The Elections Assistance Commission - EAC issues advisory on ES&S Unity & DS200 opscan freeze/shutdowns... Lawsuit in LA County CA.: 37th Dist primary candidate Lee Davis said that her name was omitted from ballots in 300 precincts...Voter Registration in Arizona Explodes...Voter Registration at Ohio Public Assistance Agencies Skyrocket... Editors note: Like voting news? Please tell your friends. For your convenience we are on the internet ttp://votingnews.blogspot.com/ on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Arizona judge tosses secret ballot measure
http://www.azdailysun.com/news/state-and-regional/article_57f64a1f-665c-5743-8846-45cea015b223.html The referendum would have asked voters whether to require secret ballots for public elections and for workers voting whether to organize as part of a labor union.
The judge ruled that the two provisions are not "sufficiently or logically related to one another."
AZ: Voter Registration in Arizona Explodes
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/elections/voter-registration-up-6-29-2010
PHOENIX - Voter registration in Arizona has grown by 27,000 in less than six weeks, according to the Secretary of State's Office -- and every political party has gained ground
CA: 37th District primary candidate Lee Davis sues, alleging election fraud
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_15403935 In the lawsuit, Davis says that Democratic voters in 300 precincts were given ballots that omitted her name and that of another perennial candidate, Peter Mathews. In one other precinct, candidate Terrance Ponchak's name also wasn't included on the ballot, Davis alleges.
The lawsuit alleges other incidents of fraud as well, particularly against senior and disabled voters.
CO: Electoral privacy and petition-signers’ ID
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2010/06/29/electoral-privacy-and-petition-signers%E2%80%99-id/
Should we take the next logical step and abolish the secret ballot, as all of these reporting requirements have made it an obsolete and misleading charade?
DC: Washington, DC Awards Hart InterCivic Electronic Poll Book Contract
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/electronic-poll-book-contract,1366662.html
IN: Indiana justices uphold voter ID law
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100630/NEWS/100630007/-1/LIVING0101/Indiana-justices-uphold-voter-ID-law
MN: Watchdog Groups Says Convicted Felons Are Voting Illegally
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1631131.shtml?cat=1
NC: North Carolina Paper Dropped Research 2000 After 2006 Dispute
http://mediamatters.org/strupp/201006300046 Research 2000, the polling outfit that has come under scrutiny this week after Daily Kos accused it of fraud, had a previous dispute in 2006 with North Carolina's largest newspaper.
NY: More controversy regarding NY's voting machines (podcast)
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/1/0/
1668703/WAMC.New.York.News/More.controversy.regarding.NY's.voting.machines
http://is.gd/daAU5 NEW YORK CITY, NY (WAMC) - The controversy continues over New York's attempts to meet mandates set under the Help America Vote Act. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Greg Fry has more on the latest lawsuit filed against the New York State Board of Elections...
NY: NAACP Says NY's Computerized Voting Will Disenfranchise Black and Latinos
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/30/28493.htm
Even the election officials who approved the programming have acknowledged that the new machines' overvote messages are baffling
...
But the state has refused to use "built-in protections against overvotes that are made available by the machines' manufacturers and used by many jurisdictions outside of New York," the plaintiffs say.
NY: Concerns raised in North Salem over ballot in school bond vote
http://northernwestchester.lohudblogs.com/2010/06/29/concerns-raised-in-north-salem-over-ballot-in-school-bond-vote/ ...it was hard to find on the ballot and the voting machine didn’t match the sample ballot has vowed to continue pressing his point.
NY: Syracuse Post-Standard calls for end to prison-based gerrymandering
http://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/news/2010/06/30/syracuse-editoria/
OH: Voter Registration at Ohio Public Assistance Agencies Skyrocket
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=673 Overall, more than 84,000 Ohio residents have applied to become registered voters at public assistance agencies so far this year, with more than 20,000 applying in March alone.
SC: The Enigmatic Democratic nominee for US Senate set up campaign
website June 20 2010
http://whois.domaintools.com/alvingreeneforussenator.com
SC: Help us now to protect your vote in November!
http://www.scpronet.com/wordpress/2010/06/29/we-need-your-help-now-to-protect-your-vote-in-november/ the Network has worked to arrange an audit of the entire June 8 South Carolina primary vote.
SC: SC bill on voter ID and early voting dead for year
http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.aspx?id=476746
WV: West Virginia pols weigh moving Byrd special election to November
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/byrd-special-could-be-moved-to.html?wprss=thefix While Byrd's death occurred early enough for a 2010 special election to be held, Tennant explained that the law stipulates that candidates must have time to file for the regular primary (which has already passed).
National
More Von Spakovsky on DOJ
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016317.html
RNC v. FEC: A Win for Democracy
http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/rnc_v._fec_a_win_for_democracy/
On Tuesday, in a terse, two sentence order, the Court summarily affirmed the lower court’s decision in Republican National Committee v. Federal Election Commission (a.k.a., “RNC v. FEC”), thereby refusing to consider the newest challenge to campaign finance regulations.
Elections Assistance Commission issues advisory on ES&S Unity & DS200 opscan freeze/shutdowns http://www.eac.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/Product_Advisory-
ES&S-06.25.10%20FINAL.pdf http://is.gd/daB3w
Get Out The Vote - Helping Underrepresented Americans Vote Again in 2010
http://projectvote.org/voter-registration.html
Millions of Americans who voted in 2008 will sit out the 2010 general election unless they are contacted and encouraged to vote again this year.
HARRIS (1934), “ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNITED STATES”
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3260 great historical reference for any student of elections and election administration
International
India: Awful projections by exit polls and media pundits raise EVM Tampering concerns
http://www.indianevm.com/blogs/?p=284 It is therefore natural to ask why Indian pollsters in general (and that includes my own predictions) and media pundits in particular have failed to read the voter mood correctly in the 2009 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections when they were able to do so very accurately until 1999?
Kenya: IIEC trains Kenyan prison warders on vote
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/IIEC-trains-Kenyan-prison-warders-on-vote-8949.html
Philippines: IT Experts Praise Citizens’ Election Monitoring, Call for Filing of Cases vs. Comelec, Smartmatic
http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/06/30/it-experts-praise-citizens%E2%80%99-election-monitoring-calls-for-filing-of-cases-vs-comelec-smartmatic/
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, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
US Burgers, Ballots, Bogus Polls. Diebold-ing Brazil. Mexico's Bullets and ballots
San Joaquin Co California may adopt 100% vote by mail, meanwhile 12,500 mail ballots in Riverside co, in limbo. Assemblyman Brian Nestande introduced AB 2642 to address mail-ballot problems...Indiana online voter reg starts July 1...New York voting machines need simple fix to save 1000s of votes...Supreme Court Reaffirms Ban on Soft Money...Burgers & ballots & election transparency as mainstream issue...Brazil buys Diebold voting machines...In Mexico,"intimidation and corruption will likely lead to the courts ultimately ruling on the results of up to half of the races"...Protect the Internet, but How?
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CA: Bill would allow outstanding election ballots to be counted (AB 2642)
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100629/NEWS0301/100629026/Bill-would-allow-outstanding-election-ballots-to-be-counted- Bill would allow outstanding election ballots to be counted
CA: Hearings for important election bills are scheduled as follows:
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=669
California - Convenience Voting bill, S 970; Voter Registration Drive bill, A 2101 & Election Day Registration bill, A 1531
CA: Report: Replace polling places with mail-in ballots
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/A_NEWS/100629833/-1/NEWSMAP STOCKTON — Ditching polling places in favor of mail-in ballots would save San Joaquin County $500,000 a year, according to a grand jury report released Monday.
CT: Merrill, Garcia discuss contributions, increasing participation, and DeRosa’s exclusion from debate http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=3319
IN: Indiana will begin online voter registration July 1
http://www.wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=12727182
ME: Portland Charter Commission to take up two key issues Thursday
Commissioners could propose ranked-choice voting and veto power for the city's mayor.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/changes-to-citys-charter-must-be-proposed-thursday-_2010-06-29.html
NC: Bladen commissioner cleared of voter fraud allegations
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/28/1009889?sac=Home
Blanks acknowledged that she asked poll workers at the second site if she could vote, but she told investigators she was trying to test the computer system's ability to prevent such fraud.
NJ: Passaic County Elections Chief Battles Union Over Firing of Four Workers
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/passaic_politics/
97366864_Election_chief_to_challenge_rehirings.html http://is.gd/d9lwC
Freytes has appealed arbitrator Robert T. Simmelkjaer's May 14 finding that her decision to fire the four voting machine technicians was "motivated by anti-union animus," and not simply a cost-cutting move as she maintains.
NY: New York’s New Voting System Procedure Could Cost Tens of Thousands of Lost Votes And Disproportionately Impact Communities of Color
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/06/28-19
Brennan Center, Hazel Dukes, and Others Call for Simple Fix this Monday at City Hall
NY: Ballot Squabble Becomes A Federal Case »
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/06/ballot-squabble-becomes-a-fede.html
The voter disenfranchisement suit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court today against the New York State Board of Elections basically boils down to voters being asked to play a game of "Red Light/Green Light" -- where the rules make no sense.
PA: Hearings for important election bills are scheduled as follows:
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=669
Felon Voting Rights bill, H 1072 is scheduled to be heard on the House floor today. This bill provides released prisoners with voter registration materials
SC: Associated Press Sees No, Hears No, Speaks No E-Voting System Fraud Nor Failure
100% unverifiable e-voting 'not the droid you're looking for'..
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7918
SC: SC bill on voter ID and early voting could die
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/29/1560302/sc-bill-on-voter-id-and-early.html
SC: SLED and the 5th Circuit solicitor's office to investigate Alvin Greene's finances http://www.examiner.com/x-46109-Augusta-Religion--Politics-Examiner~y2010m6d29-SLED-and-the-5th-Circuit-solicitors-office-to-investigate-Alvin-Greenes-finances
WI: Forum on the Wisconsin redistricting process
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fairelectionswisconsin/message/2389
WV: Death Sets Up Special Election In Two Years
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003692355
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) will appoint a replacement to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D) until November 2012, when both a special election and a general election will take place on Election Day.
WV: West Virginia Republican Senate Leader Says Republicans Will Sue for a Special U.S. Senate Election This Year
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/29/west-virginia-republican-senator-says-republicans-will-sue-for-a-special-u-s-senate-election-this-year/
Internet Voting Watch
Cybersecurity: Protect the Internet, but How?
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/5915/cybersecurity-protect-the-internet-but-how Electronic espionage and other cyber threats are at this point inevitable, whether conducted against the U.S. or practiced by it.
Chinese cyber agents rigging polls on RMB?
http://alphabets.typepad.com/alphabets/2010/06/chinese-cyber-agents-rigging-polls-on-rmb.html Nobody voted Yes. At least, not until last Wednesday, when almost all of the Yes votes we received all week arrived in the space of a few minutes from a range of IP addresses that suggests a location somewhere in Mongolia.
National
Supreme Court Reaffirms Ban on Soft Money, Once a Powerful Factor in Political Campaigns
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/06/supreme-court-re-affirms-ban-on-sof.html
Of Burgers, Ballots and Bogus Polls
Without full transparency and citizen oversight, there is almost no way to root out (election) fraud, as hopefully Daily Kos' Markos Moulitsas now understands...
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7919 Whether it's computer-printed ballots, Internet Voting (yes, insanely, that's next!), or "open source" computer code resulting in unverifiable elections and concealed vote counted, enough is enough.
Making Registering and Voting Easier for You
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/06/making-registering-and-voting-easier-on-you/
This summer FVAP will also be deploying an online assistant for back-up ballots (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, or FWAB), usable for all States’ federal races, and for 20 States, a full online ballot delivery and marking assistant for federal, State and local races.
As We Celebrate Independence Day, Many New Citizens Still Left Out Of American
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/06/29-5 Democracy Should Be Uniformly Offered Voter Registration At Naturalization Ceremonies
AE Brookings Institute Newsletter
http://electionreformproject.org/Resources/a61cd831-f274-43bd-8d37-2adc290caa00/r1/Detail.aspx This final issue of our electronic newsletter gives us an opportunity to reflect on the state of election administration in the United States almost a decade after the extended and controversial vote count in the 2000 presidential election and to suggest how additional changes in technology, election law and administrative practices might further strengthen American elections in the years ahead.
