Voting rights lawsuit in Alambama over Bingo machine confiscation...DNA Evidence Sought in NY Absentee Ballot Fraud Case...More Ohio voting by mail means more mistakes...Cryptographers speak of threats, voting, and Blu-R...Oregon Ind Party internet primary 'electon' yields only 4% turnout and Ivoting vendor wants Oregon to trade vote by mail for internet voting....Do you think internet voting is as "safe as online banking"? Read Researcher's Hack Can Make ATMs Spew Money...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: Voting rights lawsuit filed over Riley's Greenetrack raid
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20100730/NEWS/100739989?Title=Voting-rights-lawsuit-filed-over-Riley-s-Greenetrack-raid Voting rights lawyer Ed Still is one of several attorneys who has filed a voting rights lawsuit over the June raid and confiscation of more than 800 bingo machines from the Greenetrack bingo casino in Greene County.
..
The lawsuit’s premise is simple: Riley’s actions unilaterally reversed voter intentions in both counties, effectively canceling their votes.
CA: Sacramento County voter switched from Democrat to Republican
http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=88535&catid=2
Sacramento County elections officials were notifying Cracraft that she had re-registered to vote as a Republican
CA: Two Candidates and Four Voters File Lawsuit Against Certain Aspects of California Top-Two System http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/28/two-candidates-and-four-voters-file-lawsuit-against-certain-aspects-of-california-top-two-system/
CT: IRV: Is it legal in Connecticut? Can our scanners compute it?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/irv-is-it-legal-in-connecticut-can-our-scanners-compute-it/
DC: U.S. Department of Justice Decides Not to Take a Position on Counting Write-in Votes http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/30/u-s-department-of-justice-decides-not-to-take-a-position-on-counting-write-in-votes/
On June 30, the U.S. Justice Department said that the Department has decided not to take a position in the pending lawsuit Libertarian Party v District of Columbia Board of Elections, now pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
FL: Eleventh Circuit Grants Injunction to Stop Extra Public Funding for One Florida Gubernatorial Candidate
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/30/eleventh-circuit-grants-injunction-to-stop-extra-public-funding-on-one-florida-gubernatorial-candidate/
GA: Longer early voting period in GA does not increase turnout in primary
http://www.earlyvoting.net/blog/2010/07/longer-early-voting-period-ga-does-not-increase-turnout-primary
NC: North Carolina Ballot Access Hearing Postponed
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/26/north-carolina-ballot-access-hearing-postponed/
NY: NY: 9 targeted in vote conspiracy (DNA evidence sought)
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/9-targeted-in-vote-conspiracy-594751.php
Court records filed in connection with the investigation include allegations that the officials, and several political operatives for the Rensselaer County Democratic Party, may have conspired to file dozens of fraudulent absentee ballots last year in an attempt to seize the Working Families Party line for the general election.
The officials identified as targets of the investigation are: Rensselaer County Board of Elections Commissioner Edward G. McDonough; city Councilmen Michael LoPorto, Gary Galuski, Kevin McGrath, and John Brown; City Council President Clem Campana; City Clerk William A. McInerney; and political operatives Dan Brown, who is John Brown's brother, and Anthony DeFiglio, a former Troy Housing Authority clerk.
NY: County Approves Electronic Voting Machines (Dominion)
The lever voting machines currently used in Commack will not longer be used for national elections as of Sept., new electronic tabulating machines have been certified.
http://commack.patch.com/articles/county-approves-electronic-voting-machines
The current voting machines – traditional lever machines – are still being used for district elections, at this point in time, Knoble said
OH: More Ohio voting by mail means more mistakes *
http://www.wfmj.com/Global/story.asp?S=12890771 More than 6,000 voters in the county that includes Cleveland made mistakes with mail-in ballots for the May primary. Some left off necessary signatures or information, while nearly 100 even forgot to include their ballot in the envelope.
...
County elections officials in Columbus say simpler rules would cut down on slip-ups. Any changes would be up to the Ohio Legislature.
OH: Ballot "Bloopers" *
http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/99654689.html?storySection=story
Election officials in some larger Ohio counties have experienced problems with mail-in ballots ranging from leaving off voter signatures...to failing to mail in the ballot itself.
RI: Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Rhode Island’s Straight-Ticket Device
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/28/federal-lawsuit-filed-against-rhode-islands-straight-ticket-device/ On July 28, Robert J. Healey and eleven other voters filed a lawsuit in federal court, to stop the use of a straight-ticket device in Rhode Island. Healey is on the ballot as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in November, with the partisan label “Cool Moose Party.”
SC: Voting Locations of Four Precincts Moved (Pickens Co)
http://pickenselections.org/2010/07/29/voting-locations-of-four-precincts-moved/
WI: Brown County will join expanded election fraud task force
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100729/GPG0101/100729059/Brown-County-will-join-expanded-election-fraud-task-force
District attorneys, Department of Justice to collaborate on investigations
The counties joining the expanded task force are Brown, Dane, Kenosha, La Crosse, Marathon, Outagamie, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago.
Internet Voting Watch
Independent Party sees few voters cast ballots in Oregon primary
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100730/UPDATE
The results are in from Oregon’s first online primary election: Fewer than 2,300 of the 57,000 members of the Independent Party voted.
That’s turnout of 4 percent, far less than the two major parties get in their primaries.
Independent Party leaders said Friday that’s also far more people than usually participate in conventions for other minor parties.
Oregon Independent Party Releases Results of its Private Primary
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/31/oregon-independent-party-releases-results-of-its-private-primary/
Independent Party primary offered interesting look at online elections
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2010/07/independent_party_primary_offe.html
He (Paul DeGregorio) said that Oregon's vote-by-mail system is uniquely positioned to eventually move to online voting.
Researcher's Hack Can Make ATMs Spew Money
http://blogs.forbes.com/firewall/2010/07/28/researchers-hack-can-make-atms-spew-money/ ...Another method allows him to remotely access a machine over the Internet and eject money, or even record a history of users' credit card and PIN numbers as they're entered and send them back to the hacker.
(repeat) Honolulu Completes Internet/Telephone-Only Election
http://techdirt.com/articles/20090527/0359125027.shtml?op=sharethis
6.3 % turnout, an 83% decrease from similar election in 2007
National
Cryptographers speak of threats, voting, and Blu-R
http://www.rulance.com/?p=137
...He (Rivest)said software dependent is a category where a bug or a flaw could easily change the end result; this is along the lines of work done recently by Professor Ed Felten and his grad students at Princeton. Software independent is where the system doesn’t entirely depend on the software and uses paper or some other means of capturing the vote. He favors voting systems that are software independent.
...
Diffie began the discussion, saying that after 80 years, “we’ve gotten cryptography to a fairly good point,” but added that “the Internet’s a mess.” He said that on the Internet, “defense–pure defense–simply doesn’t work.” He said that where it takes us months and years to secure something, it takes the opponent only hours. “They can run rings around us.”
Should the Electoral College reflect the popular vote?
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Editorial-Board-Blog/2010/0728/Should-the-Electoral-College-reflect-the-popular-vote Massachusetts is set to become the sixth state to award its electors to the winner of the popular vote nationally.
"Legislative Battles Drive Second-Quarter Lobbying Spending by Major Corporations, Special Interests" http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016560.html
Tea Party Caucus Members Bankrolled by Health Professionals, Retirees, Oil Interests
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/07/members-of-tea-party-caucus-major-r.html
More CU Links
The People for the American Way blog offers The Consequences of Citizens United.
