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.
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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.