the state's new undervoting notification rule.
NY: Villages get OK to use old voting machines
http://www.poststar.com/news/local/article_12efcf22-0acb-11df-ab78-001cc4c03286.html
Villages across Washington County will continue to use the traditional lever voting machines in their March elections because the new state-mandated machines will not be ready, state officials said Tuesday.
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Oregon-votes-on-higher-taxes-for-rich-businesses-82684412.html
With a surge of last-minute votes expected, Oregon voters will decide Tuesday whether to impose higher taxes on businesses and people whose income is well into six figures.
Polling suggests the results on Measures 66 and 67 will be close, and the outcome may depend on turnout.
OR: County starts ballot count http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/01/26/news/county_starts_ballot_count_559.txt
National
Fighting Cyber-crime, One Digital thug at a Time http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=122958695
International
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100127-249674/Comelec-Machines-have-16-hr-batteries
Phillipines: Comelec to open PCOS source code for public review
http://www9.gmanews.tv/story/182544/comelec-to-open-pcos-source-code-for-public-review
Phillipines: 6,739 surplus poll machines
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240422/6739-surplus-poll-machines
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Monday, January 25, 2010
MD paper ballot transition in jeopardy, US oil companies face cyberattack, IL county cuts pollworkers
Election costs were a common theme in voting stories today. Illinois jurisdictions continued preparation for the Feb. 2 primary. An cyber-attack on U.S. oil companies offers another reminder of the vulnerabilities of even more secure computer systems.
All this and more in today''s Voting News below...
CA: Court tosses challenge to San Diego polling policies
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/25/24009.htm
A California appeals court refused to block San Diego County elections policies that limit photography and video recording in polling stations.
FL: District 58 primaries uncertain, expensive
The estimated cost of Tuesday's primary elections is about $150,000, and for the Feb. 23 general election it is about $140,000. The state will reimburse the local elections office for most of the expense.
IL: How much money will be saved by using fewer election judges for primary?
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/1102941.html
The number of election judges posted at each precinct in St. Clair County will be reduced from five to three judges for the primary election on Feb. 2 in an effort to save more than $79,000.
IL: County clerk candidates answer election, turnover questions
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/article_4511dce2-07bb-11df-af1e-001cc4c03286.html
IL: Early voting tally low in primary so far
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2009340,6_1_NA25_EARLYVOTE_S1-100125.article
With less than a week left for early voting for the Feb. 2 primary, the numbers in DuPage and Will counties -- as well as across the area -- are low, according to election officials.
IN, International: Indianapolis Moving Company Supports Community Voting System in West Africa
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indianapolis-moving-company-supports-community-voting-system-in-west-africa-82610452.html
Indianapolis movers, Kenny Woodson and Keith Galliard were proud to be a part of the project that will update the Benin's antiquated system of paper ballot voting with the Micro Vote 464 machines.
MA: Massachusetts 'Deja Vu' Senate race: Questionable Counts and Speedy Concessions [OpEd]
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Massachusetts-Deja-Vu-Se-by-Lynn-Landes-100125-498.html
MA: Stanley to state: Pay for U.S. Senate election
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/x1685420734/Stanley-to-state-Pay-for-U-S-Senate-election
MD: Budget crunch may mean touchscreens stay
http://www.stardem.com/articles/2010/01/24/news/109625.txt
January 24, 2010 - With the necessary funding omitted from Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed budget, local officials are unsure if they will be using a new optical scan voting system or continuing with the touchscreen system already in place for the Sept. 14 primary and Nov. 2 general elections.
OR: State looks at claim of vote fraud
http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_7ddf1320-09f3-11df-8637-001cc4c002e0.html
OR: Oregon voters not fooled by imitation ballots
http://www.tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/article_f5f41872-09fa-11df-b6b0-001cc4c03286.html
Oregon voters have not been fooled by a mailer that mimicked the official ballot for Tuesday's tax election.
WA: Make military and overseas voting easier [editorial]
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2010889539_edit26ballot.html
National
US oil industry hit by cyberattacks: Was China involved?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0125/US-oil-industry-hit-by-cyberattacks-Was-China-involved
Proposed law could help U.S. voters register online
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/1002486.html
International
India: Blogging after months, Advani still talks of EVMs [electronic voting machines]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Blogging-after-months-Advani-still-talks-of-EVMs/articleshow/5500290.cms
India: Election Commission of India celebrates Diamond Jubilee year
http://www.bloombergutv.com/stock-market/stocks/commentary/368028/election-commission-of-india-celebrates-diamond-jubilee-year.html
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday listed electronic voting machines (EVMs) as one of the breakthroughs that had lent credibility to the Indian electoral process.
India: EVMs enhance credibility of India's elections: PM
http://www.dailytimesindia.com/2010/01/92504.htm
Phillipines: Comelec still open to manual polls
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=543959&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Various groups have been demanding that the source code be made public before the elections to determine if the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines ...
Phillipines: Comelec Lanao Sur to conduct public demo the use of PCOS machine
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100125.htm&no=54
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today''s Voting News below...
CA: Court tosses challenge to San Diego polling policies
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/25/24009.htm
A California appeals court refused to block San Diego County elections policies that limit photography and video recording in polling stations.
FL: District 58 primaries uncertain, expensive
The estimated cost of Tuesday's primary elections is about $150,000, and for the Feb. 23 general election it is about $140,000. The state will reimburse the local elections office for most of the expense.
IL: How much money will be saved by using fewer election judges for primary?
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/1102941.html
The number of election judges posted at each precinct in St. Clair County will be reduced from five to three judges for the primary election on Feb. 2 in an effort to save more than $79,000.
IL: County clerk candidates answer election, turnover questions
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/elections/article_4511dce2-07bb-11df-af1e-001cc4c03286.html
IL: Early voting tally low in primary so far
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2009340,6_1_NA25_EARLYVOTE_S1-100125.article
With less than a week left for early voting for the Feb. 2 primary, the numbers in DuPage and Will counties -- as well as across the area -- are low, according to election officials.
IN, International: Indianapolis Moving Company Supports Community Voting System in West Africa
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indianapolis-moving-company-supports-community-voting-system-in-west-africa-82610452.html
Indianapolis movers, Kenny Woodson and Keith Galliard were proud to be a part of the project that will update the Benin's antiquated system of paper ballot voting with the Micro Vote 464 machines.
MA: Massachusetts 'Deja Vu' Senate race: Questionable Counts and Speedy Concessions [OpEd]
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Massachusetts-Deja-Vu-Se-by-Lynn-Landes-100125-498.html
MA: Stanley to state: Pay for U.S. Senate election
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/x1685420734/Stanley-to-state-Pay-for-U-S-Senate-election
WALTHAM —Two members of the city's legislative delegation are asking fellow lawmakers to support a $10 million appropriation to pay back cities and towns for holding the special U.S. Senate primary and election.
MD: Budget crunch may mean touchscreens stay
http://www.stardem.com/articles/2010/01/24/news/109625.txt
January 24, 2010 - With the necessary funding omitted from Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed budget, local officials are unsure if they will be using a new optical scan voting system or continuing with the touchscreen system already in place for the Sept. 14 primary and Nov. 2 general elections.
OR: State looks at claim of vote fraud
http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_7ddf1320-09f3-11df-8637-001cc4c002e0.html
OR: Oregon voters not fooled by imitation ballots
http://www.tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/article_f5f41872-09fa-11df-b6b0-001cc4c03286.html
Oregon voters have not been fooled by a mailer that mimicked the official ballot for Tuesday's tax election.
WA: Make military and overseas voting easier [editorial]
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2010889539_edit26ballot.html
National
US oil industry hit by cyberattacks: Was China involved?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0125/US-oil-industry-hit-by-cyberattacks-Was-China-involved
Proposed law could help U.S. voters register online
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/1002486.html
International
India: Blogging after months, Advani still talks of EVMs [electronic voting machines]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Blogging-after-months-Advani-still-talks-of-EVMs/articleshow/5500290.cms
India: Election Commission of India celebrates Diamond Jubilee year
http://www.bloombergutv.com/stock-market/stocks/commentary/368028/election-commission-of-india-celebrates-diamond-jubilee-year.html
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday listed electronic voting machines (EVMs) as one of the breakthroughs that had lent credibility to the Indian electoral process.
India: EVMs enhance credibility of India's elections: PM
http://www.dailytimesindia.com/2010/01/92504.htm
Phillipines: Comelec still open to manual polls
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=543959&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Various groups have been demanding that the source code be made public before the elections to determine if the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines ...