International
Brazil Orders Diebold Machines Ahead of Schedule, JP Morgan Pulls Revenue Forward
http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/10/06/353873/brazil-orders-diebold-machines-ahead-of-schedule-jp-morga The Superior Electoral Court of Brazil has ordered a second purchase of 30,000 voting machines from Diebold. 195,000 Diebold machines could ship in 2Q-3Q2010.
Democracy in Canada: Elections and Voting
http://www.cdnexperience.ca/read-the-series/9-democracy-in-canada-elections-and-voting/ Canada’s first federal election was hardly democratic. Voting in 1867 was limited to upper class, male, British subjects. There was no secret ballot and no law to govern campaign contributions.
In Germany, Calling for a Popular Vote Despite a Troubled Past
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/world/europe/30iht-germany.html
“History plays an important role in explaining why German presidents have been chosen since 1949 by this special assembly,” said Oskar Niedermayer, political science professor at Berlin’s Free University. “It was an attempt to curb the powers of that office but also prevent a wave of populism re-emerging.”
Mexico: Where Bullets are Intimidating the Ballot
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2000511,00.html
Last Friday, gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Torre raised both arms to the sky in front of 15,000 cheering white-shirted supporters in a baseball stadium minutes from the Rio Grande...on Monday, as Torre left the state capital to conclude his campaign, assailants showered his convoy with gunfire from automatic rifles and heavy caliber weapons, killing him instantly.
...
Races have been dampened by arrests of candidates on racketeering charges, leaked tapes of organized vote buying and a succession of violent attacks. After the Torre killing, some politicians asked for half of the races to be suspended. "This is extremely worrying," says political scientist Maria Eugenia Valdes. "If there is fear and violence, there is no freedom. And if there is no freedom we cannot have fair elections."
Philippines: Independent probe of May polls sought
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100630-278347/Independent-probe-of-May-polls-sought MANILA, Philippines—With a poll automation champion’s bleak assessment of the system used in the May 10 elections, there could hardly be any closure on the Philippines’ experience with counting machines and compact flash cards.
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: Bill would allow outstanding election ballots to be counted (AB 2642)
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100629/NEWS0301/100629026/Bill-would-allow-outstanding-election-ballots-to-be-counted- Bill would allow outstanding election ballots to be counted
CA: Hearings for important election bills are scheduled as follows:
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=669
California - Convenience Voting bill, S 970; Voter Registration Drive bill, A 2101 & Election Day Registration bill, A 1531
CA: Report: Replace polling places with mail-in ballots
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100629/A_NEWS/100629833/-1/NEWSMAP STOCKTON — Ditching polling places in favor of mail-in ballots would save San Joaquin County $500,000 a year, according to a grand jury report released Monday.
CT: Merrill, Garcia discuss contributions, increasing participation, and DeRosa’s exclusion from debate http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=3319
IN: Indiana will begin online voter registration July 1
http://www.wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=12727182
ME: Portland Charter Commission to take up two key issues Thursday
Commissioners could propose ranked-choice voting and veto power for the city's mayor.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/changes-to-citys-charter-must-be-proposed-thursday-_2010-06-29.html
NC: Bladen commissioner cleared of voter fraud allegations
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/06/28/1009889?sac=Home
Blanks acknowledged that she asked poll workers at the second site if she could vote, but she told investigators she was trying to test the computer system's ability to prevent such fraud.
NJ: Passaic County Elections Chief Battles Union Over Firing of Four Workers
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/passaic_politics/
97366864_Election_chief_to_challenge_rehirings.html http://is.gd/d9lwC
Freytes has appealed arbitrator Robert T. Simmelkjaer's May 14 finding that her decision to fire the four voting machine technicians was "motivated by anti-union animus," and not simply a cost-cutting move as she maintains.
NY: New York’s New Voting System Procedure Could Cost Tens of Thousands of Lost Votes And Disproportionately Impact Communities of Color
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/06/28-19
Brennan Center, Hazel Dukes, and Others Call for Simple Fix this Monday at City Hall
NY: Ballot Squabble Becomes A Federal Case »
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/06/ballot-squabble-becomes-a-fede.html
The voter disenfranchisement suit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court today against the New York State Board of Elections basically boils down to voters being asked to play a game of "Red Light/Green Light" -- where the rules make no sense.
PA: Hearings for important election bills are scheduled as follows:
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=669
Felon Voting Rights bill, H 1072 is scheduled to be heard on the House floor today. This bill provides released prisoners with voter registration materials
SC: Associated Press Sees No, Hears No, Speaks No E-Voting System Fraud Nor Failure
100% unverifiable e-voting 'not the droid you're looking for'..
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7918
SC: SC bill on voter ID and early voting could die
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/29/1560302/sc-bill-on-voter-id-and-early.html
SC: SLED and the 5th Circuit solicitor's office to investigate Alvin Greene's finances http://www.examiner.com/x-46109-Augusta-Religion--Politics-Examiner~y2010m6d29-SLED-and-the-5th-Circuit-solicitors-office-to-investigate-Alvin-Greenes-finances
WI: Forum on the Wisconsin redistricting process
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fairelectionswisconsin/message/2389
WV: Death Sets Up Special Election In Two Years
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003692355
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) will appoint a replacement to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D) until November 2012, when both a special election and a general election will take place on Election Day.
WV: West Virginia Republican Senate Leader Says Republicans Will Sue for a Special U.S. Senate Election This Year
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/29/west-virginia-republican-senator-says-republicans-will-sue-for-a-special-u-s-senate-election-this-year/
Internet Voting Watch
Cybersecurity: Protect the Internet, but How?
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/5915/cybersecurity-protect-the-internet-but-how Electronic espionage and other cyber threats are at this point inevitable, whether conducted against the U.S. or practiced by it.
Chinese cyber agents rigging polls on RMB?
http://alphabets.typepad.com/alphabets/2010/06/chinese-cyber-agents-rigging-polls-on-rmb.html Nobody voted Yes. At least, not until last Wednesday, when almost all of the Yes votes we received all week arrived in the space of a few minutes from a range of IP addresses that suggests a location somewhere in Mongolia.
National
Supreme Court Reaffirms Ban on Soft Money, Once a Powerful Factor in Political Campaigns
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/06/supreme-court-re-affirms-ban-on-sof.html
Of Burgers, Ballots and Bogus Polls
Without full transparency and citizen oversight, there is almost no way to root out (election) fraud, as hopefully Daily Kos' Markos Moulitsas now understands...
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7919 Whether it's computer-printed ballots, Internet Voting (yes, insanely, that's next!), or "open source" computer code resulting in unverifiable elections and concealed vote counted, enough is enough.
Making Registering and Voting Easier for You
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/06/making-registering-and-voting-easier-on-you/
This summer FVAP will also be deploying an online assistant for back-up ballots (the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot, or FWAB), usable for all States’ federal races, and for 20 States, a full online ballot delivery and marking assistant for federal, State and local races.
As We Celebrate Independence Day, Many New Citizens Still Left Out Of American
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/06/29-5 Democracy Should Be Uniformly Offered Voter Registration At Naturalization Ceremonies
AE Brookings Institute Newsletter
http://electionreformproject.org/Resources/a61cd831-f274-43bd-8d37-2adc290caa00/r1/Detail.aspx This final issue of our electronic newsletter gives us an opportunity to reflect on the state of election administration in the United States almost a decade after the extended and controversial vote count in the 2000 presidential election and to suggest how additional changes in technology, election law and administrative practices might further strengthen American elections in the years ahead.
International
Brazil Orders Diebold Machines Ahead of Schedule, JP Morgan Pulls Revenue Forward
http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/10/06/353873/brazil-orders-diebold-machines-ahead-of-schedule-jp-morga The Superior Electoral Court of Brazil has ordered a second purchase of 30,000 voting machines from Diebold. 195,000 Diebold machines could ship in 2Q-3Q2010.
Democracy in Canada: Elections and Voting
http://www.cdnexperience.ca/read-the-series/9-democracy-in-canada-elections-and-voting/ Canada’s first federal election was hardly democratic. Voting in 1867 was limited to upper class, male, British subjects. There was no secret ballot and no law to govern campaign contributions.
In Germany, Calling for a Popular Vote Despite a Troubled Past
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/world/europe/30iht-germany.html
“History plays an important role in explaining why German presidents have been chosen since 1949 by this special assembly,” said Oskar Niedermayer, political science professor at Berlin’s Free University. “It was an attempt to curb the powers of that office but also prevent a wave of populism re-emerging.”
Mexico: Where Bullets are Intimidating the Ballot
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2000511,00.html
Last Friday, gubernatorial candidate Rodolfo Torre raised both arms to the sky in front of 15,000 cheering white-shirted supporters in a baseball stadium minutes from the Rio Grande...on Monday, as Torre left the state capital to conclude his campaign, assailants showered his convoy with gunfire from automatic rifles and heavy caliber weapons, killing him instantly.
...
Races have been dampened by arrests of candidates on racketeering charges, leaked tapes of organized vote buying and a succession of violent attacks. After the Torre killing, some politicians asked for half of the races to be suspended. "This is extremely worrying," says political scientist Maria Eugenia Valdes. "If there is fear and violence, there is no freedom. And if there is no freedom we cannot have fair elections."
Philippines: Independent probe of May polls sought
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100630-278347/Independent-probe-of-May-polls-sought MANILA, Philippines—With a poll automation champion’s bleak assessment of the system used in the May 10 elections, there could hardly be any closure on the Philippines’ experience with counting machines and compact flash cards.
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, June 28, 2010
Suit- NY voting machine flaw risks 1,000s of votes. SC editorials FOR paper ballots
Donna Brazil : "How can we put men on the moon and export democracy abroad, yet still be incapable of administering elections at home with indisputable integrity as to their outcomes? ..It’s time to address this threat to our democracy."...Lawsuit over New York's new ballot machines - flawed overvote warning may disenfranchise 1,000s of voters...TX Gov. Ex-Aide Accused of Vote-Diversion Scheme...Think internet or email voting is a good idea? CIA: Cyber Warfare Could 'Paralyze' U.S...Think we can secure voting machines just like ATMs? Reports say "ATM security flaws a jackpot for hackers"...Latest Verified Voting Newsletter is online now...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Election boss: Postpone to allow absentee voting
http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2010/0610/062410absentees.php
The Navajo Nation primary election may be moved from Aug. 3 to Aug. 24 or the 31st to allow absentee voters, particularly those overseas, enough time to get their ballots and return them by mail.
CA: San Bernardino County certifies June 8 results (June 25, 2010)
http://blogs.pe.com/politics/2010/06/san-bernardino-county-certifie.html
San Bernardino County has certified the results of the June 8 election.
Riverside County has finished counting all of the ballots that were in its possession on Election Day.
But the county has not certified the results until officials decide the fate of about 12,500 vote-by-mail ballots found at the post office the day after the election.
CA: 15th Senate District runoff estimated to carry $600,000 pricetag
http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_15383885?source=rss
That's what it will likely cost the county to conduct the Aug. 17 runoff election to decide, once and for all, who will represent the 15th state Senate District in Sacramento, according to county Registrar of Voters Linda Tulett.
CO: Colorado State Court Says Secretary of State Can’t Invalidate Signatures Based on Which Candidate Submitted Petition First
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/colorado-state-court-says-secretary-of-state-cant-invalidate-signatures-based-on-which-candidate-submitted-petition-first/
On June 25, a Colorado State District Court put Jennifer Coken on the Democratic primary ballot for State House, 4th district. Her petition had been invalidated because the Secretary of State had ruled that she didn’t have enough valid signatures.
GA: Former Dodge Sheriff Sentenced to Prison in Vote-Buying Scandal
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=81119&catid=175
Douglas admitted to conspiracy to commit election fraud when he was elected in 2004, and Gibson pleaded guilty to buying votes.
