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

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.
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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.