Phillipines: Comelec Lanao Sur to conduct public demo the use of PCOS machine
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100125.htm&no=54
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Analysis of Massachusetts election continues, Kansas SoS begins planning for future of elections
Ireland's voting machines are likely to be scrapped, discussion of the Massachusetts Senate race continues.
All this and more in this weekend's Voting News below...
IL: Early voting in Primaries ends Thursday at numerous locations in Cook County
http://www.examiner.com/x-34720-Cook-County-Elections-2010-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Early-voting-in-Primaries-ends-Thursday-at-numerous-locations-in-Cook-County
KS: Thornburgh: Voter access is goal
http://cjonline.com/news/legislature/2010-01-23/thornburgh_voter_access_is_goal
MA: Mack Urges Mass. Secretary of State to Quickly Certify Brown Election Results
http://www.bignews.biz/?id=836694&keys=Congressman-Mack-Connie-Massachusetts
MA: Demographics may explain Coakley's 3% win of hand-count paper ballots
http://www.examiner.com/x-1969-Boston-Progressive-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Demographics-may-explain-Coakleys-3-win-of-handcount-ballots
The election integrity community has been vigorously discussing the wide variance between hand counted ballots and machine counted ballots in the recent special Senate election in Massachusetts.
TN: County gears up for busy election year
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/county-gears-up-for-busy-election-year-cms-21518
WV: The Internet is not a secure-enough platform for overseas voters [OpEd]
http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/OpEdCommentaries/201001210473
National: An Open Letter to U.S. Media on Elections
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mimi-kennedy/an-open-letter-to-the-us_b_434390.html
International
Canada: Voters can cast ballot by phone or Internet [local election]
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2274619
The city of Pembroke will be letting its residents vote from home in the Oct. 25 municipal election.
Ireland: Voting machines set to go - Gormley
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0125/1224263036307.html
"Electronic equipment that cost the State some €50 million but has never been commissioned is now likely to be cast off completely, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley has confirmed."
Philippines: Delivery of voting machines completed by February 14
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239961/delivery-voting-machines-completed-february-14
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers' ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in this weekend's Voting News below...
IL: Early voting in Primaries ends Thursday at numerous locations in Cook County
http://www.examiner.com/x-34720-Cook-County-Elections-2010-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Early-voting-in-Primaries-ends-Thursday-at-numerous-locations-in-Cook-County
KS: Thornburgh: Voter access is goal
http://cjonline.com/news/legislature/2010-01-23/thornburgh_voter_access_is_goal
MA: Mack Urges Mass. Secretary of State to Quickly Certify Brown Election Results
http://www.bignews.biz/?id=836694&keys=Congressman-Mack-Connie-Massachusetts
MA: Demographics may explain Coakley's 3% win of hand-count paper ballots
http://www.examiner.com/x-1969-Boston-Progressive-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Demographics-may-explain-Coakleys-3-win-of-handcount-ballots
The election integrity community has been vigorously discussing the wide variance between hand counted ballots and machine counted ballots in the recent special Senate election in Massachusetts.
TN: County gears up for busy election year
http://www.murfreesboropost.com/county-gears-up-for-busy-election-year-cms-21518
WV: The Internet is not a secure-enough platform for overseas voters [OpEd]
http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/OpEdCommentaries/201001210473
National: An Open Letter to U.S. Media on Elections
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mimi-kennedy/an-open-letter-to-the-us_b_434390.html
International
Canada: Voters can cast ballot by phone or Internet [local election]
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2274619
The city of Pembroke will be letting its residents vote from home in the Oct. 25 municipal election.
Ireland: Voting machines set to go - Gormley
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0125/1224263036307.html
"Electronic equipment that cost the State some €50 million but has never been commissioned is now likely to be cast off completely, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley has confirmed."
Philippines: Delivery of voting machines completed by February 14
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239961/delivery-voting-machines-completed-february-14
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers' ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Alabama House approves UOCAVA Internet voting bill, Citizens United decision shakes up U.S. elections
Alabama's House of Representatives approved a bill allowing Internet voting for overseas and military voters today. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case Citizens United vs. FEC naturally dominated today's media coverage of election issues. There is too much reporting, analysis and commentary of the decision to summarize here. Election Law Blog (http://electionlawblog.org/) is a strong resource for background and discussion of the case.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
AL: Alabama House OKs military, overseas voting legislation
http://www2.eprisenow.com/ent/news/local/article/alabama_house_oks_militaryoverseas_voting_legislation/124082/
IL: Toppert asks for state board to eye R.I. County election
http://www.wqad.com/news/wqadtopppert-asks-state-board-election-help012210,0,5437439.story
..."On Wednesday, [Rock Island County Clerk candidate] Toppert fired off a letter to the state election authority asking for extra eyes to watch polls and the electronic voting machines around the county."...
MN: Our View: Beware of New Voting Systems
http://mankatofreepress.com/editorials/x1059039783/Our-View-Beware-of-new-voting-systems
TN: Election commission votes for new building
http://www.decaturcountyonline.com/article.asp?art=1495
TN: Casteeel pleased with delay of bill regarding voting machines
http://www.tullahomanews.com/news/view_article.asp?idcategory=9&idarticle=8667
National
Court Reverses Limits on Campaign Spending
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703699204575016942930090152.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories
How Corporate Money Will Reshape Politics (wide-ranging commentary)
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/how-corporate-money-will-reshape-politics/#richard
Citizens United vs. FEC: Is it Time for a Free Speech for People Amendment?
http://www.voteraction.org/news-article/2010/citizens-united-v-fec-time-free-speech-people-amendment
International
Kenya: IIEC to use electronic voting system
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=62014
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's Voting News below...
AL: Alabama House OKs military, overseas voting legislation
http://www2.eprisenow.com/ent/news/local/article/alabama_house_oks_militaryoverseas_voting_legislation/124082/
IL: Toppert asks for state board to eye R.I. County election
http://www.wqad.com/news/wqadtopppert-asks-state-board-election-help012210,0,5437439.story
..."On Wednesday, [Rock Island County Clerk candidate] Toppert fired off a letter to the state election authority asking for extra eyes to watch polls and the electronic voting machines around the county."...
MN: Our View: Beware of New Voting Systems
http://mankatofreepress.com/editorials/x1059039783/Our-View-Beware-of-new-voting-systems
TN: Election commission votes for new building
http://www.decaturcountyonline.com/article.asp?art=1495
TN: Casteeel pleased with delay of bill regarding voting machines
http://www.tullahomanews.com/news/view_article.asp?idcategory=9&idarticle=8667
National
Court Reverses Limits on Campaign Spending
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703699204575016942930090152.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories
How Corporate Money Will Reshape Politics (wide-ranging commentary)
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/how-corporate-money-will-reshape-politics/#richard
Citizens United vs. FEC: Is it Time for a Free Speech for People Amendment?
http://www.voteraction.org/news-article/2010/citizens-united-v-fec-time-free-speech-people-amendment
International
Kenya: IIEC to use electronic voting system
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=62014
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
EAC, OAS sign agreement on voting initiatives, Finland puts the brakes on e-voting, Illinois prepares for first "undervote warning" election
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission signs an agreement with the Organization of American States that, among other provisions, calls for cooperation on "the standardization, testing, auditing and implementation of electronic voting initiatives," Finland becomes the latest country to put the brakes on electronic voting, and Illinois election officials prepare optical scan and DRE equipment to provide an undervote warning for state offices in the February 2 primary.
All this and more in today's Voting News...
IL: New voting rule takes effect in primary
http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1301086263/New-voting-rule-takes-effect-in-primary
MA: Coakley winds the Hand Counts
http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/frontpage-news/10818-coakley-wins-the-hand-counts.html
NE: Council: No recount
http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2010/01/20/news/60005311.txt
NJ: Judge orders new election for Park Ridge Council seat
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/012010_Judge_orders_new_election_for_Park_Ridge_council_seat.html
Citing voting irregularities and the difficulty in determining for whom some disqualified voters cast their ballots in the Park Ridge municipal election Nov. 3, Superior Court Judge Robert C. Wilson on Wednesday ordered that a new election be held for a seat on the Borough Council.