HI: Publicly funded elections starting in Hawaii despite potential legal questions
http://www.startribune.com/nation/97204354.html
MI: Lawsuit over voter-purge ends; Michigan to stop programs
http://www.freep.com/article/20100626/NEWS06/6260356/
1001/News/Lawsuit-over-voter-purge-ends-
Michigan-to-stop-programs http://is.gd/d8cBq ..."Voter removal procedures like those at issue in this lawsuit, which allow eligible and registered voters to be suddenly stricken from the rolls without notice, are bad for democracy,"
MS: AG: New Albany Man Admits Perjury In Voter Fraud Case
http://www.wapt.com/news/24071819/detail.html
NC: Is There A Better Way Than Primary Runoff For NC?
http://news.mync.com/site/news/story/53103/is-there-a-better-way-than-primary-runoff-for-nc/
NC: Is there a better way than primary runoff for NC?
http://www.reflector.com/state-news/there-better-way-primary-runoff-nc-39696
NE: ES&S cust suppt job HS diploma required
http://omaha.careerlink.com/9/9/3/2/po/000771f.htm
NY: New NY case citing violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/news/articles.php?ID=7407
NY: New Ballot Machines Are Flawed, Suit Says *
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/nyregion/28vote.html
Electronic voting machines being deployed for the first time this year across New York City and the rest of the state contain a flaw that could lead to thousands of votes being thrown out, according to a lawsuit that advocacy groups will file Monday.
...
The lawsuit says the current setup violates the Voting Rights Act and asks that New York not use the new machines until more safeguards are put in place.
The complaint, which was given to The New York Times by the Brennan Center, says that Wisconsin developed its system to “return a ballot to the voter immediately” if the scanning machine noted an overvote.
NY: Upper West Side Forum to Tackle Issues With State's New Voting Machines
http://www.dnainfo.com/20100628/upper-west-side/upper-west-side-forum-tackle-issues-with-states-new-voting-machines Advocacy groups said they'll raise concerns at a demonstration of the new machines Monday night on the Upper West Side
Lawyers for the Brennan Center say the machines allow voters to “over-vote,” meaning to cast more than one vote for a particular candidate, but don’t explain what over-voting is, and don’t notify voters that such errors could lead to a great number of votes being thrown out.
NY: Lawsuit against new voting machine
http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=475590 The suit represents a number of advocacy groups, including the NAACP and Working Families Party. The groups say that non-native English speakers would lose their votes in disproportionate numbers
NY: New Voting Machines Get Chilly Reception on Upper West Side*
http://dnainfo.com/20100625//new-voting-machines-get-chilly-reception-on-upper-west-side (problems with overvote report- message not clear to some voters
NV: Borasky vs. Moore remains undecided* (paper "trail" count 1 off from DRE count)
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2010/Jun-25-Fri-2010/news/36614197.html
The recount in the Nye County District 4 county commission race came up with exactly the same count as on election night, County Clerk Sam Merlino said Thursday,
...
The cartridges containing all the ballots had to be inserted in the voting machine, and after printing out 4,000 to 5,000 pages of ballots,
...
"They recounted everything three times. Then they still couldn't find the missing ballot,"
OH: Precinct reductions may be delayed
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jun/26/precinct-reductions-may-be-delayed/?newswatch
A proposal to eliminate at least 37 voting precincts in a cost-cutting move may be delayed until the May 2011 election, the chairman of the Mahoning County Board...
SC: Cyber Saturday: What's the deal with South Carolina?
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100626/GPG0602/100625128/Cyber-Saturday-What-s-the-deal-with-South-Carolina- BY DONNA BRAZILE...Some observers have noted the importance of a reliable and verifiable paper trail. Others have advocated removing the corporate interest from voting machines by letting them run on open-source software. Corporations like ES&S, which manufactures the DRE machines, run their machines on proprietary software; it’s like looking at a “black box” because the way it works is a closely guarded business secret.
SC: Zia (Pres of LWV of SC) Voting machines deserve second look
http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/27/1350698/zia-voting-machines-deserve-second.html
The allegations of nasty campaign tactics and election fraud that marked our primary elections have put public confidence in the integrity of our political and election systems at stake. The only way to protect it is for our state’s leaders take steps to assure citizens that every vote is counted accurately.
Our State Election Commission claims that there have been no problems with the voting machines in South Carolina. Since there is no way to recount the vote and no way to match the results against the voters’ intentions, this conclusion is baseless. The time has come to admit the faults in our voting system and begin the process of replacing it with one that allows the vote to be verified, recounted and audited. Our democracy depends on it.
SC: Voter ID on table in Columbia
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/jun/28/voter-id-table-columbia/
SC: SC police probe US Senate candidate's finances
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/28/1558194/sc-state-police-investigate-us.html
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The chief of South Carolina's state police says his agency is trying to determine how unemployed U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene got the money to pay his filing fee in the Democratic primary and if Greene broke any laws by the way he presented his financial situation in a court case
SC: Bob Bestler Consider the stakes in casting your vote
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/26/1554285/consider-the-stakes-in-casting.html
Frankly, I've always been leery of get-out-the-vote campaigns that exhort all citizens that they have a duty to vote, vote, vote.
The better campaign would be to exhort all citizens to vote responsibly, vote intelligently.
TX: Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Ex-Aide Accused of Vote-Diversion Scheme
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/25/texas-gov-rick-perrys-ex-aide-accused-of-vote-diversion-scheme Texas Democrats say GOP Gov. Rick Perry's former chief of staff paid for an unsuccessful effort to get the Green Party on the ballot in Texas in a scheme to divert votes from Democratic challenger Bill White.
TX: Hewett releases report on election problems
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/06/26/conroe_courier/news
/doc4c2590cc487bb668570977.txt http://is.gd/d8cEZ Montgomery County elections officials are “running an illegally sloppy operation,” said the board member for an elections watchdog group who investigated what former Conroe City Council candidate Leo Hewett callrd “irregularities” ...
TX: Texas Democrats vote to keep Texas Two-Step
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/06/26/texas_democrats_vote_to_keep_t.html?cxntfid=blogs_postcards CORPUS CHRISTI - Texas Democrats this afternoon overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to scrap the Texas Two-Step system of awarding presidential delegates through both a primary and caucuses.
WA: GOP musters election case: Open primary hurts it, party contends; state study
http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/news/2010/06/27/4872277.htm
Here's what the Idaho Republican Party considers proof that the state's open primaries violate its constitutional rights: Too many conservative Republicans are losing to moderate Republicans.
WV: No Special Election for Byrd Seat
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/no-special-election-for-byrd-seat/
The interim senator, who will represent the state the next two years, will be appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin III, a Democrat.
Internet Vote Watch
AZ: Delegates may try to suspend election (Navajo Nation Council)
http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2010/0610/061710suspend.php
However, Wauneka rejected the notion of online voting, saying that due to security concerns, online voting will not be available for the election.
CIA: Cyber Warfare Could 'Paralyze' U.S.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/06/cia-cyber-warfare-could-paralyze-us.html
"It could threaten our grid system. It could threaten our financial system."
Senate 'Internet Kill Switch' Bill Moves Forward
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365709,00.asp
A Senate committee on Thursday approved a cyber-security bill that has prompted concern about a presidential "Internet kill switch."
Once Again, Bank ATMs Are Not Very Secure
from the well,-duh dept
http://techdirt.com/articles/20100625/1248279961.shtml Some security researchers are about to release their evidence on just how easy it is to hack bank ATMs.
ATM security flaws could be a jackpot for hackers
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O4XS20100625
Twitter Settles with FTC Over ‘Happiness’ Breach
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/twitter-settles-with-ftc/
One of the breaches allowed hackers to take over high-profile Twitter accounts, including then-President-Elect Barack Obama’s and the official feed for Fox News, and view personal information of the account holders as well as send out fake messages through the accounts.
e-Card Check in the Works?
http://shopfloor.org/2010/06/e-card-check-in-the-works/11939
As we’ve noted previously, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has requested information on electronic voting systems. The Wall Street Journal notes our anxiety that such systems could place the integrity of the current secret ballot union representation election process into question.
Oprah Winfrey Network Denies Voting Rig
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00033510.html
"We are conducting compliance reviews and we are investigating the allegations," said the spokesperson.
National
Verified Voting Newsletter, Issue 7
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6767
Your name on petitions can be made public
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100627/COLUMN0108/
6270350/1168/STATE http://is.gd/d8cHJ
CHRISTIAN ADAMS' OPED ON BLACK PANTHERS CASE AND DOJ
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016284.html
must-read for those who follow issues related to the Justice Department, and is full of some very strong charges.
Why did the Department of Justice drop the Black Panther Party case?
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/06/27/why-did-the-department-of-justice-drop-the-black-panther-party-case/
WATCH THE VIDEO OF HASEN, RASKIN, SHAPIRO AND SIMPSON DEBATE CITIZENS UNITED http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016279.html
THERNSTROM ON THE PROPOSED NEW VRA SECTION 5 REGS (guidelines for preclearance)
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016278.html Following up on this post, don' miss Abby Thernstrom's analysis of how these rules could change the current approach to section 5.
Bill in Congress for Public Funding Now Has 156 Co-Sponsors
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/26/bill-in-congress-for-public-funding-now-has-156-co-sponsors/ HR 1826, the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide for public funding for congressional candidates, now has 156 co-sponsors.
Federal Register Volume 75 Issue 123Monday June 28 2010
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division
United States, et al. v. Election Systems & Software, Inc.;
Public Comments and Response on Proposed Final Judgment
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/html/2010-15368.htm
... hereby publishes below the comments received on the proposed Final Judgment in United States et al v Election Systems & Software Inc Case No 11000380JDB
International
Guinea: Election Observer Calls for Patience During Guinea Vote Counting
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Election-Observer-Calls-for-Patience-during-Guinea-Vote-Counting---97275199.html Analysts say this is Guinea’s first free and fair presidential vote after gaining independence from colonial power France in 1958.
Pakistan: Electronic voting machine to pave way for transparent elections:
ECP http://www.sananews.net/english/2010/06/29/electronic-voting-machine-to-pave-way-for-transparent-elections-ecp/
Philippines: Report on poll fraud: plug gaps, or nix automation
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27015:report-on-poll-fraud-plug-gaps-or-nix-automation&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58
SPORADIC cheating in the country’s first automated general elections last month appears to be confined to local races, the chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has concluded.
But these, taken with the “fitful credibility” with which technical provider Smartmatic-TIM explained crucial date-and-time stamp issues in the vote-counting machine, and the Commission on Elections’ move to discard certain security features, made it necessary to revisit the country’s experiment with automation—and perhaps even set it aside for the next elections if the loopholes of the May 10 exercise are not plugged.
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
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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.
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Election boss: Postpone to allow absentee voting
http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2010/0610/062410absentees.php
The Navajo Nation primary election may be moved from Aug. 3 to Aug. 24 or the 31st to allow absentee voters, particularly those overseas, enough time to get their ballots and return them by mail.
CA: San Bernardino County certifies June 8 results (June 25, 2010)
http://blogs.pe.com/politics/2010/06/san-bernardino-county-certifie.html
San Bernardino County has certified the results of the June 8 election.
Riverside County has finished counting all of the ballots that were in its possession on Election Day.
But the county has not certified the results until officials decide the fate of about 12,500 vote-by-mail ballots found at the post office the day after the election.
CA: 15th Senate District runoff estimated to carry $600,000 pricetag
http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_15383885?source=rss
That's what it will likely cost the county to conduct the Aug. 17 runoff election to decide, once and for all, who will represent the 15th state Senate District in Sacramento, according to county Registrar of Voters Linda Tulett.
CO: Colorado State Court Says Secretary of State Can’t Invalidate Signatures Based on Which Candidate Submitted Petition First
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/colorado-state-court-says-secretary-of-state-cant-invalidate-signatures-based-on-which-candidate-submitted-petition-first/
On June 25, a Colorado State District Court put Jennifer Coken on the Democratic primary ballot for State House, 4th district. Her petition had been invalidated because the Secretary of State had ruled that she didn’t have enough valid signatures.
GA: Former Dodge Sheriff Sentenced to Prison in Vote-Buying Scandal
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=81119&catid=175
Douglas admitted to conspiracy to commit election fraud when he was elected in 2004, and Gibson pleaded guilty to buying votes.