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016556.html
"EXCLUSIVE: DOJ Accused of Stalling on MOVE Act for Voters in Military"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016549.html
Successful NVRA Lawsuits in MO, OH have Led to Hundreds of Thousands of Applications from Low-Income Americans http://www.projectvote.org/blog/?p=747
A radical idea: Reveal source of political ads
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/30/1589930/a-radical-idea-reveal-source-of.html Look out, voters. U.S. Senate clears the way for open season.
A vital piece of legislation died in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Democrats are to blame for larding up the bill with wrong-headed provisions that distracted from the bill's true purpose. Republicans are to blame for being intransigent and not working to get rid of those provisions and passing the crucial underlying policy.
International
Bahrain: Vote buying getting more expensive (cartoon and commentary)
http://mahmood.tv/2010/07/31/vote-buying-getting-more-expensive/
The democratic “experiment” is getting much more mature in the Bahraini custom now. Bribing poor people with sacks of rice, sugar and some oil as has happened in the elections of 2002 and 2006 is no longer enough, according to Al-Wasat this morning. People now demand more for their votes, they upped their prices!
India: the loaded dice : part 2
http://iltb.apargupta.com/2010/07/the-loaded-dice-part-2/ This part moves beyond this background to question the excuses to examination of EVM’s as well as reasons why it should be conducted. As per human nature, I will first start with the excuses (against examination) and then proceed to the reasons (for examination).
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Calloway KY Co picks optical scan. More WV cntys. mull troop internet vote test
After an "internet pilot" for 5 WV counties, with total of 54 ballots cast out of 68 requested, the Putnam Co WV clerk now believes internet voting is safe, and wants his county to volunteer. Did anyone explain what happened to those missing 14 votes?...Martin Co FL using a ballot tracking system for absentee ballots, hope it works better than Denver Co system...Former GA SOS Handel hit with ethics complaint. (Handel promised to ditch DREs but reneged......Calloway joins majority of KY counties using paper ballots...Ohio SOS Office gets YouTube Channel...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
FL: Martin County Track your vote-by-mail ballot for Aug. 24 primary
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jul/27/martin-county-track-your-vote-by-mail-ballot-for/?partner=RSS To track your ballot, visit www.MartinVotes.com and click on Track Your Ballot located under What’s New.
GA: Karen Handel hit with ethics complaint alleging $13k in illegal payments to staffers http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/27/karen-handel-hit-with-ethics-complaint-alleging-13k-in-illegal-payments-to-staffers/
Political blogger Bill Simon has filed a complaint against Republican candidate for governor Karen Handel with the State Ethics Commission, alleging that she illegally paid $13,200 to advisors of her gubernatorial campaign with money raised as a candidate for secretary of state
GA: Ethics Panel Probes Handel Complaints (different from above article)
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/ethics-panel-probes-handel-complaints-071210
KY: Elections board to pursue the purchase of new machines
http://www.murrayledger.com/articles/2010/07/28/top_story/news02.txt
Calloway County...Most counties in Kentucky have moved to using new paper-ballot scanning equipment that tallies votes electronically, but also produce a better “paper trail” that can be used to verify electronic voting results and ensure an accurate as well as a faster and more efficient.
NC: Editorial: One-stop - Early voting deserves bipartisan support.
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/07/23/1015828?sac=Opin
NY: Did You Split Your Vote? Experts Scrutinize Port Chester Vote Data for Trends
http://portchester.patch.com/articles/did-you-split-your-vote-experts-scrutinize-port-chester-vote-data-for-trends
Using a wealth of data from exit polls and surveys, political scientists want to know how Port Chester voters used the new cumulative voting system.
NY: Election commissioner at odds with county law
http://pressrepublican.com/new_today/x1079911004/Election-commissioner-at-odds-with-county-law PLATTSBURGH — Democratic Elections Commissioner Susan Castine is challenging a Clinton County law that says she can't run for office and work at the Board of Elections at the same time.
OH: Ohio Secretary of State's Office Establishes YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/OhioSOSBrunner
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s office has created a YouTube channel where citizens can follow the work of the office. YouTube is another way the office has embraced technology to provide additional outreach to Ohioans.
Internet Voting Watch
WVA:Putnam officials want to be part of voting project
http://www.dailymail.com/News/PutnamCounty/201007270877?page=1&build=cache
Commission also approves contract for demolition of building
"I feel more secure about the system now that it has been utilized," ~ Brian Wood
WVA: Online Balloting Gaining Steam in Mon County
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/2396-online-balloting-gaining-speed-in-mon-county Getting things done as fast as possible is the trend in America these days, and making your vote count is no different. That's why Monongalia County is one of four counties in the state using online balloting.
..
Not everyone can cast their vote online yet, but for now, if you have a family member serving in the military overseas, or you know someone living abroad that wants to vote, this is for them.
Online Voting: All That Glitters is Not Gold (Unless You're a Vendor)
http://www.voteraction.org/news-article/2010/online-voting-all-that-glitters-not-gold-unless-youre-a-vendor Voting over the internet seems like a cool idea whose time has come. But, it depends on who's doing the talking.
(rerun) Electionline Newsletter May 20-2010
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/
wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Reports/Electionline_Reports/
electionlineWeekly05.20.10.pdf http://is.gd/ctI2d (pdf file)
Five counties in the Mountain State — Jackson, Kanawha, Marshall, Monongalia, and Wood —participated in an online voting pilot project for military and overseas
(rerun) West Virginia's Internet Voting Pilot Program Featured In Pew Center Newsletter (says total 54 ballots cast )
http://www.sos.wv.gov/news/topics/elections-candidates/Pages/WestVirginia'sInternetVotingPilotProgram
Featured InPewCenterNewsletter.aspx http://is.gd/ctI4c
68 overseas voters and military personnel requested an online ballot. 54 of those ballots were voted and returned, or about 80 percent.
Canada: Renfrew dabbles in electronic voting
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/07/28/ottawa-renfrew-online-vote.html?ref=rss
...The move to electronic voting for the upcoming municipal election is meeting with some resistance in the town of Renfrew, where many older residents still prefer to visit ballot boxes
...
"Given the security risks, opening the door to provincial or federal internet voting seems premature," said Geist on his blog.
"In the zeal to increase voter turnout, the reliance on internet voting could inadvertently place the validity of the election process at risk."
National
Tom Toles cartoon "Supreme irony" (about Citizens United)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/07/midsummer_nights_dream_this_is.html
International
The perfect voting system? (encryption system)
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-07/26/the-perfect-voting-system
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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...
FL: Martin County Track your vote-by-mail ballot for Aug. 24 primary
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jul/27/martin-county-track-your-vote-by-mail-ballot-for/?partner=RSS To track your ballot, visit www.MartinVotes.com and click on Track Your Ballot located under What’s New.
GA: Karen Handel hit with ethics complaint alleging $13k in illegal payments to staffers http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/27/karen-handel-hit-with-ethics-complaint-alleging-13k-in-illegal-payments-to-staffers/
Political blogger Bill Simon has filed a complaint against Republican candidate for governor Karen Handel with the State Ethics Commission, alleging that she illegally paid $13,200 to advisors of her gubernatorial campaign with money raised as a candidate for secretary of state
GA: Ethics Panel Probes Handel Complaints (different from above article)
http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/ethics-panel-probes-handel-complaints-071210
KY: Elections board to pursue the purchase of new machines
http://www.murrayledger.com/articles/2010/07/28/top_story/news02.txt
Calloway County...Most counties in Kentucky have moved to using new paper-ballot scanning equipment that tallies votes electronically, but also produce a better “paper trail” that can be used to verify electronic voting results and ensure an accurate as well as a faster and more efficient.