International
International - OAS and the United States Sign Cooperation Agreement on Electoral Affairs
http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=7830
Finland: Electronic voting will not be developed further on the current basis
http://www.isria.com/pages/20_January_2010_95.php
India: Compulsory voting against democracy, EC says
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Compulsory-voting-against-democracy-says-EC/articleshow/5481993.cms
India: 58 to 60 percent registered in Chotila by-polls
http://www.ptinews.com/news/477551_58-to-60-per-cent-voting-registered-in-Chotila-by-polls
Philippines: Traders to get first-hand demo on voting machines
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239407/traders-get-firsthand-demo-voting-machines
United Kingdom: Voters with learning disabilities 'disenfranchised'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8469533.stm
..."Looking further forward, it [a study by charity United Response] believes a new strategy is needed to boost democratic involvement, with all elected representatives taking more account of the needs of those with learning disabilities. "...
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's Voting News...
IL: New voting rule takes effect in primary
http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1301086263/New-voting-rule-takes-effect-in-primary
MA: Coakley winds the Hand Counts
http://www.gouverneurtimes.com/frontpage-news/10818-coakley-wins-the-hand-counts.html
NE: Council: No recount
http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2010/01/20/news/60005311.txt
NJ: Judge orders new election for Park Ridge Council seat
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/012010_Judge_orders_new_election_for_Park_Ridge_council_seat.html
Citing voting irregularities and the difficulty in determining for whom some disqualified voters cast their ballots in the Park Ridge municipal election Nov. 3, Superior Court Judge Robert C. Wilson on Wednesday ordered that a new election be held for a seat on the Borough Council.
International
International - OAS and the United States Sign Cooperation Agreement on Electoral Affairs
http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=7830
Finland: Electronic voting will not be developed further on the current basis
http://www.isria.com/pages/20_January_2010_95.php
India: Compulsory voting against democracy, EC says
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Compulsory-voting-against-democracy-says-EC/articleshow/5481993.cms
India: 58 to 60 percent registered in Chotila by-polls
http://www.ptinews.com/news/477551_58-to-60-per-cent-voting-registered-in-Chotila-by-polls
Philippines: Traders to get first-hand demo on voting machines
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/239407/traders-get-firsthand-demo-voting-machines
United Kingdom: Voters with learning disabilities 'disenfranchised'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8469533.stm
..."Looking further forward, it [a study by charity United Response] believes a new strategy is needed to boost democratic involvement, with all elected representatives taking more account of the needs of those with learning disabilities. "...
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Ballot irregularities charged in MA, IL election officials prepare for undervote warning, Google hack post-mortem continues
The Massachusetts special election dominated discussion of voting issues today, and the Google hack continues to make news.
As of just before 9pm EST, the Massachusetts election is too close to call. Results can be viewed at these sites:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2010/senate_race/
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2010/by_county/MA_US_Senate_0119.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/index.html
http://wbztv.com/
All this and more in today's Voting News...
AL: Military voting bill gets out of House committee
http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/news/2010/jan/18/military-voting-bill-gets-out-house-committee/
January 18, 2010 - A bill aimed at making it easier for members of the military to vote while serving overseas passed out of House committee Thursday.
IL: Clerk outlines changes in voting procedure
http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/news/x1672016794/Clerk-outlines-changes-in-voting-procedure
Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching recently explained a new law enacted by the State of Illinois that will affect voters in the Feb. 2 primary election.
MA: Mass. secretary of state dismissed vote problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903906.html
The Massachusetts secretary of state is discounting reports of voter irregularities in the state's Senate special election.
MA: Coakley campaign alleges voting irregularities
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/coakley_campaig_3.html
The Senate campaign of Democrat Martha Coakley said this evening that ballots pre-marked for Republican rival Scott Brown have been given out at several polling places across the state.
MA: Conversation with Maynard Town Clerk Michelle Sokolowski
http://www.wickedlocal.com/maynard/town_info/government/x1560339308/Conversation-with-Maynard-Town-Clerk-Michelle-Sokolowski
MA: Orange Alert Must Galvanize Galvin, Election Watchdogs Say
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orange-alert-must-galvanize-galvin-election-watchdogs-say-82056497.html
Wanting to be certain that today's Senate race in Massachusetts is not hijacked by the computerized optical scanners that count votes inside black boxes away from the public view -- as highly-respected computer scientists have proven is too easily possible -- citizen groups are asking the Massachusetts Secretary of State to take extra precautions.
MA: Alert! Coakley Voters Report Receiving Ballots Pre-marked for Brown
http://www.marthacoakley.com/news/press_releases/details/2010-01-alert-coakley-voters-report-receiving-ballots-pre-mar
We've received several independent and disturbing reports of voters across the state being handed ballots that are already marked in favor of Scott Brown. This is obviously a serious violation, and our legal team is taking immediate steps to protect the integrity of this election.
MA: Explosive turnout and charges in Massachusetts
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31674.html
MA: Galvin: Decision to seat MA winner ultimately rests with the Senate
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/19/galvin-decision-to-seat-ma-winner-ultimately-rests-with-senate/
National:
Digital Fingerprints for Chinese Attack on Google
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20cyber.html
Fearing Hackers Who Leave No Trace [more follow-up on Google hack]
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20code.html
..."Given the complexity of today’s software programs, which are typically written by teams of hundreds or thousands of engineers, it is virtually impossible to be perfectly confident in the security of any program, and tampering could very well go undetected."...
International:
Canada: County Internet voting likely by fall [Prince Edward County, Ontario]
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2263819
January 16, 2010 - Prince Edward County residents should be able to cast their vote in this fall's municipal election without leaving the comfort of their home.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
As of just before 9pm EST, the Massachusetts election is too close to call. Results can be viewed at these sites:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2010/senate_race/
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2010/by_county/MA_US_Senate_0119.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/index.html
http://wbztv.com/
All this and more in today's Voting News...
AL: Military voting bill gets out of House committee
http://www.clantonadvertiser.com/news/2010/jan/18/military-voting-bill-gets-out-house-committee/
January 18, 2010 - A bill aimed at making it easier for members of the military to vote while serving overseas passed out of House committee Thursday.
IL: Clerk outlines changes in voting procedure
http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/news/x1672016794/Clerk-outlines-changes-in-voting-procedure
Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching recently explained a new law enacted by the State of Illinois that will affect voters in the Feb. 2 primary election.
MA: Mass. secretary of state dismissed vote problems
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011903906.html
The Massachusetts secretary of state is discounting reports of voter irregularities in the state's Senate special election.
MA: Coakley campaign alleges voting irregularities
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/coakley_campaig_3.html
The Senate campaign of Democrat Martha Coakley said this evening that ballots pre-marked for Republican rival Scott Brown have been given out at several polling places across the state.
MA: Conversation with Maynard Town Clerk Michelle Sokolowski
http://www.wickedlocal.com/maynard/town_info/government/x1560339308/Conversation-with-Maynard-Town-Clerk-Michelle-Sokolowski
MA: Orange Alert Must Galvanize Galvin, Election Watchdogs Say
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orange-alert-must-galvanize-galvin-election-watchdogs-say-82056497.html
Wanting to be certain that today's Senate race in Massachusetts is not hijacked by the computerized optical scanners that count votes inside black boxes away from the public view -- as highly-respected computer scientists have proven is too easily possible -- citizen groups are asking the Massachusetts Secretary of State to take extra precautions.
MA: Alert! Coakley Voters Report Receiving Ballots Pre-marked for Brown
http://www.marthacoakley.com/news/press_releases/details/2010-01-alert-coakley-voters-report-receiving-ballots-pre-mar
We've received several independent and disturbing reports of voters across the state being handed ballots that are already marked in favor of Scott Brown. This is obviously a serious violation, and our legal team is taking immediate steps to protect the integrity of this election.
MA: Explosive turnout and charges in Massachusetts
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31674.html
MA: Galvin: Decision to seat MA winner ultimately rests with the Senate
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/19/galvin-decision-to-seat-ma-winner-ultimately-rests-with-senate/
National:
Digital Fingerprints for Chinese Attack on Google
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20cyber.html
Fearing Hackers Who Leave No Trace [more follow-up on Google hack]
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/technology/20code.html
..."Given the complexity of today’s software programs, which are typically written by teams of hundreds or thousands of engineers, it is virtually impossible to be perfectly confident in the security of any program, and tampering could very well go undetected."...
International:
Canada: County Internet voting likely by fall [Prince Edward County, Ontario]
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2263819
January 16, 2010 - Prince Edward County residents should be able to cast their vote in this fall's municipal election without leaving the comfort of their home.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Google hack making waves, Massachusetts special election raises concern, and Kansas SoS report
The Google e-mail hack continues to make waves: today a New York Times feature quotes security experts as saying "the ideal approach [to Internet vulnerabilities] is to carefully identify a corporation’s most valuable intellectual property and data, and place it on a separate computer network not linked to the Internet, leaving a so-called air gap."