HI: Publicly funded elections starting in Hawaii despite potential legal questions
http://www.startribune.com/nation/97204354.html
MI: Lawsuit over voter-purge ends; Michigan to stop programs
http://www.freep.com/article/20100626/NEWS06/6260356/
1001/News/Lawsuit-over-voter-purge-ends-
Michigan-to-stop-programs http://is.gd/d8cBq ..."Voter removal procedures like those at issue in this lawsuit, which allow eligible and registered voters to be suddenly stricken from the rolls without notice, are bad for democracy,"
MS: AG: New Albany Man Admits Perjury In Voter Fraud Case
http://www.wapt.com/news/24071819/detail.html
NC: Is There A Better Way Than Primary Runoff For NC?
http://news.mync.com/site/news/story/53103/is-there-a-better-way-than-primary-runoff-for-nc/
NC: Is there a better way than primary runoff for NC?
http://www.reflector.com/state-news/there-better-way-primary-runoff-nc-39696
NE: ES&S cust suppt job HS diploma required
http://omaha.careerlink.com/9/9/3/2/po/000771f.htm
NY: New NY case citing violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/news/articles.php?ID=7407
NY: New Ballot Machines Are Flawed, Suit Says *
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/nyregion/28vote.html
Electronic voting machines being deployed for the first time this year across New York City and the rest of the state contain a flaw that could lead to thousands of votes being thrown out, according to a lawsuit that advocacy groups will file Monday.
...
The lawsuit says the current setup violates the Voting Rights Act and asks that New York not use the new machines until more safeguards are put in place.
The complaint, which was given to The New York Times by the Brennan Center, says that Wisconsin developed its system to “return a ballot to the voter immediately” if the scanning machine noted an overvote.
NY: Upper West Side Forum to Tackle Issues With State's New Voting Machines
http://www.dnainfo.com/20100628/upper-west-side/upper-west-side-forum-tackle-issues-with-states-new-voting-machines Advocacy groups said they'll raise concerns at a demonstration of the new machines Monday night on the Upper West Side
Lawyers for the Brennan Center say the machines allow voters to “over-vote,” meaning to cast more than one vote for a particular candidate, but don’t explain what over-voting is, and don’t notify voters that such errors could lead to a great number of votes being thrown out.
NY: Lawsuit against new voting machine
http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=475590 The suit represents a number of advocacy groups, including the NAACP and Working Families Party. The groups say that non-native English speakers would lose their votes in disproportionate numbers
NY: New Voting Machines Get Chilly Reception on Upper West Side*
http://dnainfo.com/20100625//new-voting-machines-get-chilly-reception-on-upper-west-side (problems with overvote report- message not clear to some voters
NV: Borasky vs. Moore remains undecided* (paper "trail" count 1 off from DRE count)
http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2010/Jun-25-Fri-2010/news/36614197.html
The recount in the Nye County District 4 county commission race came up with exactly the same count as on election night, County Clerk Sam Merlino said Thursday,
...
The cartridges containing all the ballots had to be inserted in the voting machine, and after printing out 4,000 to 5,000 pages of ballots,
...
"They recounted everything three times. Then they still couldn't find the missing ballot,"
OH: Precinct reductions may be delayed
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jun/26/precinct-reductions-may-be-delayed/?newswatch
A proposal to eliminate at least 37 voting precincts in a cost-cutting move may be delayed until the May 2011 election, the chairman of the Mahoning County Board...
SC: Cyber Saturday: What's the deal with South Carolina?
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100626/GPG0602/100625128/Cyber-Saturday-What-s-the-deal-with-South-Carolina- BY DONNA BRAZILE...Some observers have noted the importance of a reliable and verifiable paper trail. Others have advocated removing the corporate interest from voting machines by letting them run on open-source software. Corporations like ES&S, which manufactures the DRE machines, run their machines on proprietary software; it’s like looking at a “black box” because the way it works is a closely guarded business secret.
SC: Zia (Pres of LWV of SC) Voting machines deserve second look
http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/27/1350698/zia-voting-machines-deserve-second.html
The allegations of nasty campaign tactics and election fraud that marked our primary elections have put public confidence in the integrity of our political and election systems at stake. The only way to protect it is for our state’s leaders take steps to assure citizens that every vote is counted accurately.
Our State Election Commission claims that there have been no problems with the voting machines in South Carolina. Since there is no way to recount the vote and no way to match the results against the voters’ intentions, this conclusion is baseless. The time has come to admit the faults in our voting system and begin the process of replacing it with one that allows the vote to be verified, recounted and audited. Our democracy depends on it.
SC: Voter ID on table in Columbia
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/jun/28/voter-id-table-columbia/
SC: SC police probe US Senate candidate's finances
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/28/1558194/sc-state-police-investigate-us.html
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The chief of South Carolina's state police says his agency is trying to determine how unemployed U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene got the money to pay his filing fee in the Democratic primary and if Greene broke any laws by the way he presented his financial situation in a court case
SC: Bob Bestler Consider the stakes in casting your vote
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/26/1554285/consider-the-stakes-in-casting.html
Frankly, I've always been leery of get-out-the-vote campaigns that exhort all citizens that they have a duty to vote, vote, vote.
The better campaign would be to exhort all citizens to vote responsibly, vote intelligently.
TX: Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Ex-Aide Accused of Vote-Diversion Scheme
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/25/texas-gov-rick-perrys-ex-aide-accused-of-vote-diversion-scheme Texas Democrats say GOP Gov. Rick Perry's former chief of staff paid for an unsuccessful effort to get the Green Party on the ballot in Texas in a scheme to divert votes from Democratic challenger Bill White.
TX: Hewett releases report on election problems
http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/06/26/conroe_courier/news
/doc4c2590cc487bb668570977.txt http://is.gd/d8cEZ Montgomery County elections officials are “running an illegally sloppy operation,” said the board member for an elections watchdog group who investigated what former Conroe City Council candidate Leo Hewett callrd “irregularities” ...
TX: Texas Democrats vote to keep Texas Two-Step
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/06/26/texas_democrats_vote_to_keep_t.html?cxntfid=blogs_postcards CORPUS CHRISTI - Texas Democrats this afternoon overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to scrap the Texas Two-Step system of awarding presidential delegates through both a primary and caucuses.
WA: GOP musters election case: Open primary hurts it, party contends; state study
http://4g-wirelessevolution.tmcnet.com/news/2010/06/27/4872277.htm
Here's what the Idaho Republican Party considers proof that the state's open primaries violate its constitutional rights: Too many conservative Republicans are losing to moderate Republicans.
WV: No Special Election for Byrd Seat
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/no-special-election-for-byrd-seat/
The interim senator, who will represent the state the next two years, will be appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin III, a Democrat.
Internet Vote Watch
AZ: Delegates may try to suspend election (Navajo Nation Council)
http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2010/0610/061710suspend.php
However, Wauneka rejected the notion of online voting, saying that due to security concerns, online voting will not be available for the election.
CIA: Cyber Warfare Could 'Paralyze' U.S.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/06/cia-cyber-warfare-could-paralyze-us.html
"It could threaten our grid system. It could threaten our financial system."
Senate 'Internet Kill Switch' Bill Moves Forward
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365709,00.asp
A Senate committee on Thursday approved a cyber-security bill that has prompted concern about a presidential "Internet kill switch."
Once Again, Bank ATMs Are Not Very Secure
from the well,-duh dept
http://techdirt.com/articles/20100625/1248279961.shtml Some security researchers are about to release their evidence on just how easy it is to hack bank ATMs.
ATM security flaws could be a jackpot for hackers
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O4XS20100625
Twitter Settles with FTC Over ‘Happiness’ Breach
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/twitter-settles-with-ftc/
One of the breaches allowed hackers to take over high-profile Twitter accounts, including then-President-Elect Barack Obama’s and the official feed for Fox News, and view personal information of the account holders as well as send out fake messages through the accounts.
e-Card Check in the Works?
http://shopfloor.org/2010/06/e-card-check-in-the-works/11939
As we’ve noted previously, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has requested information on electronic voting systems. The Wall Street Journal notes our anxiety that such systems could place the integrity of the current secret ballot union representation election process into question.
Oprah Winfrey Network Denies Voting Rig
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00033510.html
"We are conducting compliance reviews and we are investigating the allegations," said the spokesperson.
National
Verified Voting Newsletter, Issue 7
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6767
Your name on petitions can be made public
www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100627/COLUMN0108/
6270350/1168/STATE http://is.gd/d8cHJ
CHRISTIAN ADAMS' OPED ON BLACK PANTHERS CASE AND DOJ
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016284.html
must-read for those who follow issues related to the Justice Department, and is full of some very strong charges.
Why did the Department of Justice drop the Black Panther Party case?
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/06/27/why-did-the-department-of-justice-drop-the-black-panther-party-case/
WATCH THE VIDEO OF HASEN, RASKIN, SHAPIRO AND SIMPSON DEBATE CITIZENS UNITED http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016279.html
THERNSTROM ON THE PROPOSED NEW VRA SECTION 5 REGS (guidelines for preclearance)
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016278.html Following up on this post, don' miss Abby Thernstrom's analysis of how these rules could change the current approach to section 5.
Bill in Congress for Public Funding Now Has 156 Co-Sponsors
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/26/bill-in-congress-for-public-funding-now-has-156-co-sponsors/ HR 1826, the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide for public funding for congressional candidates, now has 156 co-sponsors.
Federal Register Volume 75 Issue 123Monday June 28 2010
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Antitrust Division
United States, et al. v. Election Systems & Software, Inc.;
Public Comments and Response on Proposed Final Judgment
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/html/2010-15368.htm
... hereby publishes below the comments received on the proposed Final Judgment in United States et al v Election Systems & Software Inc Case No 11000380JDB
International
Guinea: Election Observer Calls for Patience During Guinea Vote Counting
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Election-Observer-Calls-for-Patience-during-Guinea-Vote-Counting---97275199.html Analysts say this is Guinea’s first free and fair presidential vote after gaining independence from colonial power France in 1958.
Pakistan: Electronic voting machine to pave way for transparent elections:
ECP http://www.sananews.net/english/2010/06/29/electronic-voting-machine-to-pave-way-for-transparent-elections-ecp/
Philippines: Report on poll fraud: plug gaps, or nix automation
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27015:report-on-poll-fraud-plug-gaps-or-nix-automation&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58
SPORADIC cheating in the country’s first automated general elections last month appears to be confined to local races, the chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has concluded.
But these, taken with the “fitful credibility” with which technical provider Smartmatic-TIM explained crucial date-and-time stamp issues in the vote-counting machine, and the Commission on Elections’ move to discard certain security features, made it necessary to revisit the country’s experiment with automation—and perhaps even set it aside for the next elections if the loopholes of the May 10 exercise are not plugged.
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.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Game of Electoral Fraud. Michigan ends voter purges. Riverside ballot limbo
The ACLU defends the Voting Rights Act in Alabama...Riverside Co CA delays certification of election results..Judge pleads not guilty of Monroe Co KY vote buying scheme...Michigan Agrees To Stop Unlawful Voter-Purge Programs...Mail ballot fraud charged in Passaic Co NJ...For Clean Campaigns: DISCLOSE and Amend...Magaloni,“The Game of Electoral Fraud and the Ousting of Authoritarian Rule”..Kenya launches online registration program for inmates...Was Oprah online voting contest rigged?
...
Moten, the co-founder of Peaceoholics, strongly denies the allegation.
DC: Make sure you can still vote in D.C.!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2010/06/make_
sure_you_can_still_vote_i.html http://is.gd/d49EB
This month, the city Board of Elections and Ethics moved to expunge 93,773 persons from the voter rolls, and to make sure you're not one of them, open up this 21-megabyte PDF file and see if your name appears
FL: Florida Candidate, Kept off Ballot Because Filing Fee Check was Short One Cent, Won’t Sue http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/florida-candidate-kept-off-ballot-because-filing-fee-check-was-short-one-cent-wont-sue/
Guam: Bill makes promise to cover software debt
http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=12707666 $140,000 is owed to ES&S for Decision 2008. If the vendor does not receive a commitment from the government that it will pay its debt it will not provide assistance in the upcoming election cycle, GEC staffers will be left handcounting ballots.
KY: Official, 6 others plead not guilty to vote buying
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/25/1323247/official-6-others-plead-not-guilty.html
The Glasgow Daily Times reported that Monroe County Judge-Executive Wilbur Graves entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in Bowling Green.
Six other people also entered not guilty pleas at the hearing. All seven are charged with vote buying or conspiracy to buy votes in the 2006 election.
ME: City panel crafts compromise on mayor, manager
http://www.pressherald.com/news/city-panel-crafts-compromise-on-mayor-manager_2010-06-25.html
MI: Michigan Agrees To Stop Unlawful Voter-Purge Programs
http://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/michigan-agrees-stop-unlawful-voter-purge-programs
Agreement Follows Lawsuit By ACLU And Advancement Project
...