NC: Editorial: One-stop - Early voting deserves bipartisan support.
http://fayobserver.com/articles/2010/07/23/1015828?sac=Opin
NY: Did You Split Your Vote? Experts Scrutinize Port Chester Vote Data for Trends
http://portchester.patch.com/articles/did-you-split-your-vote-experts-scrutinize-port-chester-vote-data-for-trends
Using a wealth of data from exit polls and surveys, political scientists want to know how Port Chester voters used the new cumulative voting system.
NY: Election commissioner at odds with county law
http://pressrepublican.com/new_today/x1079911004/Election-commissioner-at-odds-with-county-law PLATTSBURGH — Democratic Elections Commissioner Susan Castine is challenging a Clinton County law that says she can't run for office and work at the Board of Elections at the same time.
OH: Ohio Secretary of State's Office Establishes YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/OhioSOSBrunner
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s office has created a YouTube channel where citizens can follow the work of the office. YouTube is another way the office has embraced technology to provide additional outreach to Ohioans.
Internet Voting Watch
WVA:Putnam officials want to be part of voting project
http://www.dailymail.com/News/PutnamCounty/201007270877?page=1&build=cache
Commission also approves contract for demolition of building
"I feel more secure about the system now that it has been utilized," ~ Brian Wood
WVA: Online Balloting Gaining Steam in Mon County
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/2396-online-balloting-gaining-speed-in-mon-county Getting things done as fast as possible is the trend in America these days, and making your vote count is no different. That's why Monongalia County is one of four counties in the state using online balloting.
..
Not everyone can cast their vote online yet, but for now, if you have a family member serving in the military overseas, or you know someone living abroad that wants to vote, this is for them.
Online Voting: All That Glitters is Not Gold (Unless You're a Vendor)
http://www.voteraction.org/news-article/2010/online-voting-all-that-glitters-not-gold-unless-youre-a-vendor Voting over the internet seems like a cool idea whose time has come. But, it depends on who's doing the talking.
(rerun) Electionline Newsletter May 20-2010
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/
wwwpewcenteronthestatesorg/Reports/Electionline_Reports/
electionlineWeekly05.20.10.pdf http://is.gd/ctI2d (pdf file)
Five counties in the Mountain State — Jackson, Kanawha, Marshall, Monongalia, and Wood —participated in an online voting pilot project for military and overseas
(rerun) West Virginia's Internet Voting Pilot Program Featured In Pew Center Newsletter (says total 54 ballots cast )
http://www.sos.wv.gov/news/topics/elections-candidates/Pages/WestVirginia'sInternetVotingPilotProgram
Featured InPewCenterNewsletter.aspx http://is.gd/ctI4c
68 overseas voters and military personnel requested an online ballot. 54 of those ballots were voted and returned, or about 80 percent.
Canada: Renfrew dabbles in electronic voting
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/07/28/ottawa-renfrew-online-vote.html?ref=rss
...The move to electronic voting for the upcoming municipal election is meeting with some resistance in the town of Renfrew, where many older residents still prefer to visit ballot boxes
...
"Given the security risks, opening the door to provincial or federal internet voting seems premature," said Geist on his blog.
"In the zeal to increase voter turnout, the reliance on internet voting could inadvertently place the validity of the election process at risk."
National
Tom Toles cartoon "Supreme irony" (about Citizens United)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/07/midsummer_nights_dream_this_is.html
International
The perfect voting system? (encryption system)
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-07/26/the-perfect-voting-system
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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, July 28, 2010
KS vote flipping. NASS-overseas vote must be recountable! DISCLOSE Fails
NASS resolution - State Election Officials: Recountable Process A Must for Overseas Voters. (internet or email voting does not provide that)...The DISCLOSE Act fails..."MONEY & POLITICS: Aetna, Humana, Other Insurers Mull New Group to Influence November Races"...Candidate reports touchscreen vote flipping in Johnson County Kansas...Michigan Sleuths Find Link Between Dem Party Official and the Ballot-Qualified Tea Party...Allegations in Bell, CA that off duty police officers were recruited to to distribute absentee ballots in last year's election and tell people which candidates to vote for...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CA: DA probes voter fraud allegations in Calif. city (Bell, CA)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7127322.html It was only one of several allegations the district attorney is looking into in the city where three top officials resigned last week after it was disclosed they were being paid salaries totaling about $1.6 million a year.
CO: KDNK Reports on SOS Memo Looking to Deny Inspection of Ballots
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/kdnk-reports-on-sos-memo-looking-to.html
CO: Aspen mulls vote-counting options
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100728/NEWS/100729825/1077&ParentProfile=1058
ASPEN — City attorneys are drafting language for a November ballot item that could replace the controversial voting method known as instant runoff voting for Aspen's May election.
CO: Aspen considers replacing IRV in November
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/141729
CT: Complex voting proposal in charter criticized
http://www.theday.com/article/20100728/NWS01/307289880/1019&town=
Registrar of Voters Bill Giesing said he was concerned that the rank voting plan - which would allow for instant results rather than a runoff election at a later date -as well as one that would have four city councilors represent specific wards, would violate state law.
CT: IRV New London: Residents, Registrar, and Candidate concerns
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/irv-new-london-residents-registrar-and-candidate-concerns/
FL: New voting machines to be used throughout Saratoga County in upcoming September primary and November general election
http://saratogian.com/articles/2010/07/26/news/doc4c4cfa7b17c02632792487.txt
BALLSTON SPA — An army of election inspectors is being trained to operate the new machines county voters will use to cast their ballots in the upcoming September primary and November general election.
GA: Voting chief vows no more tabulation glitches in the future
http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/07-27-2010/voting-chief-vows-no-more-tabulation-glitches-future That “glitch” was due to the fact that elections officials decided to run the early and advance voting numbers through the system first, said Elections Supervisor Tom Sawyer. Because the early and advance voting included voters from each Fayette precinct, the computer system used that information to report that all 36 of Fayette’s precincts had voted when in fact, they had not, Sawyer explained.
KS: Problems Possible with Some Touch-Screen Voting Machines * (also video)
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-joco-election-machines-072710,0,2795262.story?track=rss "The calibration, just like they would on an iPad or any kind of touch screen kind of thing, can be slightly off," said Newby. "If you press a button and you mean to hit candidate a and candidate b comes up, just uncheck it and vote for who you want. Then you get a review screen at the end so you really have two chances to, what we call 'second chance voting', you really have two chances to do that before you hit cast ballot."
KS: “Touchy” vote screen: Toplikar tries to vote for himself but “X” appears for opponent * http://kansas.watchdog.org/4366/touchy-vote-screen-toplikar-tries-to-vote-for-himself-but-x-appears-for-opponent/ County Commission Chair candidate John Toplikar voted today at the Johnson County Election Office for the Aug. 3 primary and was concerned when he pressed the touch screen to vote for himself and the “X” appeared next to one of his three competitors, Annabeth Surbaugh.
...
But Newby was not sure if Toplikar’s machine was uncalibrated. The calibration process tries to ensure a voter’s perception of their press point coincides with a desired selection. Newby said the angle used by a voter in pressing the screen, the length of a voter’s fingernail, or even static electricity can affect how a touch is registered by the machine.
KY: Boone Co. Atty: Recount showed election fair, accurate
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2010/07/27/boone-co-atty-recount-showed-election-fair-accurate/ Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore defeated Commissioner Cathy Flaig by 74 votes in the Republican judge-executive primary. A subsequent recanvass and the recount, which Flaig requested and paid for, verified the election night results.