All this and more in today's voting news below...
KS: Secretary of State Releases Report on the Future of Elections in Kansas http://www.morningsun.net/blogs/politics/x532579080/POLITICS-BLOG-Secretary-of-State-releases-report-on-future-of-elections-in-Kansas
View the full Secretary of State's Report:
http://media.morningsun.net/news/Election%20Future%20report.pdf
KY: County Switching to New Voting Machines
http://www.wlky.com/news/22234655/detail.html
January 14, 2010 - A northeastern Kentucky county is casting its lot with optical scan voting machines and doing away with paper ballots.
The Ashland Daily Independent reports that Greenup County has ordered 32 eScan machines at a cost of $120,680. The machines should allow the county to place one in each precinct.
MA: Election Watchdog Groups Fearful of Electronic Voting Fraud in Massachusetts Senate Election
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017553930?Election%20Watchdog%20Groups%20Fearful%20Of%20Electronic%20Voting%20Fraud%20In%20Massachusetts%20Senate%20Election
MD: Maryland Needs Secure, Verifiable Voting System
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01152010/policol151412_32553.php
January 15, 2010 - The state of Maryland will be making a foolish choice if it decides to renege on its promise to replace our risky paperless touchscreen voting machines with a paper ballot, optical-scan voting system.
NE: County sticks with voting machine vendor
http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/1993916,pcelex0116.article
January 16, 2010 - A Nebraska vendor will continue to service electronic voting machines for elections in Porter County.
NY: Concerns About NY''s New Voting Machines
http://reformny.blogspot.com/2010/01/concerns-about-new-yorks-new-voting.html
January 15, 2010 - ..."At least one of the two [new] systems, the ES&S DS200 (to be used in New York City, among other jurisdictions) has an unusual feature: unlike most optical scan systems, if a voter makes a mistake (voting for two candidates when she was only entitled to vote for one, for instance), the machine doesn't "spit" the ballot out and direct the voter to correct her mistake."..."Paul Malischke, a voting rights advocate in Wisconsin, tells me that his state conditioned its purchase of the DS200 on a promise from ES&S that the machine be reconfigured to immediately return a ballot to the voter if it detects an overvote."...
TX: Upshur County discusses primaries
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2010/01/16/01162010_upshur_county.html January 16, 2010 — Upshur County will make its voting machines available to the Democratic and Republican parties for their primaries, if both parties agree to use the entire system and contract with Fort Worth- based Hart for the machines' programming and tabulating.
VA: DOJ cites county for 242 ADA violations [pollworker training discussed]
http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/doj_cites_county_for_242_ada_violations/6666/
January 15, 2010 - Already facing mandated courthouse renovations and possible construction of an administrative building and a school, Smyth County is ordered to start bringing buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at a yet unknown cost.
National: Companies Fight Endless War Against Computer Attacks
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/technology/internet/18defend.html?pagewanted=2
January 18, 2010 - ..."Security experts say the ideal approach is to carefully identify a corporation’s most valuable intellectual property and data, and place it on a separate computer network not linked to the Internet, leaving a so-called air gap."...
International: Pakistan to seek Indian help on electronic voting http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\01\16\story_16-1-2010_pg7_29
January 16, 2010 - India and Pakistan are set to share experiences of conducting elections as Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on January 25 to participate in the diamond jubilee celebrations of India’s Election Commission, sources said on Friday.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's voting news below...
KS: Secretary of State Releases Report on the Future of Elections in Kansas http://www.morningsun.net/blogs/politics/x532579080/POLITICS-BLOG-Secretary-of-State-releases-report-on-future-of-elections-in-Kansas
View the full Secretary of State's Report:
http://media.morningsun.net/news/Election%20Future%20report.pdf
KY: County Switching to New Voting Machines
http://www.wlky.com/news/22234655/detail.html
January 14, 2010 - A northeastern Kentucky county is casting its lot with optical scan voting machines and doing away with paper ballots.
The Ashland Daily Independent reports that Greenup County has ordered 32 eScan machines at a cost of $120,680. The machines should allow the county to place one in each precinct.
MA: Election Watchdog Groups Fearful of Electronic Voting Fraud in Massachusetts Senate Election
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7017553930?Election%20Watchdog%20Groups%20Fearful%20Of%20Electronic%20Voting%20Fraud%20In%20Massachusetts%20Senate%20Election
MD: Maryland Needs Secure, Verifiable Voting System
http://www.gazette.net/stories/01152010/policol151412_32553.php
January 15, 2010 - The state of Maryland will be making a foolish choice if it decides to renege on its promise to replace our risky paperless touchscreen voting machines with a paper ballot, optical-scan voting system.
NE: County sticks with voting machine vendor
http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/1993916,pcelex0116.article
January 16, 2010 - A Nebraska vendor will continue to service electronic voting machines for elections in Porter County.
NY: Concerns About NY''s New Voting Machines
http://reformny.blogspot.com/2010/01/concerns-about-new-yorks-new-voting.html
January 15, 2010 - ..."At least one of the two [new] systems, the ES&S DS200 (to be used in New York City, among other jurisdictions) has an unusual feature: unlike most optical scan systems, if a voter makes a mistake (voting for two candidates when she was only entitled to vote for one, for instance), the machine doesn't "spit" the ballot out and direct the voter to correct her mistake."..."Paul Malischke, a voting rights advocate in Wisconsin, tells me that his state conditioned its purchase of the DS200 on a promise from ES&S that the machine be reconfigured to immediately return a ballot to the voter if it detects an overvote."...
TX: Upshur County discusses primaries
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/2010/01/16/01162010_upshur_county.html January 16, 2010 — Upshur County will make its voting machines available to the Democratic and Republican parties for their primaries, if both parties agree to use the entire system and contract with Fort Worth- based Hart for the machines' programming and tabulating.
VA: DOJ cites county for 242 ADA violations [pollworker training discussed]
http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/doj_cites_county_for_242_ada_violations/6666/
January 15, 2010 - Already facing mandated courthouse renovations and possible construction of an administrative building and a school, Smyth County is ordered to start bringing buildings into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at a yet unknown cost.
National: Companies Fight Endless War Against Computer Attacks
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/technology/internet/18defend.html?pagewanted=2
January 18, 2010 - ..."Security experts say the ideal approach is to carefully identify a corporation’s most valuable intellectual property and data, and place it on a separate computer network not linked to the Internet, leaving a so-called air gap."...
International: Pakistan to seek Indian help on electronic voting http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\01\16\story_16-1-2010_pg7_29
January 16, 2010 - India and Pakistan are set to share experiences of conducting elections as Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on January 25 to participate in the diamond jubilee celebrations of India’s Election Commission, sources said on Friday.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
GA voting case moves to Valdosta, EAC oks 3rd ballot scanner, AL internet voting bill, Google hacked
Alabama House considers military internet voting bill today. Meanwhile Google disclosed significant attacks on their servers...Project Vote’s releasing election recommendations for 11 states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada,New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia... Should voter history be private or public information?...EAC Certifies Third Optical-Scan Voting System....Election tension mounts as Ukraine PM cries foul
Dr Barbara Simons on Voter Registration...Government of Sri Lanka Condemns Election Violence
All this and more in today's voting news below....
AL: Alabama House committee reviews 4 election bills today (includes internet voting for military) http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006347.html
CA: Wall Street Journal Article in San Francisco Green Party
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/01/13/wall-street-journal-article-in-san-francisco-green-party/
January 13th, 2010 The two articles are not the same, although they both emphasize that by some indicators, the party is weaker than it was in the past.
CA: California ACORN breaks off into new nonprofit group
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-acorn13-2010jan13,0,7260819.story
The community organization group will keep the same mission and many of the same staffers, but will not belong to the troubled national alliance.
GA: GA voting case moves to Valdosta (where Ray Lemme ended up)
http://bit.ly/5LgcZg January 12.
I am going to Valdosta this week to provide expert witness testimony in the bizarre case against Laura Gallegos that will be heard on Thursday January 14th at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
In this case, a known voting machine defect allowed 947 test votes to be included in the 2008 Lowndes County certified election results.
IL: Illinois and the Law of Unintended Consequences
http://bit.ly/5dBM2i
January 12, 2010 In Illinois, now home of the nation's earliest primary elections for federal offices, early voting has begun.