DETROIT – The state of Michigan has agreed to stop two voter-purge programs that unlawfully disfranchised thousands of Michigan voters in violation of federal law.
MN: Can't make the Aug. 10 primary? Vote now
http://www.twincities.com/ci_15371784?nclick_check=1
Voters who will be on vacation, working out of state or otherwise unable to go to their polling places Aug. 10 can cast absentee ballots in person during regular business hours at their county auditor's office and some city clerk's offices
MN: eVoter Minnesota Launches With Start of Absentee Ballot Filing
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evoter-minnesota-launches-with-start-of-absentee-ballot-filing-97149354.html
New Web Resource Offers Voters August 10, 2010 Primary Election Information.
'Trust-us Elections' in the 'Show-Me State'
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7914 On Tuesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an OpEd by Cynthia Richards and Phillip Michaels of the non-partisan election integrity organization Missourians For Honest Elections.
NC: Wendell Fant Won’t Run as Independent for U.S. House in North Carolina
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/wendell-fant-wont-run-as-independent-for-u-s-house-in-north-carolina/ On June 25, Wendell Fant, the first person in the history of North Carolina government-printed ballots to qualify as an independent candidate for U.S. House, said he will not run.
ND: Stenehjem says law backs putting Libertarian on ballot
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/166562/
Secretary of State Al Jaeger’s paperwork mistake shouldn’t keep a Libertarian candidate for the state Public Service Commission off the November ballot, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Thursday.
NJ: Investigators probe overturned election (mail-in ballots)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/passaic_politics/97135704
_Investigators_probe_overturned_election.html http://is.gd/d49GE
State investigators questioned Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie this week about the 49 uncounted votes that, discovered 21 days after the city's municipal election, reversed the election's results.
NY: Manorhaven Village Election Goes Into Recount* (write in vote issues)
http://www.antonnews.com/portwashingtonnews/news/8804-manorhaven-village-election-goes-into-recount.html . Currently, the election results for trustees and mayor have gone into a recount after a considerable write-in effort created a close vote.
...
Giovanna Giunta stated that she has compiled about one hundred sworn affidavits that have been signed and notarized from people who said they had difficulty voting for the Revival Party, which she believes cost her party votes – votes a recount would not find. She said that these people came to her to express the difficulties they faced with the voting machines and agreed to write and sign an affidavit.
TX: ELB: "Texas judge blocks Green Party from ballot": AP offers this report. Political Wire also offers Perry Aide Pa... http://bit.ly/deC60l
TX: New Voter Registration Project Targets Harris County
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/texas-political-news/voter-registration-project-targets-harris-county/ The ethics reform lobbyist and campaign finance lawyer has launched a new nonpartisan voter registration drive that targets what he calculates are the 600,000 unregistered adult citizens there out of about 2.3 million who are eligible to vote.
TX: Houston Votes 2010 PSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM10DoQAxDk&feature=player_embedded
Houston's Creative Get Out The Vote Video
WV: Lincoln Election Case Headed to Circuit Court
http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=81963
County Commissioners recuse themselves from hearing case.
HAMLIN -- An allegation of voter fraud will now go court.
Internet Vote Watch
Why I Don’t Trust Online Voting
http://www.geeknewscentral.com/2010/06/24/why-i-dont-trust-online-voting/
Every fall, we start to hear about a bigger push for online voting for our major elections. I am one of those in the category of being firmly against online voting. There is too much room for things to go dreadfully wrong, with even less hope of fixing a problem if one occurs.
DC: Voters can soon send secret ballot from overseas
http://www.examiner.com/a-2693268~Voters_can_soon_send_secret_ballot_from_overseas.html
Washington voters who are overseas during an election - many of them military - will soon be able to vote by online secret ballot.
Oprah Winfrey Network Investigating Vote Rigging in Contest for Next TV Star
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MindMoodNews/oprahs-network-zach-anner-dr-phyllis-voting-controversy/story?id=11002858
Thursday, the network confirmed to ABC that it had launched an investigation after several websites pointed out an unusual surge in votes for Tucker-Wicks.
National
NEW RESEARCH PAPER ON FRAUD: MAGALONI, “THE GAME OF ELECTORAL FRAUD AND THE OUSTING OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE”
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3256
...even when opposition parties have no military capacity to win a revolt, opposition unity and a consequent threat of massive civil disobedience can compel autocrats to hold clean elections and leave office by triggering splits within the state apparatus and the defection of the armed forces.
FVAP MARKS ARMED FORCES AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS’ VOTERS WEEK
http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr16-2010.html
Agency to Launch Online Voter Registration Assistant to Ease Registration Process
ELB: "Transparency Trumps Privacy In Petitions, Court Says": NPR offers this report on Doe v. Reed. See also this ... http://bit.ly/aWJc4p
DISCLOSE "NOT PERFECT," BUT SHOULD BE PASSED, PREZ SEZ
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016272.html
For Clean Campaigns: DISCLOSE and Amend
http://www.thenation.com/blog/36642/clean-campaigns-disclose-and-amend
As promised in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's January misruling in the case of Citizens United v. FEC -- which essentially freed corporations to spend whatever they like to buy elections and influence policymaking -- the Congressional Democrats have produced a legislative response.
But, while that response has some merit, it is insufficient -- and potentially doomed.
Bill places limits on contractor spending (DISCLOSE ACT)
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0610/062510rb1.htm The House on Thursday passed far-reaching campaign reform legislation that would prevent many government contractors and other recipients of federal funds from spending freely on election-year advertisements.
Score for a complete participatory democracy: US = Not very good.
http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2010/06/score-for-complete-participatory.html
Justice Department stands behind voter registration law
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=649
This assertion—that getting a driver’s license and registering to vote are to be fully integrated as one process—is stunningly simple. But it also is not standard operating procedure in a majority of states.
Join us for a free webinar on voter participation basics for nonprofits
http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2010/06/join-us-for-free-webinar-on-voter.html
"Voter Participation Basics for Nonprofits" July 1st 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET
International
Kenya: IIEC to electronically register Kenyan prisoners
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=64866
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission-IIEC will use electronic voter registration in all the 70 prisons in the country with over 50,000 inmates to hasten the registration of prisoners for the August 4 constitutional referendum.
Pakistan: EC likely to go for e-voting machine
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=247080
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission (EC) has invited five world vendors on June 28-29 to demonstrate their products on the option of electronic voting machine (EVM), already in vogue in about 14 countries while 30 others are planning to adopt it, The News learnt here on Thursday.
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: Black residents file challenges to Shelby County voting rights suit
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/06/black_residents_file_challenge.html
On Tuesday the ACLU, on behalf of three black Montevallo voters, including City Councilman Willie Goldsmith; a white voter from Sterrett; and the Alabama branch of the NAACP, asked a judge for permission to intervene in the case.
...
Last week, six black Shelby County residents, backed by the national NAACP office, filed a motion to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.
AL: Is runoff voting same as primary?
Democrats, Republicans have different rules for July 13 election
http://enewscourier.com/local/x1703936998/Is-runoff-voting-same-as-primary
AL: Absentee ballot requests trickle in
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100625/NEWS/100629805/1291?Title=Absentee-ballot-requests-trickle-in “If you vote by mail, you are required to have two witnesses and some form of valid identification,”
CA: Riverside County delays certification of election results
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-riverside-county-ballots-20100625,0,3380414.story
Some 12,500 mail-in ballots arrived a day after the June 8 primary because they had been forwarded from one post office to another. Activists want them counted.
CA: New election snafu intensifies scrutiny on Riverside County Registrar of Voters after primary http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/48916/
Riverside County supervisors are considering legal action to prevent 12,500 ballots found after the voting deadline in the June 8 primary from being thrown out.
...
Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore was prepared to certify the county’s election returns Wednesday, but Executive Officer Bill Luna directed her to delay certification after confirming with California Secretary of State Debra Bowen that there was no legal requirement for the process to go forward now.
CO: Judge assures Curry’s write-in status
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/141196
A federal judge has ruled against state Rep. Kathleen Curry in a lawsuit that sought to overturn a Colorado law requiring a candidate to register as an independent 17 months before an election to be able to make the ballot
CT: Hartford Courant Editoral Board interviews SOTS primary candidates
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=3292
DC: Some Ward 8 Dems want FBI to oversee mayoral election
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2010/06/some_ward_8_
...
Moten, the co-founder of Peaceoholics, strongly denies the allegation.
DC: Make sure you can still vote in D.C.!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/debonis/2010/06/make_
sure_you_can_still_vote_i.html http://is.gd/d49EB
This month, the city Board of Elections and Ethics moved to expunge 93,773 persons from the voter rolls, and to make sure you're not one of them, open up this 21-megabyte PDF file and see if your name appears
FL: Florida Candidate, Kept off Ballot Because Filing Fee Check was Short One Cent, Won’t Sue http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/florida-candidate-kept-off-ballot-because-filing-fee-check-was-short-one-cent-wont-sue/
Guam: Bill makes promise to cover software debt
http://www.kuam.com/Global/story.asp?S=12707666 $140,000 is owed to ES&S for Decision 2008. If the vendor does not receive a commitment from the government that it will pay its debt it will not provide assistance in the upcoming election cycle, GEC staffers will be left handcounting ballots.
KY: Official, 6 others plead not guilty to vote buying
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/06/25/1323247/official-6-others-plead-not-guilty.html
The Glasgow Daily Times reported that Monroe County Judge-Executive Wilbur Graves entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in Bowling Green.
Six other people also entered not guilty pleas at the hearing. All seven are charged with vote buying or conspiracy to buy votes in the 2006 election.
ME: City panel crafts compromise on mayor, manager
http://www.pressherald.com/news/city-panel-crafts-compromise-on-mayor-manager_2010-06-25.html
MI: Michigan Agrees To Stop Unlawful Voter-Purge Programs
http://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/michigan-agrees-stop-unlawful-voter-purge-programs
Agreement Follows Lawsuit By ACLU And Advancement Project
...
DETROIT – The state of Michigan has agreed to stop two voter-purge programs that unlawfully disfranchised thousands of Michigan voters in violation of federal law.
MN: Can't make the Aug. 10 primary? Vote now
http://www.twincities.com/ci_15371784?nclick_check=1
Voters who will be on vacation, working out of state or otherwise unable to go to their polling places Aug. 10 can cast absentee ballots in person during regular business hours at their county auditor's office and some city clerk's offices
MN: eVoter Minnesota Launches With Start of Absentee Ballot Filing
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evoter-minnesota-launches-with-start-of-absentee-ballot-filing-97149354.html
New Web Resource Offers Voters August 10, 2010 Primary Election Information.
'Trust-us Elections' in the 'Show-Me State'
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7914 On Tuesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an OpEd by Cynthia Richards and Phillip Michaels of the non-partisan election integrity organization Missourians For Honest Elections.
NC: Wendell Fant Won’t Run as Independent for U.S. House in North Carolina
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/25/wendell-fant-wont-run-as-independent-for-u-s-house-in-north-carolina/ On June 25, Wendell Fant, the first person in the history of North Carolina government-printed ballots to qualify as an independent candidate for U.S. House, said he will not run.
ND: Stenehjem says law backs putting Libertarian on ballot
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/166562/
Secretary of State Al Jaeger’s paperwork mistake shouldn’t keep a Libertarian candidate for the state Public Service Commission off the November ballot, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Thursday.
NJ: Investigators probe overturned election (mail-in ballots)
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/passaic_politics/97135704
_Investigators_probe_overturned_election.html http://is.gd/d49GE
State investigators questioned Passaic County Democratic Chairman John Currie this week about the 49 uncounted votes that, discovered 21 days after the city's municipal election, reversed the election's results.
NY: Manorhaven Village Election Goes Into Recount* (write in vote issues)
http://www.antonnews.com/portwashingtonnews/news/8804-manorhaven-village-election-goes-into-recount.html . Currently, the election results for trustees and mayor have gone into a recount after a considerable write-in effort created a close vote.
...
Giovanna Giunta stated that she has compiled about one hundred sworn affidavits that have been signed and notarized from people who said they had difficulty voting for the Revival Party, which she believes cost her party votes – votes a recount would not find. She said that these people came to her to express the difficulties they faced with the voting machines and agreed to write and sign an affidavit.