KY: County considers new voting machines
eScans would create paper trail; ease software compatibility
http://mccrearyrecord.com/local/x2105968817/County-considers-new-voting-machines
WHITLEY CITY — Next year when McCreary Countians cast their ballots in the Governor’s race, they could be doing so using a new voting machine.
MI: Michigan Sleuths Find Link Between Democratic Party Official and the Ballot-Qualified Tea Party http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/28/michigan-sleuths-find-link-between-democratic-party-official-and-the-ballot-qualified-tea-party/
MN: Secretary of state's office offers polling place locator for primary
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/07/27/20025/secretary_of_
states_office_offers_polling_place_locator_for_aug_10_primary
http://bit.ly/a5SeMz
MS: 3 face charges in voter fraud case
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100727/NEWS/7270343/3-face-charges-in-voter-fraud-case
Guest said all three indicted last week are convicted felons who either registered or voted after being convicted of a disenfranchising crime.
Together, they're facing multiple counts of false registration, voting by an unqualified person and voter fraud. The penalty is a maximum five-year prison sentence and up to $5,000 in fines.
ND: Plan to reduce poll sites to get more study
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/541478.html?nav=5010
Minot aldermen are hesitant to slash the number of city polling places without more study.
At a meeting Tuesday, the Minot City Council's Finance and Improvements Committee sent a proposal to trim the number of polling centers from 17 to between one and four back to the liaison committee where it was introduced.
NH: Paul Hodes Gives New Hampshire Voters a Push
http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/231399/paul-hodes-gives-new-hampshire-voters-push The New Hampshire Republican party is filing a complaint with the state attorney general’s office, arguing that Paul Hodes, the Democratic congressman who’s running for Senate in that state, is behind a push poll meddling in the GOP primary. Allegedly, Hodes is hiding the fact that his campaign commissioned the poll, which he is required to disclose under state law.
NY: NY polling sites inadequately handle the disabled, advocacy groups say
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/27/2010-07-27_equal_access.html
TN: Voters purged if ballots weren't cast in last two federal elections
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100727/DICKSON01/100727075/Voters-purged-if-ballots-weren-t-cast-in-last-two-federal-elections
Medley said the names of those registered to vote but who did not vote in the last two November federal elections are purged from the system.
WV: West Virginia Military and Overseas Voters, Submit Your Ballot for the August 28 2010 Special Senate Primary Election! http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr18-2010.html
Internet Voting Watch
State Election Officials: Recountable Process A Must for Overseas Voters
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6769 NOW BE IT RESOLVED that, in accordance with current federal and state laws, NASS supports the use of new and emerging technologies that facilitate voting by military and overseas citizens, and in keeping with applicable security standards, ensure that the elections process remains accessible, recountable, and secure.
National
What to Watch at Black Hat and Defcon
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201956/what_to_watch_at_black_hat_and_defcon.html Black Hat conference director Jeff Moss says the work on ATM bugs is reminiscent of the voting machine research that came out a few years ago -- which showed serious security vulnerabilities in the systems and caused many government agencies to rethink the way they were rolling out e-voting.
Baucus, Tester act to thwart Citizens United ruling
http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/article.php/20100727183132949 Sen. Max Baucus introduced a constitutional amendment restoring Congressional authority to regulate political contributions, and Sen. Jon Tester voted for the DISCLOSE Act, which he co-sponsored. Both legislative actions Tuesday were in response to the recent Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court
Where Voters Stand on Campaign Finance (Citizens United)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/where-voters-stand-on-campaign-finance/
About two-thirds (68 percent) said they disapproved of the Court’s decision in a February poll by the Pew Research Center. Pew’s question did not note that the ruling allows unlimited spending, just that it “allows corporations to spend on behalf of candidates,”...
NYT Puts Some Blame for DISCLOSE's Failure on Democrats
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016536.html
Alan Grayson: McConnell Smiled At Citizens United Decision
http://protectourelections.org/node/18 (video available)
DISCLOSE Cloture Vote Fails on Party Line Vote
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016533.html
"MONEY & POLITICS: Aetna, Humana, Other Insurers Mull New Group to Influence November Races" http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016541.html
Dept. of Oy
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016544.html CQ Politics: "It didn't take long for new independent expenditure organizations to take advantage of recent court rulings to maximize their impact on the 2010 election.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
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=============================================
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: DA probes voter fraud allegations in Calif. city (Bell, CA)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7127322.html It was only one of several allegations the district attorney is looking into in the city where three top officials resigned last week after it was disclosed they were being paid salaries totaling about $1.6 million a year.
CO: KDNK Reports on SOS Memo Looking to Deny Inspection of Ballots
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/kdnk-reports-on-sos-memo-looking-to.html
CO: Aspen mulls vote-counting options
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100728/NEWS/100729825/1077&ParentProfile=1058
ASPEN — City attorneys are drafting language for a November ballot item that could replace the controversial voting method known as instant runoff voting for Aspen's May election.
CO: Aspen considers replacing IRV in November
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/141729
CT: Complex voting proposal in charter criticized
http://www.theday.com/article/20100728/NWS01/307289880/1019&town=
Registrar of Voters Bill Giesing said he was concerned that the rank voting plan - which would allow for instant results rather than a runoff election at a later date -as well as one that would have four city councilors represent specific wards, would violate state law.
CT: IRV New London: Residents, Registrar, and Candidate concerns
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/irv-new-london-residents-registrar-and-candidate-concerns/
FL: New voting machines to be used throughout Saratoga County in upcoming September primary and November general election
http://saratogian.com/articles/2010/07/26/news/doc4c4cfa7b17c02632792487.txt
BALLSTON SPA — An army of election inspectors is being trained to operate the new machines county voters will use to cast their ballots in the upcoming September primary and November general election.
GA: Voting chief vows no more tabulation glitches in the future
http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/07-27-2010/voting-chief-vows-no-more-tabulation-glitches-future That “glitch” was due to the fact that elections officials decided to run the early and advance voting numbers through the system first, said Elections Supervisor Tom Sawyer. Because the early and advance voting included voters from each Fayette precinct, the computer system used that information to report that all 36 of Fayette’s precincts had voted when in fact, they had not, Sawyer explained.
KS: Problems Possible with Some Touch-Screen Voting Machines * (also video)
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-story-joco-election-machines-072710,0,2795262.story?track=rss "The calibration, just like they would on an iPad or any kind of touch screen kind of thing, can be slightly off," said Newby. "If you press a button and you mean to hit candidate a and candidate b comes up, just uncheck it and vote for who you want. Then you get a review screen at the end so you really have two chances to, what we call 'second chance voting', you really have two chances to do that before you hit cast ballot."
KS: “Touchy” vote screen: Toplikar tries to vote for himself but “X” appears for opponent * http://kansas.watchdog.org/4366/touchy-vote-screen-toplikar-tries-to-vote-for-himself-but-x-appears-for-opponent/ County Commission Chair candidate John Toplikar voted today at the Johnson County Election Office for the Aug. 3 primary and was concerned when he pressed the touch screen to vote for himself and the “X” appeared next to one of his three competitors, Annabeth Surbaugh.
...
But Newby was not sure if Toplikar’s machine was uncalibrated. The calibration process tries to ensure a voter’s perception of their press point coincides with a desired selection. Newby said the angle used by a voter in pressing the screen, the length of a voter’s fingernail, or even static electricity can affect how a touch is registered by the machine.
KY: Boone Co. Atty: Recount showed election fair, accurate
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2010/07/27/boone-co-atty-recount-showed-election-fair-accurate/ Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore defeated Commissioner Cathy Flaig by 74 votes in the Republican judge-executive primary. A subsequent recanvass and the recount, which Flaig requested and paid for, verified the election night results.