...
So the Illinois legislature never got around to amending the law and changing the date of its primary elections back to the traditional March date.
NC: Maker of fake Cary political Web site comes forward
http://www.carynews.com/news/story/15502.html
The legislature has made no laws regulating campaign Web sites, Ragan said, so the elections board would have no jurisdiction over the content of any site.
NE: Nebraska online voter registration might be possible
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=11806528
Jan 13, 2010 - It might soon be possible to register online to vote in Nebraska. A bill (LB 875) State Sen. Bob Giese of South Sioux City introduced Monday would require the development of an online voter registration system. KNTV. Read More
NH: N.H. voters suprised by special election poll hours
http://bit.ly/6TN092
Jan 13, 2010 - Any early risers who planned to cast a vote yesterday were in for a surprise. Polls in the three Manchester wards that hosted a special primary election weren't open for business until 11 a.m. Mark Hayward, Union Leader
PA: Rep. Wolf Takes Voter Intimidation Case to Judiciary Committee
http://bit.ly/8ZhOaw
January 12, 2010 Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) continues to try get answers from the Obama Justice Department about a voter intimidation case in Philadelphia. The incident which occurred during the 2008 presidential election was summarily dismissed by Eric Holder's office
TN: State senate delays paper trail for voting
http://www.wsmv.com/politics/22215960/detail.html
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to delay a law requiring a paper trail on voting machines until the 2012 election cycle. Tuesday, January 12, 2010. ... As much as $37 million in federal funding is available under the Help America Vote Act
VA: Voter Privacy and the Know Campaign
http://electls.blogs.wm.edu/2010/01/13/voter-privacy-and-the-know-campaign/
January 13, 2010 ...“Below is a partial list of your recent voting history — public information obtained from the Virginia State Board of Elections…We have sent you this information as a public service because we believe that democracy only works when you vote.”
What if this mailing also contained information about my neighbor’s voting history in order for me to encourage/shame him into voting in the upcoming election?
VA: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Has the Power to Issue an Executive Order that Would Restore Voting Rights to People With Felony Convictions
Advancement Project alert: Click on the link below and take the Washington Post survey and vote “yes,” you think Governor Kaine should issue a blanket restoration order to people who have paid their debt to society:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/12/AR2010011203386.html
National
GOOGLE: Internet Attacked; Activists Targeted; Freedom To Be Restored
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2771
January 13, 2010 Google disclosed significant attacks on their servers and GMail, along with attacks on other corporations. They will change their policy limiting the freedom of Chinese citizens. Another demonstration that the risk to democracy posed by Internet voting is not just a possibility voiced by computer scientists and security experts
EAC Certifies Third Optical-Scan Voting System
http://www.eac.gov/News/press/eac-certifies-third-optical-scan-voting-system/base_view
Unisyn OpenElect 1.0 meets 2005 federal voting system standard
New Memos Assess Election Laws in 11 States
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=109
In preparation for the 2010 legislative season...
...
These state-specific memos assess current state election laws in six key areas: (1)Voter Registration; (2) List Maintenance; (3) Early Voting and Same-Day Registration; (4) Voter Intimidation and Suppression; (5) Public Agency Registration; and (6) Provisional Voting, identifying opportunities for states to improve the fairness and overall quality of their election processes.
Barbara Simons on Voter Registration
http://www.trustthevote.org/barbara-simons-on-voter-registration
...an excellent account of part of the story about where voter registration came from, and why it is controversial that U.S. citizens must proactively request permission to vote, and then pass muster w.r.t. eligibility requirements as evaluated by an election official.
Yes: security is hard
http://www.trustthevote.org/yes-security-is-hard
Jan 10th, 2010 I came across this article, “NIST-certified USB Flash drives with hardware encryption cracked.”.
...
I was quite intrigued by this article given that we talk blithely about using encrypted, write-once media to transfer information between various components of a voting system.
Why the “Christmas Day Intelligence Failure” might be of interest to election scholars and administrators
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3052
Peer reviewers wanted
http://www.eac.gov/blog-postings/peer-reviewers-wanted-1
EAC seeks peer reviewers to help review the commission's competitive grant applications. For more information about these paid, temporary opportunities, go here.
International
Canada: Township investigates electronic voting
http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2257666
Elizabethtown- Kitley Township voters may get the chance to cast their votes electronically this coming election.
...
Many municipalities have starting using alternative voting methods of mail, telephone and Internet. In this region, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal and Augusta Townships used a combination of electronic and paper ballots during the 2006 election.
North Grenville Township has already approved Internet and telephone voting for the upcoming election. An estimate established by North Grenville put the cost at approximately $40,000.
Sri Lanka: Government of Sri Lanka Condemns Election Violence
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-sri-lanka-condemns-election-violence-81253062.html
Ukraine: Election tension mounts as Ukraine PM cries foul
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60C0PD20100113
PM accuses rival of planning "monstrous" election fraud
...
"A conscious disruption of the election process is going on," Tymoshenko told a government meeting, saying that Yanukovich's party was organising mass fraud in the east of the country, his main power base. "Such monstrous falsification didn't even happen in 2004," she said.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Dr Barbara Simons on Voter Registration...Government of Sri Lanka Condemns Election Violence
All this and more in today's voting news below....
AL: Alabama House committee reviews 4 election bills today (includes internet voting for military) http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006347.html
CA: Wall Street Journal Article in San Francisco Green Party
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/01/13/wall-street-journal-article-in-san-francisco-green-party/
January 13th, 2010 The two articles are not the same, although they both emphasize that by some indicators, the party is weaker than it was in the past.
CA: California ACORN breaks off into new nonprofit group
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-acorn13-2010jan13,0,7260819.story
The community organization group will keep the same mission and many of the same staffers, but will not belong to the troubled national alliance.
GA: GA voting case moves to Valdosta (where Ray Lemme ended up)
http://bit.ly/5LgcZg January 12.
I am going to Valdosta this week to provide expert witness testimony in the bizarre case against Laura Gallegos that will be heard on Thursday January 14th at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
In this case, a known voting machine defect allowed 947 test votes to be included in the 2008 Lowndes County certified election results.
IL: Illinois and the Law of Unintended Consequences
http://bit.ly/5dBM2i
January 12, 2010 In Illinois, now home of the nation's earliest primary elections for federal offices, early voting has begun.
...
So the Illinois legislature never got around to amending the law and changing the date of its primary elections back to the traditional March date.
NC: Maker of fake Cary political Web site comes forward
http://www.carynews.com/news/story/15502.html
The legislature has made no laws regulating campaign Web sites, Ragan said, so the elections board would have no jurisdiction over the content of any site.
NE: Nebraska online voter registration might be possible
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=11806528
Jan 13, 2010 - It might soon be possible to register online to vote in Nebraska. A bill (LB 875) State Sen. Bob Giese of South Sioux City introduced Monday would require the development of an online voter registration system. KNTV. Read More
NH: N.H. voters suprised by special election poll hours
http://bit.ly/6TN092
Jan 13, 2010 - Any early risers who planned to cast a vote yesterday were in for a surprise. Polls in the three Manchester wards that hosted a special primary election weren't open for business until 11 a.m. Mark Hayward, Union Leader
PA: Rep. Wolf Takes Voter Intimidation Case to Judiciary Committee
http://bit.ly/8ZhOaw
January 12, 2010 Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) continues to try get answers from the Obama Justice Department about a voter intimidation case in Philadelphia. The incident which occurred during the 2008 presidential election was summarily dismissed by Eric Holder's office
TN: State senate delays paper trail for voting
http://www.wsmv.com/politics/22215960/detail.html
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to delay a law requiring a paper trail on voting machines until the 2012 election cycle. Tuesday, January 12, 2010. ... As much as $37 million in federal funding is available under the Help America Vote Act
VA: Voter Privacy and the Know Campaign
http://electls.blogs.wm.edu/2010/01/13/voter-privacy-and-the-know-campaign/
January 13, 2010 ...“Below is a partial list of your recent voting history — public information obtained from the Virginia State Board of Elections…We have sent you this information as a public service because we believe that democracy only works when you vote.”
What if this mailing also contained information about my neighbor’s voting history in order for me to encourage/shame him into voting in the upcoming election?