TX: ELB: "Texas judge blocks Green Party from ballot": AP offers this report. Political Wire also offers Perry Aide Pa... http://bit.ly/deC60l
TX: New Voter Registration Project Targets Harris County
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/texas-political-news/voter-registration-project-targets-harris-county/ The ethics reform lobbyist and campaign finance lawyer has launched a new nonpartisan voter registration drive that targets what he calculates are the 600,000 unregistered adult citizens there out of about 2.3 million who are eligible to vote.
TX: Houston Votes 2010 PSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM10DoQAxDk&feature=player_embedded
Houston's Creative Get Out The Vote Video
WV: Lincoln Election Case Headed to Circuit Court
http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=81963
County Commissioners recuse themselves from hearing case.
HAMLIN -- An allegation of voter fraud will now go court.
Internet Vote Watch
Why I Don’t Trust Online Voting
http://www.geeknewscentral.com/2010/06/24/why-i-dont-trust-online-voting/
Every fall, we start to hear about a bigger push for online voting for our major elections. I am one of those in the category of being firmly against online voting. There is too much room for things to go dreadfully wrong, with even less hope of fixing a problem if one occurs.
DC: Voters can soon send secret ballot from overseas
http://www.examiner.com/a-2693268~Voters_can_soon_send_secret_ballot_from_overseas.html
Washington voters who are overseas during an election - many of them military - will soon be able to vote by online secret ballot.
Oprah Winfrey Network Investigating Vote Rigging in Contest for Next TV Star
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MindMoodNews/oprahs-network-zach-anner-dr-phyllis-voting-controversy/story?id=11002858
Thursday, the network confirmed to ABC that it had launched an investigation after several websites pointed out an unusual surge in votes for Tucker-Wicks.
National
NEW RESEARCH PAPER ON FRAUD: MAGALONI, “THE GAME OF ELECTORAL FRAUD AND THE OUSTING OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE”
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3256
...even when opposition parties have no military capacity to win a revolt, opposition unity and a consequent threat of massive civil disobedience can compel autocrats to hold clean elections and leave office by triggering splits within the state apparatus and the defection of the armed forces.
FVAP MARKS ARMED FORCES AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS’ VOTERS WEEK
http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr16-2010.html
Agency to Launch Online Voter Registration Assistant to Ease Registration Process
ELB: "Transparency Trumps Privacy In Petitions, Court Says": NPR offers this report on Doe v. Reed. See also this ... http://bit.ly/aWJc4p
DISCLOSE "NOT PERFECT," BUT SHOULD BE PASSED, PREZ SEZ
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016272.html
For Clean Campaigns: DISCLOSE and Amend
http://www.thenation.com/blog/36642/clean-campaigns-disclose-and-amend
As promised in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's January misruling in the case of Citizens United v. FEC -- which essentially freed corporations to spend whatever they like to buy elections and influence policymaking -- the Congressional Democrats have produced a legislative response.
But, while that response has some merit, it is insufficient -- and potentially doomed.
Bill places limits on contractor spending (DISCLOSE ACT)
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0610/062510rb1.htm The House on Thursday passed far-reaching campaign reform legislation that would prevent many government contractors and other recipients of federal funds from spending freely on election-year advertisements.
Score for a complete participatory democracy: US = Not very good.
http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2010/06/score-for-complete-participatory.html
Justice Department stands behind voter registration law
http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=649
This assertion—that getting a driver’s license and registering to vote are to be fully integrated as one process—is stunningly simple. But it also is not standard operating procedure in a majority of states.
Join us for a free webinar on voter participation basics for nonprofits
http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2010/06/join-us-for-free-webinar-on-voter.html
"Voter Participation Basics for Nonprofits" July 1st 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET
International
Kenya: IIEC to electronically register Kenyan prisoners
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=64866
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission-IIEC will use electronic voter registration in all the 70 prisons in the country with over 50,000 inmates to hasten the registration of prisoners for the August 4 constitutional referendum.
Pakistan: EC likely to go for e-voting machine
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=247080
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission (EC) has invited five world vendors on June 28-29 to demonstrate their products on the option of electronic voting machine (EVM), already in vogue in about 14 countries while 30 others are planning to adopt it, The News learnt here on Thursday.
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, June 24, 2010
Why can’t I vote at my ATM? South Carolina's 'discredited' voting machines
Connecticut makes a good MOVE, the act to help overseas military vote...NY Senate passes law making voter suppression punishable as a misdemeanor...Texas Co Commissioner pleads in absentee ballot fraud case...The DISCLOSE Act, a major campaign finance reform passes congress...Doe v Reed settled, U.S. Supreme Court Says, Usually, States are Free to Release Names and Addresses of Petition Signers for Public Viewing...Why can’t I vote at my ATM? Hansard Society Debate...US Post Office has special mailing envelope for military Absentee ballots..
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: DA concludes no vote fraud in Autauga County
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100623/NEWS01/6230347/DA-concludes-no-vote-fraud-in-Autauga-County
CA: Grand jury calls for 100% mail-in voting
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15364954
Better proof-reading, replacing polls with mail-in ballots countywide and more use of the county website are among the 2010 grand jury's recommendations for the Mendocino County Registrar of Voters Office.
CA: Final election results certified *
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_4c70d8f6-7ef0-11df-8b34-001cc4c002e0.html
The Napa County Election Division certified results Wednesday for the June 8 primary election, officially launching Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon into a November runoff against challenger Jeff Parady for the Upvalley District 3 seat
...
Tuteur said the elections office discovered during the certification process that 1,100 ballots from polling places in and around the city of Napa were counted twice in the last unofficial report released on election night.
CA: Electronic voting machine whistleblower now running for Congress in California
http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2010/06/electronic-voting-machine-whistleblower-now-running-congress-california
CT: Connecticut makes a good MOVE
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=3286
...the Connecticut Legislature passed a bill (p. 47) to provide faster absentee ballots and more convenient procedures for military and overseas voters, in compliance with the Federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
...
Along with Secretary Bysiewicz, we applaud the Legislature’s prudent choice to avoid risky Internet, fax, and email voting schemes.
CT: Secretary Bysiewicz praises enactment of measure to improve military voting
http://www.shorelineplus.com/shplus/information/news/politics/Secretary-Bysiewicz-praises-enactment-of-measure-to-improve-military-voting891789178917.shtml
Guam: Separate party ballots suggested
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20100624/NEWS01/6240309/Separate-party-ballots-suggested A Republican gubernatorial team has proposed that separate ballots be used for each political party in the upcoming primary election to prevent the continual problem of crossover voting.
MD: Maryland: State elections board dissolved Independent party
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=106538
MO: Trust-us elections (corrected link)
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/article_0ef48e72-be15-5678-a727-af6d1b028631.html
However, since the purchase of direct-record touch-screen voting machines (called DREs)
in 2006, these efforts at making elections transparent — and election results thereby believable — have been nullified.
NC: Missing key delayed Senate runoff returns in Craven
http://www.enctoday.com/news/missing-88485-nbsj-key-craven.html
The card containing electronic results could have been driven to the main elections office in New Bern, but “we don’t leave marked ballots,” Burridge said.
[they protected the ballots]
NC: Marshall wins Democratic Senate runoff, voter turnout 'miserable' in Gaston
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/style-48459-0in-marshall.html (optical scan)
An electric overload temporarily shut off a voting machine in Mount Holly, but Tuesday’s subterranean turnout meant no voters had to wait until the power was restored to see their ballots counted.
The Tuckaseegee Community Center, which is the polling place for the Mount Holly No. 1 precinct, dimmed Tuesday morning. No one was voting during the brief blackout, and poll workers turned off unnecessary lights and unplugged electronics to conserve power, said Pinion.
NY: New act fights voter intimidation tactics
http://www.hvpress.net/news/126/ARTICLE/9230/2010-06-23.html
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District –D/WF) announced passage of legislation in the Senate (S2554-B) making voter suppression punishable as a misdemeanor.
NY: New Voting Machines to Get Test Run on Upper West Side
http://www.dnainfo.com/20100624/upper-west-side/new-voting-machines-get-test-run-on-upper-west-side After years of delay in New York, new voting machines will be unveiled and tested tonight on the Upper West Side.
SC: S.C. voting machines use outdated technology
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/jun/24/sc-voting-machines-use-outdated-technology/ The voting machines used in South Carolina are widely discredited, outdated technology and produce unverifiable results.
SC: Election Commission investigating possible case of voter fraud in Dillon*
http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/dillon_county_sheriffs_
office_investigating_possible_case_of_voter_fraud/199768/
http://is.gd/d2Ooi (absentee ballot fraud)
DILLON — A possible case of voter fraud has been forwarded to the Election Commission after a resident said someone fraudulently filled out an absentee ballot for her, according to Cliff Arnette with Dillon County Sheriff’s Office.
TN: Election Commission begins verifying new voter registrations (Dyer County)
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1644595.html
Heathcott last week to begin the task of checking all voter registrations collected in Dyer County since the passing of a new law this spring. State legislators responsible for the bill say it is aimed to protect the rights of voters.
...
"This bill says that no one in this state can question your right to vote unless you die, move, change your name, or commit a felony," said Odom in a press release issued from his office. "When you receive your voter card, no one can take it away."
"Under the bill, each county election commission in Tennessee will be required to conduct inspections of newly-submitted voter registration forms at least four times each year," reads a press release from Secretary of State Tre Hargett's office on the subject. "Two election commissioners from each county - one Republican and one Democrat - will check the forms for deficiencies."
TX: Starr county commissioner convicted on voter fraud charges
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/fraud-40148-charges-grande.html
fRIO GRANDE CITY — Starr County Commissioner Raul “Roy” Peña Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to six months’ probation and a $500 fine for violating state election law during this year’s Democratic primary.
The elected official pleaded “no contest” to one count of illegally returning a marked ballot and one count of improperly mailing another voter’s ballot, stemming from allegations he helped stuff ballot boxes with fraudulent mail-in votes.
TX: Texas County Commissioner Pleads In Voter Fraud Case
http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/stateheadlines/97082049.html
Pena pleaded no contest to illegally returning a marked ballot and to improperly mailing another voter's ballot.
Pena, who wasn't up for re-election in the March primary, drew scrutiny on Feb. 26 when he arrived at a Rio Grande City post office with 56 mail-in ballots
TX: In fighting voter ID's, Democrats take on tough task
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-voterid_24tex.ART.State.Edition1.2999123.html
TX: Lubbock County Elections office needs your input on voting locations
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=12689313 When the November election comes around, voters in Lubbock County will be using super precincts.
VA: Chairwoman: State Board of Elections lacks authority
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jun/24/SBES24-ar-229860/
The State Board of Elections is "a paper lion" that has little authority to enforce election laws.
WA: Washington State Wins Doe v Reed
U.S. Supreme Court Says, Usually, States are Free to Release Names and Addresses of Petition Signers for Public Viewing
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/24/washington-state-wins-doe-v-reed/
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court released an opinion in Doe v Reed, holding that disclosure of the names and addresses of petition signers does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
WA: (Rick Hasen) INITIAL THOUGHTS ON DOE V. REED
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016266.html
I have now had a chance to read the decision in Doe v. Reed. In broad brush strokes, the Court did what I predicted they would do: a broad majority voted that disclosure of the names of the signers of referendum petitions is generally constitutional, leaving open the possibility of an as-applied challenge should plaintiffs be able to prove on remand that they faced a realistic threat of harassment in this particular case if their names are disclosed.
WV: Election probe: Feds visit post office
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com/print_this_story.asp?smenu=1&sdetail=5281
"Confirming rumors that had spread throughout the county a few weeks ago, reliable sources have told The Lincoln Journal that the investigation into the May 11 Democrat primary has reached as far as the local post office.
In the days leading up to the primary, sources told The Journal that absentee ballots and/or absentee ballot applications had been found in an area postal facility."
National
DISCLOSE Act Passes The House Today-Keep Up The Pressure
http://protectourelections.org/node/14
MORE ON DISCLOSE'S FUTURE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016269.html "I think the chances that it would be challenged [in court] would be 100 percent," said Rick Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and the author of the Election Law Blog,
Postal Pointers: Military Absentee Ballot Mail
http://www.northfortmyersneighbor.com/page/content.detail/id/506362/Postal-Pointers--Military-Absentee-Ballot-Mail.html?nav=5162
This year, military personnel and overseas voters with APO/FPO addresses can return absentee ballots using a new Express Mail Label 11DOD.
...