KY: County considers new voting machines
eScans would create paper trail; ease software compatibility
http://mccrearyrecord.com/local/x2105968817/County-considers-new-voting-machines
WHITLEY CITY — Next year when McCreary Countians cast their ballots in the Governor’s race, they could be doing so using a new voting machine.
MI: Michigan Sleuths Find Link Between Democratic Party Official and the Ballot-Qualified Tea Party http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/28/michigan-sleuths-find-link-between-democratic-party-official-and-the-ballot-qualified-tea-party/
MN: Secretary of state's office offers polling place locator for primary
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/07/27/20025/secretary_of_
states_office_offers_polling_place_locator_for_aug_10_primary
http://bit.ly/a5SeMz
MS: 3 face charges in voter fraud case
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100727/NEWS/7270343/3-face-charges-in-voter-fraud-case
Guest said all three indicted last week are convicted felons who either registered or voted after being convicted of a disenfranchising crime.
Together, they're facing multiple counts of false registration, voting by an unqualified person and voter fraud. The penalty is a maximum five-year prison sentence and up to $5,000 in fines.
ND: Plan to reduce poll sites to get more study
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/541478.html?nav=5010
Minot aldermen are hesitant to slash the number of city polling places without more study.
At a meeting Tuesday, the Minot City Council's Finance and Improvements Committee sent a proposal to trim the number of polling centers from 17 to between one and four back to the liaison committee where it was introduced.
NH: Paul Hodes Gives New Hampshire Voters a Push
http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/231399/paul-hodes-gives-new-hampshire-voters-push The New Hampshire Republican party is filing a complaint with the state attorney general’s office, arguing that Paul Hodes, the Democratic congressman who’s running for Senate in that state, is behind a push poll meddling in the GOP primary. Allegedly, Hodes is hiding the fact that his campaign commissioned the poll, which he is required to disclose under state law.
NY: NY polling sites inadequately handle the disabled, advocacy groups say
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/07/27/2010-07-27_equal_access.html
TN: Voters purged if ballots weren't cast in last two federal elections
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100727/DICKSON01/100727075/Voters-purged-if-ballots-weren-t-cast-in-last-two-federal-elections
Medley said the names of those registered to vote but who did not vote in the last two November federal elections are purged from the system.
WV: West Virginia Military and Overseas Voters, Submit Your Ballot for the August 28 2010 Special Senate Primary Election! http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr18-2010.html
Internet Voting Watch
State Election Officials: Recountable Process A Must for Overseas Voters
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6769 NOW BE IT RESOLVED that, in accordance with current federal and state laws, NASS supports the use of new and emerging technologies that facilitate voting by military and overseas citizens, and in keeping with applicable security standards, ensure that the elections process remains accessible, recountable, and secure.
National
What to Watch at Black Hat and Defcon
http://www.pcworld.com/article/201956/what_to_watch_at_black_hat_and_defcon.html Black Hat conference director Jeff Moss says the work on ATM bugs is reminiscent of the voting machine research that came out a few years ago -- which showed serious security vulnerabilities in the systems and caused many government agencies to rethink the way they were rolling out e-voting.
Baucus, Tester act to thwart Citizens United ruling
http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/article.php/20100727183132949 Sen. Max Baucus introduced a constitutional amendment restoring Congressional authority to regulate political contributions, and Sen. Jon Tester voted for the DISCLOSE Act, which he co-sponsored. Both legislative actions Tuesday were in response to the recent Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court
Where Voters Stand on Campaign Finance (Citizens United)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/where-voters-stand-on-campaign-finance/
About two-thirds (68 percent) said they disapproved of the Court’s decision in a February poll by the Pew Research Center. Pew’s question did not note that the ruling allows unlimited spending, just that it “allows corporations to spend on behalf of candidates,”...
NYT Puts Some Blame for DISCLOSE's Failure on Democrats
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016536.html
Alan Grayson: McConnell Smiled At Citizens United Decision
http://protectourelections.org/node/18 (video available)
DISCLOSE Cloture Vote Fails on Party Line Vote
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016533.html
"MONEY & POLITICS: Aetna, Humana, Other Insurers Mull New Group to Influence November Races" http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016541.html
Dept. of Oy
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016544.html CQ Politics: "It didn't take long for new independent expenditure organizations to take advantage of recent court rulings to maximize their impact on the 2010 election.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
CalTech on voter roll gaps. NY Group - test all scanners. The Hacker advantage
How does your state rate in CalTech report? Hint - Arkansas is worst. "Huge Variation in "Unmailable" Voter Registration Materials"...Colorado SOS Seeks to "Protect" Ballots from Owners' Inspection...NY groups want outside test of Dominion scanners...Oregon redistricting initiative fails...The Disclose Act in Senate...EAC final versions of 2010 Election Admin & Voting Survey...WV will test internet voting on overseas military again..Do they know that "a fundamental truth of cyber-security: attackers always have the advantage."~ Aldo Vasquez...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Push to get voters Permanent Early Voting List (vote by mail)
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12874031 The Pima County Democrats are canvassing, trying to get as many registered voters as they can to get the Permanent Early Voting List.
CA: Former Bell police officer alleges serious voting irregularities in 2009 election*
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/07/former-bell-cop-alleges-serious-voting-irregularities-in-2009-election.html A retired Bell police sergeant claimed in a lawsuit filed this week that off-duty Bell police officers in the 2009 election distributed absentee ballots to voters and told them which candidates to select.
The allegations are contained in a lawsuit filed by James Corcoran, who says he was forced out of his job for informing authorities about the officers' actions as well as for a variety of other actions that he says top city leaders did not like
CA: Schwarzenegger to call election to fill open Senate seat
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/schwarzenegger-to-call-election-to-fill-open-senate-seat.html California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has until Tuesday to call an election to replace state Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks), who died earlier this month after a battle with cancer
CO: Colorado SOS Seeks to "Protect" Ballots from Owners' Inspection
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/colorado-sos-seeks-to-protect-ballots.html
CO: News: Memo details unclear law on public records (radio or podcast)
http://www.kdnk.org/article.cfm?mode=detail&id=1280241798407 Now those trying to get access to the ballot images here in Colorado say they want to reform the process, arguing the ballots are the property of the people, not the government. KDNK's Conrad Wilson reports.
CO: Boulder County to provide election service centers
http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=22830 BOULDER — Beginning Tuesday, Boulder County voters can get replacement primary-election mail ballots or cast their votes in person on electronic voting machines at two service centers.
CT: Another Connecticut Public Funding Dispute Goes to Court
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/26/another-connecticut-public-funding-dispute-goes-to-court/
FL: One approach to campaign finance reform
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/07/27/one-approach-to-campaign-finance-reform/
An editorial in the St. Petersburg Times advocates replacing Florida’s campaign finance rules with four new rules
GA: Until south Georgia voter fraud inquiry is settled, Terry Coleman says he’ll hold off on concession (suspects absentee ballot fraud, no evidence cited)
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/26/until-south-georgia-voter-fraud-inquiry-is-settled-terry-coleman-says-hell-hold-off-on-concession/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway
IA: Misspent federal money and DNR audit in Iowa raise questions
http://www.examiner.com/x-43639-Central-Iowa-Politics-Examiner~y2010m7d26-Misspent-federal-money-and-DNR-audit-in-Iowa-raise-questions The state of Iowa will be required to repay $576,000 in federal money in which an independent audit commissioned by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) found was misspent. The questionable spending was related to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
The audit revealed that at least one contract associated with the federal grant was never put to a lawful competitive bid.