VA: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Has the Power to Issue an Executive Order that Would Restore Voting Rights to People With Felony Convictions
Advancement Project alert: Click on the link below and take the Washington Post survey and vote “yes,” you think Governor Kaine should issue a blanket restoration order to people who have paid their debt to society:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/12/AR2010011203386.html
National
GOOGLE: Internet Attacked; Activists Targeted; Freedom To Be Restored
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2771
January 13, 2010 Google disclosed significant attacks on their servers and GMail, along with attacks on other corporations. They will change their policy limiting the freedom of Chinese citizens. Another demonstration that the risk to democracy posed by Internet voting is not just a possibility voiced by computer scientists and security experts
EAC Certifies Third Optical-Scan Voting System
http://www.eac.gov/News/press/eac-certifies-third-optical-scan-voting-system/base_view
Unisyn OpenElect 1.0 meets 2005 federal voting system standard
New Memos Assess Election Laws in 11 States
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=109
In preparation for the 2010 legislative season...
...
These state-specific memos assess current state election laws in six key areas: (1)Voter Registration; (2) List Maintenance; (3) Early Voting and Same-Day Registration; (4) Voter Intimidation and Suppression; (5) Public Agency Registration; and (6) Provisional Voting, identifying opportunities for states to improve the fairness and overall quality of their election processes.
Barbara Simons on Voter Registration
http://www.trustthevote.org/barbara-simons-on-voter-registration
...an excellent account of part of the story about where voter registration came from, and why it is controversial that U.S. citizens must proactively request permission to vote, and then pass muster w.r.t. eligibility requirements as evaluated by an election official.
Yes: security is hard
http://www.trustthevote.org/yes-security-is-hard
Jan 10th, 2010 I came across this article, “NIST-certified USB Flash drives with hardware encryption cracked.”.
...
I was quite intrigued by this article given that we talk blithely about using encrypted, write-once media to transfer information between various components of a voting system.
Why the “Christmas Day Intelligence Failure” might be of interest to election scholars and administrators
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3052
Peer reviewers wanted
http://www.eac.gov/blog-postings/peer-reviewers-wanted-1
EAC seeks peer reviewers to help review the commission's competitive grant applications. For more information about these paid, temporary opportunities, go here.
International
Canada: Township investigates electronic voting
http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2257666
Elizabethtown- Kitley Township voters may get the chance to cast their votes electronically this coming election.
...
Many municipalities have starting using alternative voting methods of mail, telephone and Internet. In this region, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal and Augusta Townships used a combination of electronic and paper ballots during the 2006 election.
North Grenville Township has already approved Internet and telephone voting for the upcoming election. An estimate established by North Grenville put the cost at approximately $40,000.
Sri Lanka: Government of Sri Lanka Condemns Election Violence
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/government-of-sri-lanka-condemns-election-violence-81253062.html
Ukraine: Election tension mounts as Ukraine PM cries foul
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60C0PD20100113
PM accuses rival of planning "monstrous" election fraud
...
"A conscious disruption of the election process is going on," Tymoshenko told a government meeting, saying that Yanukovich's party was organising mass fraud in the east of the country, his main power base. "Such monstrous falsification didn't even happen in 2004," she said.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Delayed - Tennessee paper ballot law, GA SOS hopeful blasts state undercounts
The US Dept of Justice readies lawsuit to undo voting machine merger...Libertarian candidate for Georgia SOS blasts Diebold machines and state-wide vote undercounts...Votes and Doubts in Detroit....Bill to Delay Tennessee Voter Confidence Act until 2012 Passes......Please check out the "Universal" Ballot Counter by Mitch Trachtenberg...For sale on Internet - Ukraine's election votes...
All this and more in today's voting news below....
CO: How Aspen Violated Colorado Ranked Choice Voting Rules
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-aspen-violated-colorado-ranked.html
[Mike LaBonte, an election quality advocate from Massachusetts posted the following summary of one portion of his work related to the Aspen election...
GA: Libertarian Secretary of State Candidate David Chastain Blasts Georgia's Infamous Diebold Electronic Voting Machines
http://bludgeonandskewer.blogspot.com/2010/01/libertarian-secretary-of-state.html
So it looks like our good old Diebold's are dropping votes. Lots of votes. Which is a rotten shame considering that the votes were cast by citizens who went to the polls in good faith to perform their civic duty.
GA: SOS candidate informs Cobb group of state-wide vote undercounts
http://www.theweekly.com/news/2010/January/11/David_Chastain.html
...In December, Chastain spent a day in the research room of the State Archives studying election records from county referendums around Georgia. He focused on single-issue referendums where there is only one question on the ballot
IL: Voters will find fewer polling places as funds, judges become scarce
http://bit.ly/6yDcsm
January 10, 2010 DECATUR - Voters are going to be casting their ballots at a smaller number of polling locations, starting with the February primary election, Macon County Clerk Steve Bean said.
MI: Votes and doubts
http://metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=14701
Barrow demands recounts, then an investigation. Here's why.
Asserting that "probable cause exists" to believe that a criminal conspiracy involving "vote tampering, ballot box stuffing and electronic vote manipulation" occurred, Barrow has asked authorities at every level to investigate. Among those sent the complaint were state Attorney General Mike Cox, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
NJ: Essex County elections chief back to work after being charged in employee pay scheme
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/essex_county_elections_chief_b.html
January 11, 2010 NEWARK -- Carmine Casciano, the veteran Essex County superintendent of elections, was back on the job today, just days after he was charged with official misconduct in a scheme to give paid days off to employees who worked on political campaigns.
TN: Bill to Delay Tennessee Voter Confidence Act Passes
http://www.liberadio.com/2010/01/12/bill-to-delay-tennessee-voter-confidence-act-passes/
The bill to delay the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act passes (mostly along party lines) in the Senate, 22-10. It now goes to the Governor for his signature...
TN: Republicans Delay Voter Confidence Act
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2010/01/senate_votes_to_delay_voter_co.php
...the Senate voted 22-10 to delay implementation of the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act until the 2012 elections.
...
With great fanfare, Republicans and Democrats alike embraced this law in 2008 to eliminate the hazards of paperless, unverified electronic voting.
TN: What Would Jesus Do If He Were a Tennessee State Senator?
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2010/01/what_would_jesus_do_if_he_were.php
There is only one correct, moral, patriotic decision left to make. That is to keep the Voter Confidence Act intact and on-track for 2010.
TX: Voter fraud may be topic for grand jury: District attorney can't comment on rare request for special session
http://www.gonzalesinquirer.com/articles/2010/01/11/news/news01.txt
It is possible a Gonzales city council member and a local preacher could be the subject of a special grand jury which will meet on Jan. 22.
TX: County Considers Request for New Voter Registration Database
http://bit.ly/63g5IT
11 January 2010...Young then began describing the current voter registration database, “TEAMS” (Texas Election Administration Management System) that is used by the county and available from the State of Texas. The system was described by Young as “not user friendly” and very “unreliable”. She further stated that it had many issues in the past of going offline during elections when election workers needed to verify voter registration cards that were not on their paper lists at the polls.
WI: Man accused of voting fraud
http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/469367
JUNEAU — A Fox Lake man may face more than three years in prison for voting in a special election in the city of Fox Lake in November.
Delmar A. Kreier, 49, is charged with election fraud for allegedly casting a ballot when he was on probation for a felony. He was released on a signature bond following his initial court appearance Monday.
National
Obama voting block - Diebold suit nears
http://bit.ly/7522bP
January 11, 2010 The Department of Justice is expected to file a lawsuit at month's end to block the already-completed merger of the nation's two largest voting-machine makers, including one that will service the city, The Post has learned.
According to a person close to the situation, the Justice Department's lawsuit, if successful, would effectively undo the merger of Diebold's Premier Elections Solutions with Election Systems & Software, a $5 million deal completed in September.
"Universal" Ballot Counter. Mitch Trachtenberg
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgxf37nt_174d37hvghf
...The program should be able to process ballots at a time scale of no more than two seconds per ballot when running on sub-$1,000 consumer computer equipment, the faster the better. Because computer speed continues to increase and computer prices continue to decrease, this is an intentionally dynamic measurement.
All Things Considered, Not Such A Good MOVE?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2766
January 12, 2010 ...Now we learn of a flaw in the bill which will actually make it more difficult for military and overseas voters to vote this year. Direct from the Stars and Stripes: Overseas military will have to register again to get ballots this year
International
For sale on Internet - Ukraine's election votes
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60B0N020100112?type=marketsNews
Jan 12, 2010 Offers to sell Ukrainian votes appear on Internet
"I don't believe in our democracy and so I am selling my vote in the elections. Maybe there will be 10 other votes for sale. The only discussion on price will be upwards,"
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's voting news below....