Express Mail Label 11DOD will allow military personnel stationed abroad to track their vote all the way to the county or parrish election office, and also generate new revenue for the Postal Service.
WAS SG KAGAN "GLEEFUL" IN WRITING OF A SOFT MONEY BAN: "AFFECTS REPUBS, NOT DEMS!"?
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016265.html
Internet Vote Watch:
Why can’t I vote at my ATM? Hansard Society Debate
http://www.jasonkitcat.com/2010/06/vote-atm-hansard-society-debate/
If you’ve heard the complaints from the music and movie industries over recent years, then you’ll know that computers are good at copying. With electronic voting we risk undetectable ballot stuffing on a massive scale.
Open-source voting technology is the cure for what ails democracy
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/open-source-voting-technology-cure-what-ails-#comment-252736 (emailing voted ballots)
District of Columbia’s Board of Elections and Ethics Adopts Open Source Digital Voting Foundation Technology to Support Ballot Delivery
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100622006238&newsLang=en
FBI Warning: DOS attacks on phones
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june10/phone_062110.html
THE LATEST PHONE SCAM Targets Your Bank Account
[Oh, let's go vote by phone- NOT]
Legal Aid Foundation Files Comments Opposing NLRB “Electronic Voting” Scheme for Union Organizing Drives
http://www.nrtw.org/en/press/2010/06/legal-aid-foundation-files-comments-
“Much like card check organizing, electronic voting leaves the door open to coercion and identity theft, and will be used by aggressive union organizers to impose forced unionism on more workers.”
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: DA concludes no vote fraud in Autauga County
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100623/NEWS01/6230347/DA-concludes-no-vote-fraud-in-Autauga-County
CA: Grand jury calls for 100% mail-in voting
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15364954
Better proof-reading, replacing polls with mail-in ballots countywide and more use of the county website are among the 2010 grand jury's recommendations for the Mendocino County Registrar of Voters Office.
CA: Final election results certified *
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_4c70d8f6-7ef0-11df-8b34-001cc4c002e0.html
The Napa County Election Division certified results Wednesday for the June 8 primary election, officially launching Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon into a November runoff against challenger Jeff Parady for the Upvalley District 3 seat
...
Tuteur said the elections office discovered during the certification process that 1,100 ballots from polling places in and around the city of Napa were counted twice in the last unofficial report released on election night.
CA: Electronic voting machine whistleblower now running for Congress in California
http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2010/06/electronic-voting-machine-whistleblower-now-running-congress-california
CT: Connecticut makes a good MOVE
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=3286
...the Connecticut Legislature passed a bill (p. 47) to provide faster absentee ballots and more convenient procedures for military and overseas voters, in compliance with the Federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
...
Along with Secretary Bysiewicz, we applaud the Legislature’s prudent choice to avoid risky Internet, fax, and email voting schemes.
CT: Secretary Bysiewicz praises enactment of measure to improve military voting
http://www.shorelineplus.com/shplus/information/news/politics/Secretary-Bysiewicz-praises-enactment-of-measure-to-improve-military-voting891789178917.shtml
Guam: Separate party ballots suggested
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20100624/NEWS01/6240309/Separate-party-ballots-suggested A Republican gubernatorial team has proposed that separate ballots be used for each political party in the upcoming primary election to prevent the continual problem of crossover voting.
MD: Maryland: State elections board dissolved Independent party
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=106538
MO: Trust-us elections (corrected link)
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/article_0ef48e72-be15-5678-a727-af6d1b028631.html
However, since the purchase of direct-record touch-screen voting machines (called DREs)
in 2006, these efforts at making elections transparent — and election results thereby believable — have been nullified.
NC: Missing key delayed Senate runoff returns in Craven
http://www.enctoday.com/news/missing-88485-nbsj-key-craven.html
The card containing electronic results could have been driven to the main elections office in New Bern, but “we don’t leave marked ballots,” Burridge said.
[they protected the ballots]
NC: Marshall wins Democratic Senate runoff, voter turnout 'miserable' in Gaston
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/style-48459-0in-marshall.html (optical scan)
An electric overload temporarily shut off a voting machine in Mount Holly, but Tuesday’s subterranean turnout meant no voters had to wait until the power was restored to see their ballots counted.
The Tuckaseegee Community Center, which is the polling place for the Mount Holly No. 1 precinct, dimmed Tuesday morning. No one was voting during the brief blackout, and poll workers turned off unnecessary lights and unplugged electronics to conserve power, said Pinion.
NY: New act fights voter intimidation tactics
http://www.hvpress.net/news/126/ARTICLE/9230/2010-06-23.html
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35th District –D/WF) announced passage of legislation in the Senate (S2554-B) making voter suppression punishable as a misdemeanor.
NY: New Voting Machines to Get Test Run on Upper West Side
http://www.dnainfo.com/20100624/upper-west-side/new-voting-machines-get-test-run-on-upper-west-side After years of delay in New York, new voting machines will be unveiled and tested tonight on the Upper West Side.
SC: S.C. voting machines use outdated technology
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/jun/24/sc-voting-machines-use-outdated-technology/ The voting machines used in South Carolina are widely discredited, outdated technology and produce unverifiable results.
SC: Election Commission investigating possible case of voter fraud in Dillon*
http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/dillon_county_sheriffs_
office_investigating_possible_case_of_voter_fraud/199768/
http://is.gd/d2Ooi (absentee ballot fraud)
DILLON — A possible case of voter fraud has been forwarded to the Election Commission after a resident said someone fraudulently filled out an absentee ballot for her, according to Cliff Arnette with Dillon County Sheriff’s Office.
TN: Election Commission begins verifying new voter registrations (Dyer County)
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1644595.html
Heathcott last week to begin the task of checking all voter registrations collected in Dyer County since the passing of a new law this spring. State legislators responsible for the bill say it is aimed to protect the rights of voters.
...
"This bill says that no one in this state can question your right to vote unless you die, move, change your name, or commit a felony," said Odom in a press release issued from his office. "When you receive your voter card, no one can take it away."
"Under the bill, each county election commission in Tennessee will be required to conduct inspections of newly-submitted voter registration forms at least four times each year," reads a press release from Secretary of State Tre Hargett's office on the subject. "Two election commissioners from each county - one Republican and one Democrat - will check the forms for deficiencies."
TX: Starr county commissioner convicted on voter fraud charges
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/fraud-40148-charges-grande.html
fRIO GRANDE CITY — Starr County Commissioner Raul “Roy” Peña Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to six months’ probation and a $500 fine for violating state election law during this year’s Democratic primary.
The elected official pleaded “no contest” to one count of illegally returning a marked ballot and one count of improperly mailing another voter’s ballot, stemming from allegations he helped stuff ballot boxes with fraudulent mail-in votes.
TX: Texas County Commissioner Pleads In Voter Fraud Case
http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/stateheadlines/97082049.html
Pena pleaded no contest to illegally returning a marked ballot and to improperly mailing another voter's ballot.
Pena, who wasn't up for re-election in the March primary, drew scrutiny on Feb. 26 when he arrived at a Rio Grande City post office with 56 mail-in ballots
TX: In fighting voter ID's, Democrats take on tough task
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-voterid_24tex.ART.State.Edition1.2999123.html
TX: Lubbock County Elections office needs your input on voting locations
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=12689313 When the November election comes around, voters in Lubbock County will be using super precincts.
VA: Chairwoman: State Board of Elections lacks authority
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jun/24/SBES24-ar-229860/
The State Board of Elections is "a paper lion" that has little authority to enforce election laws.
WA: Washington State Wins Doe v Reed
U.S. Supreme Court Says, Usually, States are Free to Release Names and Addresses of Petition Signers for Public Viewing
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/24/washington-state-wins-doe-v-reed/
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court released an opinion in Doe v Reed, holding that disclosure of the names and addresses of petition signers does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
WA: (Rick Hasen) INITIAL THOUGHTS ON DOE V. REED
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016266.html
I have now had a chance to read the decision in Doe v. Reed. In broad brush strokes, the Court did what I predicted they would do: a broad majority voted that disclosure of the names of the signers of referendum petitions is generally constitutional, leaving open the possibility of an as-applied challenge should plaintiffs be able to prove on remand that they faced a realistic threat of harassment in this particular case if their names are disclosed.
WV: Election probe: Feds visit post office
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com/print_this_story.asp?smenu=1&sdetail=5281
"Confirming rumors that had spread throughout the county a few weeks ago, reliable sources have told The Lincoln Journal that the investigation into the May 11 Democrat primary has reached as far as the local post office.
In the days leading up to the primary, sources told The Journal that absentee ballots and/or absentee ballot applications had been found in an area postal facility."
National
DISCLOSE Act Passes The House Today-Keep Up The Pressure
http://protectourelections.org/node/14
MORE ON DISCLOSE'S FUTURE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016269.html "I think the chances that it would be challenged [in court] would be 100 percent," said Rick Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and the author of the Election Law Blog,
Postal Pointers: Military Absentee Ballot Mail
http://www.northfortmyersneighbor.com/page/content.detail/id/506362/Postal-Pointers--Military-Absentee-Ballot-Mail.html?nav=5162
This year, military personnel and overseas voters with APO/FPO addresses can return absentee ballots using a new Express Mail Label 11DOD.
...
Express Mail Label 11DOD will allow military personnel stationed abroad to track their vote all the way to the county or parrish election office, and also generate new revenue for the Postal Service.
WAS SG KAGAN "GLEEFUL" IN WRITING OF A SOFT MONEY BAN: "AFFECTS REPUBS, NOT DEMS!"?
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016265.html
Internet Vote Watch:
Why can’t I vote at my ATM? Hansard Society Debate
http://www.jasonkitcat.com/2010/06/vote-atm-hansard-society-debate/
If you’ve heard the complaints from the music and movie industries over recent years, then you’ll know that computers are good at copying. With electronic voting we risk undetectable ballot stuffing on a massive scale.
Open-source voting technology is the cure for what ails democracy
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/open-source-voting-technology-cure-what-ails-#comment-252736 (emailing voted ballots)
District of Columbia’s Board of Elections and Ethics Adopts Open Source Digital Voting Foundation Technology to Support Ballot Delivery
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100622006238&newsLang=en
FBI Warning: DOS attacks on phones
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june10/phone_062110.html
THE LATEST PHONE SCAM Targets Your Bank Account
[Oh, let's go vote by phone- NOT]
Legal Aid Foundation Files Comments Opposing NLRB “Electronic Voting” Scheme for Union Organizing Drives
http://www.nrtw.org/en/press/2010/06/legal-aid-foundation-files-comments-
“Much like card check organizing, electronic voting leaves the door open to coercion and identity theft, and will be used by aggressive union organizers to impose forced unionism on more workers.”
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, June 23, 2010
Audit-Maryland Elections Board 'sloppy'. Show Me State's 'Trust Us Elections'
Linda Lamone has been Maryland's election chief since 1997. With 13 years of Lamone's leadership, a state audit has found so many flaws in the elections board's oversight of local boards & financial management that Lamone will have to file quarterly progress reports with an auditor. The audit report cites "deficiencies", "lax oversight", “sloppy” internal controls, " flaws in monitoring voter registration databases","short $2 million." ...Missouri, the "show me" state has "Trust-us elections"...DOJ Urged to Preserve S.C. Election Records...Georgia sues feds over voter ID, challenges voting rights act...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: ACLU Moves To Intervene In Alabama Voting Rights Act Challenge
http://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/aclu-moves-intervene-alabama-voting-rights-act-challenge
Section 5 requires certain jurisdictions like Shelby County that have a history of racial discrimination in voting to obtain advance approval from the federal government before changing their election laws.
CA: Uncounted ballots in legal limbo
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_supes23.1ebac92.html
Riverside County will delay certifying results of the June 8 primary to see if possible legal action will resolve the fate of 12,500 mail-in vote
CA: RivCo supervisors may take up legal action to review election ballots
http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-06-22/news/rivco-may-take-up-legal-action-to-review-election-ballots The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is considering legal action to prevent 12,500 ballots found after the voting deadline in the June 8 primary from being thrown out.
GA: Another challenge to Section 5 (of Voting Rights Act)
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016259.html
The complaint seeks judicial preclearance of its voter verification process under Section 5 and, in the alternative, asserts that Section 5 is unconstitutional.