MA: Mass. Legislature approves plan to bypass Electoral College
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/mass_legislatur.html
Under the law, which was enacted by the House last week, all 12 of the state's electoral votes would be awarded to the candidate who receives the most votes nationally.
...
Illinois, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington have already approved the legislation
MI: Split ticket will mean spoiled primary ballot
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100725/NEWS16/7250491 With the primary election 10 days away, township Clerk Garth Christie has a note of caution for voters: Don't split your ticket.
MN: Dan McGrath: Photo ID at polls won't work magic
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/99143219.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ Talk of felons voting is now fodder in the race for secretary of state, but let's consider how elections actually work.
...
A photo ID requirement certainly would not prevent people serving a felony sentence from voting. If you have a Minnesota driver's license or state ID card, look at it. Does yours indicate anywhere whether or not you have a felony conviction?
NY: NY Court Allows Optical Scan Inspection by Nassau's Experts
http://re-mediaetc.blogspot.com/2010/07/ny-court-allows-optical-scan-inspection.html
Most of the twenty counties that passed resolutions expressing concerns about the optical scan voting systems and petitioning to retain their lever machines are scheduled to use Dominion Optical Scanners in fall elections. ETC urges these counties to join the Nassau suit so that all the voting machines will be subjected to independent professional scrutiny.
NY: HAVA Doesn't Ban Lever Voting Machines
http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/did-you-know-about-new-voting-machines#comment-9187
...HAVA offers money for new machines to states that retire punch card and lever machines, but it does not ban them.
...
The view that HAVA requires lever retirement was recently refuted in court where US District Court Judge Joseph Bianco ruled that, "HAVA does not prescribe a particular type of voting machine nor does it have anything to say about any specific requirements on how New York officials must carry out their duties."
NY: You'll be Voting on Paper This Fall with new Voting Machines
http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8205
Westchester County.
OH: Nearly 700,000 Voters To Receive Ballot Applications For The September 7th County Executive/County Council Primary Election
http://www.citynewsohio.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=104418&sID=16&ItemSource=L
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is conducting a county-wide mailing of 691,970Vote by Mail ballot applications for the September 7th Primary Election.
OR: Redistricting initiative fails to qualify for ballot
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/
2010/07/redistricting_measure_fails_to.html http://bit.ly/cLxjEc
The measure's backers – including Kevin Mannix – were also in court Monday, claiming that some signatures had been thrown out illegally.
...
Of the 125,948 signatures submitted, Brown's office tossed out about 10 percent last week, saying they didn't meet legal requirements
[would have turned over redistricting to unelected appointed panel of retired judges]
TN: Election judge refuses to sign challenge
Eldridge seeks misconduct investigation
http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x871674933/Election-judge-refuses-to-sign-challenge
Mickey Eldridge on Monday, accompanied by her husband, John, went to the election office to vote and asked for a Republican Primary ballot. She was given one but then her right to vote in the Republican Primary was challenged by Linda Thompson, a poll watcher for Eric Swafford.
TX: Dallas County justice of the peace who lost primary requests criminal probe of rival's actions http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/
stories/072710dnmetjpsuit.40454c2.html http://bit.ly/aVRxTX Judge Luis Sepulveda said in a motion filed Friday that his opponent, Carlos Medrano, violated the Texas Election Code by coercing people to vote for him when they were not eligible to do so in the primary
VA: New Memo Assesses the State of Voting in Virginia
http://www.projectvote.org/component/content/article/495-new-memo-assesses-the-state-of-voting-in-virginia.html
Internet Vote Watch
PDA, Internet voting raises legal questions in California (press release?)
http://sandiegonewsroom.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42503:pda-internet-voting-raises-legal-questions-in-california&catid=46:san-diego-business&Itemid=54
WV: Putnam commissioners approve online ballots for voters abroad
http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201007270746
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Putnam County residents out of the country during the state's upcoming elections will be able to vote online, county commissioners said Tuesday
Google hacked or why the Cyber world can get m.a.d
http://protection151.blogguza.com/2010/07/26/google-hacked-or-why-the-cyber-world-can-get-m-a-d/
So if it came to Google, it could have happened to any organisation is private, governmental or foreign. This exposes a fundamental truth of cyber-security: attackers always have the advantage.
[Author Aldo Vasquez- Experienced programmer in the anti piracy program business producing intelligent programming programs to help create firmer program anti cracking programs.]
National
Huge Variation in "Unmailable" Voter Registration Materials
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016522.html
State of the Nation (more on unmailable)
http://bostonreview.net/BR35.4/ansolabehere.php
...Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project issued the first comprehensive, nationwide analysis of the quality of information stored on voter registration lists.
...
Nationwide, approximately 1 in 16 entries on the registration lists is unmailable. The magnitude of the problem varies greatly throughout the country. In California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., about 1 in 50 entries is problematic, but in Arkansas, that number is 1 in 5.
FVAP News Release #17: Military and Overseas Voters, Submit your Ballot Request for the August and September State Primaries and the General Election!
http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr17-2010.html
EAC has issued final versions of the 2010 Election Administration and Voting Survey
http://bit.ly/c4uHi9 (EAC link too long)
It's the Senate's turn to pass the Disclose Act
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/26/AR2010072604862.html
SENATORS ARE facing a simple, fateful decision: Do they want to allow millions of dollars from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals to pour, undisclosed, into U.S. elections? The key word is undisclosed.
"One Republican senator said the expectation was that no one would break ranks to support the measure." (DISCLOSE) http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016525.html
Happy Birthday ADA!
http://blog.verifiedvoting.org/2010/07/26/724 Verified Voting joins with Civil Rights and Accessibility/Usability advocates across the country in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990
"Win or Lose." New Yorker Magazine Book Review
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/07/26/100726crbo_books_gottlieb
Progress Update: Uniformed Military and Overseas Voters Act
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/UMOVA The ULC promotes the adoption of identical legislation, i.e. uniform laws, to promote national unity
International
Albania to test electronic voting in selected zones
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/
setimes/newsbriefs/2010/07/26/nb-12 http://bit.ly/9zJajy TIRANA, Albania -- The government is working on a pilot project to test fingerprint technology in elections.
Australian Voting System Could Catch Up With Technology
http://www.zgeek.com/content.php/3524-Australian-Voting-System-Could-Catch-Up-With-Technology
Bulgarian Democrats Propose Electronic Voting Again
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=118517
“This is the only way to prevent trading with votes and falsification of the electorate lists,” said Boris Markov, chair of the campaign headquarters of the party.
...
Markov has explained that the idea is for the voting to happen through election terminals (machines that look like ATMs) and with the ID card of the voter. The vote would be registered on paper for a better security.
Election Day Bombing Mars Thailand Vote
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia/july-dec10/thai_07-26.html
UK: Same-day referendum and election ‘would be difficult’
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/same-day-referendum-and-election-would-be-difficult-1.1043864 Holding a referendum on voting reform on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections could cause major difficulties, according to election officials.
Some voters could be forced to travel to two polling stations on the same day, a group that represents constituency returning officers has cautioned.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews 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...
AZ: Push to get voters Permanent Early Voting List (vote by mail)
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12874031 The Pima County Democrats are canvassing, trying to get as many registered voters as they can to get the Permanent Early Voting List.
CA: Former Bell police officer alleges serious voting irregularities in 2009 election*
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/07/former-bell-cop-alleges-serious-voting-irregularities-in-2009-election.html A retired Bell police sergeant claimed in a lawsuit filed this week that off-duty Bell police officers in the 2009 election distributed absentee ballots to voters and told them which candidates to select.