CO: How Aspen Violated Colorado Ranked Choice Voting Rules
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-aspen-violated-colorado-ranked.html
[Mike LaBonte, an election quality advocate from Massachusetts posted the following summary of one portion of his work related to the Aspen election...
GA: Libertarian Secretary of State Candidate David Chastain Blasts Georgia's Infamous Diebold Electronic Voting Machines
http://bludgeonandskewer.blogspot.com/2010/01/libertarian-secretary-of-state.html
So it looks like our good old Diebold's are dropping votes. Lots of votes. Which is a rotten shame considering that the votes were cast by citizens who went to the polls in good faith to perform their civic duty.
GA: SOS candidate informs Cobb group of state-wide vote undercounts
http://www.theweekly.com/news/2010/January/11/David_Chastain.html
...In December, Chastain spent a day in the research room of the State Archives studying election records from county referendums around Georgia. He focused on single-issue referendums where there is only one question on the ballot
IL: Voters will find fewer polling places as funds, judges become scarce
http://bit.ly/6yDcsm
January 10, 2010 DECATUR - Voters are going to be casting their ballots at a smaller number of polling locations, starting with the February primary election, Macon County Clerk Steve Bean said.
MI: Votes and doubts
http://metrotimes.com/news/story.asp?id=14701
Barrow demands recounts, then an investigation. Here's why.
Asserting that "probable cause exists" to believe that a criminal conspiracy involving "vote tampering, ballot box stuffing and electronic vote manipulation" occurred, Barrow has asked authorities at every level to investigate. Among those sent the complaint were state Attorney General Mike Cox, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
NJ: Essex County elections chief back to work after being charged in employee pay scheme
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/essex_county_elections_chief_b.html
January 11, 2010 NEWARK -- Carmine Casciano, the veteran Essex County superintendent of elections, was back on the job today, just days after he was charged with official misconduct in a scheme to give paid days off to employees who worked on political campaigns.
TN: Bill to Delay Tennessee Voter Confidence Act Passes
http://www.liberadio.com/2010/01/12/bill-to-delay-tennessee-voter-confidence-act-passes/
The bill to delay the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act passes (mostly along party lines) in the Senate, 22-10. It now goes to the Governor for his signature...
TN: Republicans Delay Voter Confidence Act
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2010/01/senate_votes_to_delay_voter_co.php
...the Senate voted 22-10 to delay implementation of the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act until the 2012 elections.
...
With great fanfare, Republicans and Democrats alike embraced this law in 2008 to eliminate the hazards of paperless, unverified electronic voting.
TN: What Would Jesus Do If He Were a Tennessee State Senator?
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2010/01/what_would_jesus_do_if_he_were.php
There is only one correct, moral, patriotic decision left to make. That is to keep the Voter Confidence Act intact and on-track for 2010.
TX: Voter fraud may be topic for grand jury: District attorney can't comment on rare request for special session
http://www.gonzalesinquirer.com/articles/2010/01/11/news/news01.txt
It is possible a Gonzales city council member and a local preacher could be the subject of a special grand jury which will meet on Jan. 22.
TX: County Considers Request for New Voter Registration Database
http://bit.ly/63g5IT
11 January 2010...Young then began describing the current voter registration database, “TEAMS” (Texas Election Administration Management System) that is used by the county and available from the State of Texas. The system was described by Young as “not user friendly” and very “unreliable”. She further stated that it had many issues in the past of going offline during elections when election workers needed to verify voter registration cards that were not on their paper lists at the polls.
WI: Man accused of voting fraud
http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/469367
JUNEAU — A Fox Lake man may face more than three years in prison for voting in a special election in the city of Fox Lake in November.
Delmar A. Kreier, 49, is charged with election fraud for allegedly casting a ballot when he was on probation for a felony. He was released on a signature bond following his initial court appearance Monday.
National
Obama voting block - Diebold suit nears
http://bit.ly/7522bP
January 11, 2010 The Department of Justice is expected to file a lawsuit at month's end to block the already-completed merger of the nation's two largest voting-machine makers, including one that will service the city, The Post has learned.
According to a person close to the situation, the Justice Department's lawsuit, if successful, would effectively undo the merger of Diebold's Premier Elections Solutions with Election Systems & Software, a $5 million deal completed in September.
"Universal" Ballot Counter. Mitch Trachtenberg
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgxf37nt_174d37hvghf
...The program should be able to process ballots at a time scale of no more than two seconds per ballot when running on sub-$1,000 consumer computer equipment, the faster the better. Because computer speed continues to increase and computer prices continue to decrease, this is an intentionally dynamic measurement.
All Things Considered, Not Such A Good MOVE?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2766
January 12, 2010 ...Now we learn of a flaw in the bill which will actually make it more difficult for military and overseas voters to vote this year. Direct from the Stars and Stripes: Overseas military will have to register again to get ballots this year
International
For sale on Internet - Ukraine's election votes
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60B0N020100112?type=marketsNews
Jan 12, 2010 Offers to sell Ukrainian votes appear on Internet
"I don't believe in our democracy and so I am selling my vote in the elections. Maybe there will be 10 other votes for sale. The only discussion on price will be upwards,"
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Just say no to Internet Voting, DoJ Voting Rights Fight Reboots, Absentee voting growth market for fraud?
DoJ Voting Rights Fight Reboots...LTE: Just say no to Internet Voting - "as a programmer, I must caution you. Not only do programmers make mistakes, some of them can be bought." Lisa Pease, electronic voting activist...Hawaii lacks funds to send Rep. to Congress...“Absentee voting is the new growth market for election fraud,” said Richard Hayes-Phillips -responding to news of the Detroit recount...Vote Fraud charges in Independence Louisiana....Tennessee is Poised to Move Backwards Again due SB0872 - the bill that if passed would delay implementation of the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act (TVCA) until 2012...Overseas military will have to register again to get ballots this year...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CA: Party pays thousands to signature collector at center of past controversies
http://bit.ly/93aRti
...In 2006, Burkett's firm was hit by voter-registration fraud allegations in Orange and San Bernardino counties.
Dozens of voters claimed their party affiliation had been switched to Republican without their knowledge by signature collectors working for Burkett.
HI: Hawaii lacks funds to send Rep. to Congress
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115825§ionid=3510203
A vote-by-mail special election scheduled for May 1 could only be held if the state collected the USD 925,000 it would cost. This is while a walk-in election would mean 1.2 million for the election office coffer.
IL: Election law angers county clerk (machines would beep)
http://bit.ly/4uUb8v
McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz has told the state that she will not comply with a controversial election “undervoting” law for the Feb. 2 primary.
...
Lake County’s voting machine software is able to accommodate the new law, County Clerk Willard Helander said. But she called the law flawed and unnecessary and said it could mislead people who chose not to vote for a statewide candidate to think that they made a mistake.
“[The General Assembly] didn’t seem to care if you skip voting for Congress, County Board or sheriff, so there’s no equal protection. It seems to be a very flawed law. It’s Illinois at work,” Helander said.
LA: Voter fraud charges causing change in Independence police dept.*
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Voter-fraud-charges-causing-change-in-Independence-police-dept-81182412.html
January 11, 2010 ...Maurer was elected Police Chief in February 2008, but is now being charged in a Federal Bill of Information with illegally registering voters for that election.
...
"A number of people from the Town of Independence called and came in," Tony Radosti, the Vice-President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission told Eyewitness News Monday. "They were telling us about people being registered to vote in the city who were not residents."
MI: Voter fraud in Detroit?
http://bit.ly/8Ajkug
DETROIT — Former mayoral candidate Tom Barrow is waging a battle to expose what he and others call massive, historic election fraud in last November’s mayoral race. Over 51 percent of the votes cast were compromised, Barrow charges, including all 41,458 absentee ballots deemed unrecountable by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers last month.
...
BenDor said elections in counties across the state are rife with absentee voter fraud, insecure chains of custody of paper ballots, and other irregularities...
NY: First Look at NY's New Electronic Voting Machines (video)
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/First_Look_at_NY_s_New_Electronic_Voting_Machines_New_York.html
The days of pulling a lever are over. New York Nighty News got an exclusive first look at the new electronic voting machines you'll be using fom now on. Chuck Scarborough learns how they work from NYC Board of Elections Commissioner, JC Polanco.