GA: Georgia sues feds over voter ID
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/062310/new_660035693.shtml
MD: Audit finds problems with elections board
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics
/2010/06/legislative_audit_finds_proble.html http://is.gd/d1fpn The state Office of Legislative Audits has again found "deficiencies" in the state elections board's oversight of local boards and in its financial management, the agency said in a report released Tuesday morning.
MD: Audit report of State Elections Board
http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Fiscal%20Compliance/SBE10.pdf
MD: Audit finds lax oversight by State Board of Elections *
Felons remain on voting rolls despite requirement for local agency removal
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-elections-audit-20100622,0,834777.story
Of the 14 findings in the audit, six — including flaws in monitoring voter registration databases, local boards and cash receipts — appeared on the agency's previous audit report three years ago and were not corrected. Legislative auditor Bruce A. Myers said that's one uncorrected problem over the limit...
...
The report said the state board did not have an audit performed on maintenance and security of the centralized statewide voter registration system, which is maintained by a contractor. Auditors said the elections board was "essentially relying on the contractor's assertion that this critical database is secure and properly functioning."
MD: Audit finds serious flaws at Maryland elections board
http://www.marylandreporter.com/page55042.aspx “SBE had $5.1 million they were supposed to pay but they only had money in their budget to cover $3.1 million.” Myers said. “So they are short $2 million,” representing both budget and financial reporting problems at the election board. He described the board’s internal controls as “sloppy.”
MD: Linda Lamone elections chief since 1997
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8145/is_20040807/ai_n51378001
MO: Trust-us elections
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/article_0ef48e72-be15-5678-a727-af6d1b028631.html
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: ACLU Moves To Intervene In Alabama Voting Rights Act Challenge
http://www.aclu.org/voting-rights/aclu-moves-intervene-alabama-voting-rights-act-challenge
Section 5 requires certain jurisdictions like Shelby County that have a history of racial discrimination in voting to obtain advance approval from the federal government before changing their election laws.
CA: Uncounted ballots in legal limbo
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_supes23.1ebac92.html
Riverside County will delay certifying results of the June 8 primary to see if possible legal action will resolve the fate of 12,500 mail-in vote
CA: RivCo supervisors may take up legal action to review election ballots
http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-06-22/news/rivco-may-take-up-legal-action-to-review-election-ballots The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is considering legal action to prevent 12,500 ballots found after the voting deadline in the June 8 primary from being thrown out.
GA: Another challenge to Section 5 (of Voting Rights Act)
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016259.html
The complaint seeks judicial preclearance of its voter verification process under Section 5 and, in the alternative, asserts that Section 5 is unconstitutional.
GA: Georgia sues feds over voter ID
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/062310/new_660035693.shtml
MD: Audit finds problems with elections board
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics
/2010/06/legislative_audit_finds_proble.html http://is.gd/d1fpn The state Office of Legislative Audits has again found "deficiencies" in the state elections board's oversight of local boards and in its financial management, the agency said in a report released Tuesday morning.
MD: Audit report of State Elections Board
http://www.ola.state.md.us/Reports/Fiscal%20Compliance/SBE10.pdf
MD: Audit finds lax oversight by State Board of Elections *
Felons remain on voting rolls despite requirement for local agency removal
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-elections-audit-20100622,0,834777.story
Of the 14 findings in the audit, six — including flaws in monitoring voter registration databases, local boards and cash receipts — appeared on the agency's previous audit report three years ago and were not corrected. Legislative auditor Bruce A. Myers said that's one uncorrected problem over the limit...
...
The report said the state board did not have an audit performed on maintenance and security of the centralized statewide voter registration system, which is maintained by a contractor. Auditors said the elections board was "essentially relying on the contractor's assertion that this critical database is secure and properly functioning."
MD: Audit finds serious flaws at Maryland elections board
http://www.marylandreporter.com/page55042.aspx “SBE had $5.1 million they were supposed to pay but they only had money in their budget to cover $3.1 million.” Myers said. “So they are short $2 million,” representing both budget and financial reporting problems at the election board. He described the board’s internal controls as “sloppy.”
MD: Linda Lamone elections chief since 1997
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8145/is_20040807/ai_n51378001
MO: Trust-us elections
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/article_0ef48e72-be15-5678-a727-af6d1b028631.html
http://is.gd/d1zJ6
...However, since the purchase of direct-record touch-screen voting machines (called DREs) in 2006, these efforts at making elections transparent — and election results thereby believable — have been nullified.
...
The continued practice of "just trust us" elections puts Missouri at risk of becoming the next South Carolina.
NC: Runoff Election Comes With A Price
http://www.ncnn.com/content/view/6039/26/
NM: New Mexico Green Party Submits 4,000 Signatures for Its U.S. House Nominee, but Secretary of State Rejects The Petition
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/23/new-mexico-green-party-submits-4000-signatures-for-its-u-s-house-nominee-but-secretary-of-state-rejects-the-petition/
NY: Nassau Election System Lawsuit Sent Back To State Court!
http://electiontransparencycoalition.org/2010/06/21/nassau-election-system-lawsuit-sent-back-to-state-court/
NY: Voters Claim Difficulties at Manorhaven Polls;
Recount Scheduled for Wednesday (write in vote problems)
http://portwashington.patch.com/articles/voters-claim-difficulties-at-manorhaven-polls-recount-scheduled-for-wednesday
NY: On Port Chester’s Election
http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/on_port_chesters_election
_and_counting_minority_votes/ http://is.gd/d1fzI On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, the Village of Port Chester, NY, elected its first Latino candidate to public office. With just over 10 percent of the vote, Luis Marino, a Peruvian-born custodial worker and long-time Port Chester resident, earned a seat on the Village’s six-member Board of Trustees.
NY: Something's wrong about this election (LTE)
http://www.lohud.com/article/20100623/OPINION/6230313/1016/OPINION01/
Something+'s%20wrong%20about%20this%20election http://is.gd/d1fC0
Now you be the judge. Have we gone too far? A federal judge authorized each voter to cast six votes in last week's village board elections in Port Chester, one vote for each seat on the ballot.
SC: Was Alvin Greene picked by voters trying to eliminate errors on their ballots?
http://ballotusability.blogspot.com/2010/06/was-alvin-greene-picked-by-voters.html
...usability of a voting system may have influenced yet another election.
SC: DOJ Urged to Preserve S.C. Election Records
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-abrahams/doj-urged-to-preserve-sc_b_620875.html
Despite disparities and statewide reports of lost votes, broken equipment and missing names on the ballot, the South Carolina Democratic Party voted against former state legislator and Circuit Court Judge Vic Rawl's calls for a new primary election against opponent Alvin Greene.
...
If the results are erased, the South Carolina Board of Elections will be in violation of federal law. But Friedman points out, it's quite common to see federal election results destroyed.
SC: South Carolina: Conestee voters cast ballots in back of minivan
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100622/NEWS/306220025/
1004/NEWS01/Conestee-voters-cast-ballots-in-back-of-minivan
http://is.gd/d1fDm
UT: Utah Approves Electronic Signatures in Electoral Process
http://www.acluutah.org/PR062210ESig.html
WI: Attorney General Charges Two Men With Election Fraud
http://www.wisn.com/news/23995412/detail.html Men Voted In 2008 Presidential Election While Under Supervision As Convicted Felons
Internet Vote Watch
Rop Gonggrijp, Election Transparency Activist (Part 2) problems with internet voting
DEBATE: Online, Internet-based Voting for Overseas and Military Voters. Team Con - What's the rush, what's the risk? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83eyTFwIGD8
...its about transparency and basic democratic hygiene...We've introduced alot of technology in elections.. it has generated 10 times as many problems so far... If you have election anomalies, you need to be able to answer the 'why' question... In paperless systems...you will not be able to answer the 'why' question...This is the most important thing...
About Rop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rop_Gonggrijp
DC: DC works on project to put overseas voting online
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/voters-can-soon-send-secret-ballot-from-overseas-96893139.html Washington voters who are overseas during an election — many of them military — could soon be able to vote online in a project that makes the city one of the few places experimenting with online ballots.
Oregon Independent Party to Hold Internet Primary
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/23/oregon-independent-party-to-hold-internet-primary/
The party is sending a postal letter to every member, giving him or her a unique ID number. That number can then be used by that voter to vote in the party’s on-line primary during July. For more information about the process, see the party’s web page at http://indparty.com.
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.
...However, since the purchase of direct-record touch-screen voting machines (called DREs) in 2006, these efforts at making elections transparent — and election results thereby believable — have been nullified.
...
The continued practice of "just trust us" elections puts Missouri at risk of becoming the next South Carolina.
NC: Runoff Election Comes With A Price
http://www.ncnn.com/content/view/6039/26/
NM: New Mexico Green Party Submits 4,000 Signatures for Its U.S. House Nominee, but Secretary of State Rejects The Petition
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/23/new-mexico-green-party-submits-4000-signatures-for-its-u-s-house-nominee-but-secretary-of-state-rejects-the-petition/
NY: Nassau Election System Lawsuit Sent Back To State Court!
http://electiontransparencycoalition.org/2010/06/21/nassau-election-system-lawsuit-sent-back-to-state-court/
NY: Voters Claim Difficulties at Manorhaven Polls;
Recount Scheduled for Wednesday (write in vote problems)
http://portwashington.patch.com/articles/voters-claim-difficulties-at-manorhaven-polls-recount-scheduled-for-wednesday
NY: On Port Chester’s Election
http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/on_port_chesters_election
_and_counting_minority_votes/ http://is.gd/d1fzI On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, the Village of Port Chester, NY, elected its first Latino candidate to public office. With just over 10 percent of the vote, Luis Marino, a Peruvian-born custodial worker and long-time Port Chester resident, earned a seat on the Village’s six-member Board of Trustees.
NY: Something's wrong about this election (LTE)
http://www.lohud.com/article/20100623/OPINION/6230313/1016/OPINION01/
Something+'s%20wrong%20about%20this%20election http://is.gd/d1fC0
Now you be the judge. Have we gone too far? A federal judge authorized each voter to cast six votes in last week's village board elections in Port Chester, one vote for each seat on the ballot.
SC: Was Alvin Greene picked by voters trying to eliminate errors on their ballots?
http://ballotusability.blogspot.com/2010/06/was-alvin-greene-picked-by-voters.html
...usability of a voting system may have influenced yet another election.
SC: DOJ Urged to Preserve S.C. Election Records
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-abrahams/doj-urged-to-preserve-sc_b_620875.html
Despite disparities and statewide reports of lost votes, broken equipment and missing names on the ballot, the South Carolina Democratic Party voted against former state legislator and Circuit Court Judge Vic Rawl's calls for a new primary election against opponent Alvin Greene.
...
If the results are erased, the South Carolina Board of Elections will be in violation of federal law. But Friedman points out, it's quite common to see federal election results destroyed.
SC: South Carolina: Conestee voters cast ballots in back of minivan
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100622/NEWS/306220025/
1004/NEWS01/Conestee-voters-cast-ballots-in-back-of-minivan
http://is.gd/d1fDm
UT: Utah Approves Electronic Signatures in Electoral Process
http://www.acluutah.org/PR062210ESig.html
WI: Attorney General Charges Two Men With Election Fraud
http://www.wisn.com/news/23995412/detail.html Men Voted In 2008 Presidential Election While Under Supervision As Convicted Felons
Internet Vote Watch
Rop Gonggrijp, Election Transparency Activist (Part 2) problems with internet voting
DEBATE: Online, Internet-based Voting for Overseas and Military Voters. Team Con - What's the rush, what's the risk? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83eyTFwIGD8
...its about transparency and basic democratic hygiene...We've introduced alot of technology in elections.. it has generated 10 times as many problems so far... If you have election anomalies, you need to be able to answer the 'why' question... In paperless systems...you will not be able to answer the 'why' question...This is the most important thing...
About Rop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rop_Gonggrijp
DC: DC works on project to put overseas voting online
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/congress/voters-can-soon-send-secret-ballot-from-overseas-96893139.html Washington voters who are overseas during an election — many of them military — could soon be able to vote online in a project that makes the city one of the few places experimenting with online ballots.
Oregon Independent Party to Hold Internet Primary
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/06/23/oregon-independent-party-to-hold-internet-primary/
The party is sending a postal letter to every member, giving him or her a unique ID number. That number can then be used by that voter to vote in the party’s on-line primary during July. For more information about the process, see the party’s web page at http://indparty.com.
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.
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