The allegations are contained in a lawsuit filed by James Corcoran, who says he was forced out of his job for informing authorities about the officers' actions as well as for a variety of other actions that he says top city leaders did not like
CA: Schwarzenegger to call election to fill open Senate seat
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/schwarzenegger-to-call-election-to-fill-open-senate-seat.html California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has until Tuesday to call an election to replace state Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks), who died earlier this month after a battle with cancer
CO: Colorado SOS Seeks to "Protect" Ballots from Owners' Inspection
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2010/07/colorado-sos-seeks-to-protect-ballots.html
CO: News: Memo details unclear law on public records (radio or podcast)
http://www.kdnk.org/article.cfm?mode=detail&id=1280241798407 Now those trying to get access to the ballot images here in Colorado say they want to reform the process, arguing the ballots are the property of the people, not the government. KDNK's Conrad Wilson reports.
CO: Boulder County to provide election service centers
http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=22830 BOULDER — Beginning Tuesday, Boulder County voters can get replacement primary-election mail ballots or cast their votes in person on electronic voting machines at two service centers.
CT: Another Connecticut Public Funding Dispute Goes to Court
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/26/another-connecticut-public-funding-dispute-goes-to-court/
FL: One approach to campaign finance reform
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/07/27/one-approach-to-campaign-finance-reform/
An editorial in the St. Petersburg Times advocates replacing Florida’s campaign finance rules with four new rules
GA: Until south Georgia voter fraud inquiry is settled, Terry Coleman says he’ll hold off on concession (suspects absentee ballot fraud, no evidence cited)
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/07/26/until-south-georgia-voter-fraud-inquiry-is-settled-terry-coleman-says-hell-hold-off-on-concession/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway
IA: Misspent federal money and DNR audit in Iowa raise questions
http://www.examiner.com/x-43639-Central-Iowa-Politics-Examiner~y2010m7d26-Misspent-federal-money-and-DNR-audit-in-Iowa-raise-questions The state of Iowa will be required to repay $576,000 in federal money in which an independent audit commissioned by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) found was misspent. The questionable spending was related to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
The audit revealed that at least one contract associated with the federal grant was never put to a lawful competitive bid.
MA: Mass. Legislature approves plan to bypass Electoral College
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/mass_legislatur.html
Under the law, which was enacted by the House last week, all 12 of the state's electoral votes would be awarded to the candidate who receives the most votes nationally.
...
Illinois, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington have already approved the legislation
MI: Split ticket will mean spoiled primary ballot
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100725/NEWS16/7250491 With the primary election 10 days away, township Clerk Garth Christie has a note of caution for voters: Don't split your ticket.
MN: Dan McGrath: Photo ID at polls won't work magic
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/99143219.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ Talk of felons voting is now fodder in the race for secretary of state, but let's consider how elections actually work.
...
A photo ID requirement certainly would not prevent people serving a felony sentence from voting. If you have a Minnesota driver's license or state ID card, look at it. Does yours indicate anywhere whether or not you have a felony conviction?
NY: NY Court Allows Optical Scan Inspection by Nassau's Experts
http://re-mediaetc.blogspot.com/2010/07/ny-court-allows-optical-scan-inspection.html
Most of the twenty counties that passed resolutions expressing concerns about the optical scan voting systems and petitioning to retain their lever machines are scheduled to use Dominion Optical Scanners in fall elections. ETC urges these counties to join the Nassau suit so that all the voting machines will be subjected to independent professional scrutiny.
NY: HAVA Doesn't Ban Lever Voting Machines
http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/did-you-know-about-new-voting-machines#comment-9187
...HAVA offers money for new machines to states that retire punch card and lever machines, but it does not ban them.
...
The view that HAVA requires lever retirement was recently refuted in court where US District Court Judge Joseph Bianco ruled that, "HAVA does not prescribe a particular type of voting machine nor does it have anything to say about any specific requirements on how New York officials must carry out their duties."
NY: You'll be Voting on Paper This Fall with new Voting Machines
http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8205
Westchester County.
OH: Nearly 700,000 Voters To Receive Ballot Applications For The September 7th County Executive/County Council Primary Election
http://www.citynewsohio.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=104418&sID=16&ItemSource=L
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is conducting a county-wide mailing of 691,970Vote by Mail ballot applications for the September 7th Primary Election.
OR: Redistricting initiative fails to qualify for ballot
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/
2010/07/redistricting_measure_fails_to.html http://bit.ly/cLxjEc
The measure's backers – including Kevin Mannix – were also in court Monday, claiming that some signatures had been thrown out illegally.
...
Of the 125,948 signatures submitted, Brown's office tossed out about 10 percent last week, saying they didn't meet legal requirements
[would have turned over redistricting to unelected appointed panel of retired judges]
TN: Election judge refuses to sign challenge
Eldridge seeks misconduct investigation
http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x871674933/Election-judge-refuses-to-sign-challenge
Mickey Eldridge on Monday, accompanied by her husband, John, went to the election office to vote and asked for a Republican Primary ballot. She was given one but then her right to vote in the Republican Primary was challenged by Linda Thompson, a poll watcher for Eric Swafford.
TX: Dallas County justice of the peace who lost primary requests criminal probe of rival's actions http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/
stories/072710dnmetjpsuit.40454c2.html http://bit.ly/aVRxTX Judge Luis Sepulveda said in a motion filed Friday that his opponent, Carlos Medrano, violated the Texas Election Code by coercing people to vote for him when they were not eligible to do so in the primary
VA: New Memo Assesses the State of Voting in Virginia
http://www.projectvote.org/component/content/article/495-new-memo-assesses-the-state-of-voting-in-virginia.html
Internet Vote Watch
PDA, Internet voting raises legal questions in California (press release?)
http://sandiegonewsroom.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42503:pda-internet-voting-raises-legal-questions-in-california&catid=46:san-diego-business&Itemid=54
WV: Putnam commissioners approve online ballots for voters abroad
http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201007270746
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Putnam County residents out of the country during the state's upcoming elections will be able to vote online, county commissioners said Tuesday
Google hacked or why the Cyber world can get m.a.d
http://protection151.blogguza.com/2010/07/26/google-hacked-or-why-the-cyber-world-can-get-m-a-d/
So if it came to Google, it could have happened to any organisation is private, governmental or foreign. This exposes a fundamental truth of cyber-security: attackers always have the advantage.
[Author Aldo Vasquez- Experienced programmer in the anti piracy program business producing intelligent programming programs to help create firmer program anti cracking programs.]
National
Huge Variation in "Unmailable" Voter Registration Materials
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016522.html
State of the Nation (more on unmailable)
http://bostonreview.net/BR35.4/ansolabehere.php
...Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project issued the first comprehensive, nationwide analysis of the quality of information stored on voter registration lists.
...
Nationwide, approximately 1 in 16 entries on the registration lists is unmailable. The magnitude of the problem varies greatly throughout the country. In California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., about 1 in 50 entries is problematic, but in Arkansas, that number is 1 in 5.
FVAP News Release #17: Military and Overseas Voters, Submit your Ballot Request for the August and September State Primaries and the General Election!
http://www.fvap.gov/global/news/nr17-2010.html
EAC has issued final versions of the 2010 Election Administration and Voting Survey
http://bit.ly/c4uHi9 (EAC link too long)
It's the Senate's turn to pass the Disclose Act
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/26/AR2010072604862.html
SENATORS ARE facing a simple, fateful decision: Do they want to allow millions of dollars from corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals to pour, undisclosed, into U.S. elections? The key word is undisclosed.