TN: Tennessee is Poised to Move Backwards Again
http://www.liberadio.com/2010/01/11/tennessee-is-poised-to-move-backwards-again/
On January 11, 2010 While the rest of the country is moving away from the kind of voting machines we use in 93 out of 95 counties in Tennessee – 100% unverifiable and unauditable touch screen electronic voting machines – after tomorrow our state may be stuck with them for good
WA: Court decision encourages Monroe prisoners eager for right to vote
http://heraldnet.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/701119932
State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed plan to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. McKenna could argue the case himself this fall.
WA: Appeals court ruling could impact felon voting rights
http://www.fox21online.com/news/appeals-court-ruling-could-impact-felon-voting-rights
01/08/2010 MADISON (WPR) ...The ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals throws out a Washington state law that prohibits felons both in and out of prison from voting. The ruling found the law violates the federal voting rights act because it discriminates against African Americans.
Wisconsin state representative Joe Parisi of Monona is now co-sponsoring a bill that would grant voting rights to felons as soon as they leave prison. He says the Washington state ruling reinforces the argument he is making in support of expanding voting rights...
National
Hope and Change at the Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting Section?
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7638
Some important changes at the DoJ's Civil Rights Division, and of particular note to long time readers of The BRAD BLOG, its Voting Rights Division, are beginning to show real change and significantly for the better
Overseas military will have to register again to get ballots this year
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=67099
January 7, 2010 WASHINGTON — Military members serving overseas will have to resubmit their voter registration this year if they hope to cast a ballot in the November midterm elections.
Veterans, military dependents and other U.S. civilians living overseas will have to as well. Changes in federal law mandate that voters must request a new absentee ballot each year in order to participate in state and federal elections, instead of the previous practice of requiring new applications only every few years.
Pentagon seeks to ensure voting access for service members in 2010
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/75035-pentagon-seeks-to-ensure-voting-access-for-service-members-in-2010
Jan 11, 2010 - The Pentagon is moving aggressively to ensure that military members deployed overseas can cast votes in the 2010 midterm elections.
"Giving corporations an outsized voice in elections"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/015030.html
Pentagon cancels Internet voting system (note the date of the article)
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/9294-pentagon-cancels-internet-voting-system
9th Feb 2004 Citing security concerns, the Pentagon has cancelled Internet voting
International
Just say no to Internet Voting
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2256081
Canada: Pembroke council considering Internet voting for 2010 election
Finance and management committee discuss changes
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2252381
Having switched from the tradition poll and ballot box method of voting to a mail-in ballet for the 2006 municipal election, the city of Pembroke looks poised to change its voting method once again.
The city's finance and administration committee unanimously voted to recommend to city council that it implement a phone and Internet vote as an alternate voting method for the 2010 municipal election.
Phillipines: Hackers deface 5th govt Web site, mock automated polls
http://bit.ly/4pYbAA
Another government Web site was found defaced Sunday night - the fifth
attack since last month.
Hackers of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(Tesda) Web site, however, took on a bolder approach by leaving a
message that seemed to mock the upcoming automated elections.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CA: Party pays thousands to signature collector at center of past controversies
http://bit.ly/93aRti
...In 2006, Burkett's firm was hit by voter-registration fraud allegations in Orange and San Bernardino counties.
Dozens of voters claimed their party affiliation had been switched to Republican without their knowledge by signature collectors working for Burkett.
HI: Hawaii lacks funds to send Rep. to Congress
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115825§ionid=3510203
A vote-by-mail special election scheduled for May 1 could only be held if the state collected the USD 925,000 it would cost. This is while a walk-in election would mean 1.2 million for the election office coffer.
IL: Election law angers county clerk (machines would beep)
http://bit.ly/4uUb8v
McHenry County Clerk Katherine Schultz has told the state that she will not comply with a controversial election “undervoting” law for the Feb. 2 primary.
...
Lake County’s voting machine software is able to accommodate the new law, County Clerk Willard Helander said. But she called the law flawed and unnecessary and said it could mislead people who chose not to vote for a statewide candidate to think that they made a mistake.
“[The General Assembly] didn’t seem to care if you skip voting for Congress, County Board or sheriff, so there’s no equal protection. It seems to be a very flawed law. It’s Illinois at work,” Helander said.
LA: Voter fraud charges causing change in Independence police dept.*
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Voter-fraud-charges-causing-change-in-Independence-police-dept-81182412.html
January 11, 2010 ...Maurer was elected Police Chief in February 2008, but is now being charged in a Federal Bill of Information with illegally registering voters for that election.
...
"A number of people from the Town of Independence called and came in," Tony Radosti, the Vice-President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission told Eyewitness News Monday. "They were telling us about people being registered to vote in the city who were not residents."
MI: Voter fraud in Detroit?
http://bit.ly/8Ajkug
DETROIT — Former mayoral candidate Tom Barrow is waging a battle to expose what he and others call massive, historic election fraud in last November’s mayoral race. Over 51 percent of the votes cast were compromised, Barrow charges, including all 41,458 absentee ballots deemed unrecountable by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers last month.
...
BenDor said elections in counties across the state are rife with absentee voter fraud, insecure chains of custody of paper ballots, and other irregularities...
NY: First Look at NY's New Electronic Voting Machines (video)
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/station/as-seen-on/First_Look_at_NY_s_New_Electronic_Voting_Machines_New_York.html
The days of pulling a lever are over. New York Nighty News got an exclusive first look at the new electronic voting machines you'll be using fom now on. Chuck Scarborough learns how they work from NYC Board of Elections Commissioner, JC Polanco.
TN: Tennessee is Poised to Move Backwards Again
http://www.liberadio.com/2010/01/11/tennessee-is-poised-to-move-backwards-again/
On January 11, 2010 While the rest of the country is moving away from the kind of voting machines we use in 93 out of 95 counties in Tennessee – 100% unverifiable and unauditable touch screen electronic voting machines – after tomorrow our state may be stuck with them for good
WA: Court decision encourages Monroe prisoners eager for right to vote
http://heraldnet.com/article/20100111/NEWS01/701119932
State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed plan to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. McKenna could argue the case himself this fall.
WA: Appeals court ruling could impact felon voting rights
http://www.fox21online.com/news/appeals-court-ruling-could-impact-felon-voting-rights
01/08/2010 MADISON (WPR) ...The ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals throws out a Washington state law that prohibits felons both in and out of prison from voting. The ruling found the law violates the federal voting rights act because it discriminates against African Americans.
Wisconsin state representative Joe Parisi of Monona is now co-sponsoring a bill that would grant voting rights to felons as soon as they leave prison. He says the Washington state ruling reinforces the argument he is making in support of expanding voting rights...
National
Hope and Change at the Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division Voting Section?
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7638
Some important changes at the DoJ's Civil Rights Division, and of particular note to long time readers of The BRAD BLOG, its Voting Rights Division, are beginning to show real change and significantly for the better
Overseas military will have to register again to get ballots this year
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=67099
January 7, 2010 WASHINGTON — Military members serving overseas will have to resubmit their voter registration this year if they hope to cast a ballot in the November midterm elections.
Veterans, military dependents and other U.S. civilians living overseas will have to as well. Changes in federal law mandate that voters must request a new absentee ballot each year in order to participate in state and federal elections, instead of the previous practice of requiring new applications only every few years.
Pentagon seeks to ensure voting access for service members in 2010
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/75035-pentagon-seeks-to-ensure-voting-access-for-service-members-in-2010
Jan 11, 2010 - The Pentagon is moving aggressively to ensure that military members deployed overseas can cast votes in the 2010 midterm elections.
"Giving corporations an outsized voice in elections"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/015030.html
Pentagon cancels Internet voting system (note the date of the article)
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/9294-pentagon-cancels-internet-voting-system
9th Feb 2004 Citing security concerns, the Pentagon has cancelled Internet voting
International
Just say no to Internet Voting
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2256081
Canada: Pembroke council considering Internet voting for 2010 election
Finance and management committee discuss changes
http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2252381
Having switched from the tradition poll and ballot box method of voting to a mail-in ballet for the 2006 municipal election, the city of Pembroke looks poised to change its voting method once again.
The city's finance and administration committee unanimously voted to recommend to city council that it implement a phone and Internet vote as an alternate voting method for the 2010 municipal election.
Phillipines: Hackers deface 5th govt Web site, mock automated polls
http://bit.ly/4pYbAA
Another government Web site was found defaced Sunday night - the fifth
attack since last month.
Hackers of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(Tesda) Web site, however, took on a bolder approach by leaving a
message that seemed to mock the upcoming automated elections.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
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