"One Republican senator said the expectation was that no one would break ranks to support the measure." (DISCLOSE) http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016525.html
Happy Birthday ADA!
http://blog.verifiedvoting.org/2010/07/26/724 Verified Voting joins with Civil Rights and Accessibility/Usability advocates across the country in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990
"Win or Lose." New Yorker Magazine Book Review
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/07/26/100726crbo_books_gottlieb
Progress Update: Uniformed Military and Overseas Voters Act
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/UMOVA The ULC promotes the adoption of identical legislation, i.e. uniform laws, to promote national unity
International
Albania to test electronic voting in selected zones
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/
setimes/newsbriefs/2010/07/26/nb-12 http://bit.ly/9zJajy TIRANA, Albania -- The government is working on a pilot project to test fingerprint technology in elections.
Australian Voting System Could Catch Up With Technology
http://www.zgeek.com/content.php/3524-Australian-Voting-System-Could-Catch-Up-With-Technology
Bulgarian Democrats Propose Electronic Voting Again
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=118517
“This is the only way to prevent trading with votes and falsification of the electorate lists,” said Boris Markov, chair of the campaign headquarters of the party.
...
Markov has explained that the idea is for the voting to happen through election terminals (machines that look like ATMs) and with the ID card of the voter. The vote would be registered on paper for a better security.
Election Day Bombing Mars Thailand Vote
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/asia/july-dec10/thai_07-26.html
UK: Same-day referendum and election ‘would be difficult’
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/same-day-referendum-and-election-would-be-difficult-1.1043864 Holding a referendum on voting reform on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections could cause major difficulties, according to election officials.
Some voters could be forced to travel to two polling stations on the same day, a group that represents constituency returning officers has cautioned.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews Subscribe to Voting News at this link:http://tinyurl.com/votingnews To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Cumberland Co TN lost voting machine and cards. Vote Buying in Perry Co KY
Federal grand jury indicts 4 in Perry Co KY vote buying...Inventory of Cumberland Co TN voting equipment reveals that one voting machine, three card readers and 12 tally cards were missing. They don't say when that equipment disappeared...A recent FOIA on South Carolina's absentee ballots raises more questions about the results of the US Sen. Dem Primary...Think internet voting is a good idea? There's a new internet worm that targets systems such as oil rigs, refineries, electronics production...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
If you like voting news, please tell your friends. Voting News is also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
CA: Math professor: top two primary is flawed
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/07/california-math-professor-top-two-primary-is-flawed/
CO: Ballot TRACE glitch sends Denver voters wrong message*
http://www.denverpost.com/election2010/ci_15582318
On Wednesday night, a glitch caused the wrong message to go out to 177 of the 233 people signed up. Somehow, data were transposed in the system, which caused the wrong messages
to go out, said Denver Election Commission spokesman Alton Dillard.
CO: Aspen calling for ballot questions for Nov special election
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/docs/City/clerk/council/cc.res.055-10.pdf
a Charter amendment on how to conduct regular municipal elections. The deadline for ballot questions to be submitted to the Pitkin County Clerk is 4 pm September 3 Councils last regular meeting before that deadline is August 23
CT: The Day, Susan Bysiewicz, and we agree: No IRV for New London
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/the-day-susan-bysiewicz-and-we-agree-no-irv-for-new-london/
KS: Few voting-fraud cases found in state
http://topstorieswichita.com/news/few-voting-fraud-cases-found-in-state/
KY: Federal grand jury indicts 4 in Perry vote buying case
http://hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/8864456/article-Federal-grand-jury-indicts-4-in-Perry-vote-buying-case? Pearl Combs, Jr., Michael Ray Combs, Lewis “Cuz” Baker and Charles Marvin Herald have all been charged with unlawfully paying or offering to pay for voting in an election held in part to select a candidate for an office seat in the United States Senate.
MI: New law enables military, overseas civilians to vote
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100725/NEWS06/7250424
Most importantly, military and overseas civilian voters can now receive a ballot by e-mail or fax to speed the voting process. (The voted ballot must be returned by mail for security purposes.)
MN: Our view: Don’t let a few decide election for us all
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/174588/group/Opinion/
MN: Minn. governor joins debate over alleged 'voter fraud'
http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/minn-governor-joins-debate-over-alleged-voter-fraud
MN: Mike Dean: Felon-voting flap is a partisan distraction from bigger issues
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_15569558?nclick_check=1
The fact is that election officials have long needed better access to the Department of Corrections database so that they could verify whether someone is a felon. Thanks to legislation passed earlier this year, election officials can now properly flag possible felons to be challenged if they attempt to vote.
...
But having access to this database solves only part of the problem; many felons are not provided with the basic information regarding the status of their voting rights. Felons who have not had their voting rights restored may inadvertently vote because they were never told that their voting rights were taken away.
NY: ADA compliance was money well spent, officials say
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20100724/NEWS01/7240356/ADA-compliance-was-money-well-spent-officials-say
NT: Attorney General Candidate Failed to Vote for 18 Years
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/nyregion/25rice.html?_r=1
NY: Leaders disband county party
NO PETITIONS FILED: Independence chiefs feeling 'disillusioned'
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100724/NEWS03/307249961/-1/news
SC: South Carolina Proves Statewide Unverifiable Voting Cannot Be Trusted
http://www.opednews.com/articles/South-Carolina-Proves-Stat-by-Garland-Favorito-100724-239.html Alvin Greene was declared the winner based on a near landslide 60-40% margin in Election Day electronic voting results. However Vic Rawl actually won the mail-in paper ballot absentee voting by a solid 55-45% margin. The near 30% total point differential among the two candidates is unheard of in South Carolina election history and perhaps, nationally as well.
TN: Election commission to move voting machines to main office* (microvote DREs)
Commission to ask for use of old library building(Lost voting machine & memory cards)
http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x1896331391/Election-commission-to-move-voting-machines-to-main-office ...Cumberland County... Election Commission Chairman Calvin Smart recommended the voting machines be moved from the Community Complex to the election commission's office for a "more secure" location.
Smart reported that after inventory was taken on the equipment it revealed that one machine was missing, three card readers were missing and 12 tally cards were missing.
WI: Inflammatory Language Rejected From Wisc. Ballot
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/24/politics/main6709122.shtml Independent Candidate for State Assembly Fights to Use Slogan "Not the Whiteman's Bitch" on Ballot
Internet Voting Watch
Schneier on Security - Internet Worm Targets SCADA
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/07/internet_worm_t.html
Stuxnet is a new Internet worm that specifically targets Siemens WinCC SCADA systems: used to control production at industrial plants such as oil rigs, refineries, electronics production, and so on.
National
can i still vote if my voter registration says inactive?
http://www.where-do-i.info/can-i-still-vote-if-my-voter-registration-says-inactive/
10 States Add Campaign Finance Laws
After Supreme Court's Citizens United Ruling, Disclose Act Stalled in the Senate
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/campaign-finance-laws-emerge-states-disclose-act-stalled/story?id=11234998&page=1
Remembering the Women Who Brought Us the Vote
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Remembering-the-Women-Who-by-Elayne-Clift-100724-707.html ...stories of the 168 women who went to prison simply because they wanted to be counted as full-fledged citizens of the country in which they'd been born. Here are some of those first-hand accounts...
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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...
If you like voting news, please tell your friends. Voting News is also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
CA: Math professor: top two primary is flawed
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/07/california-math-professor-top-two-primary-is-flawed/
CO: Ballot TRACE glitch sends Denver voters wrong message*
http://www.denverpost.com/election2010/ci_15582318
On Wednesday night, a glitch caused the wrong message to go out to 177 of the 233 people signed up. Somehow, data were transposed in the system, which caused the wrong messages
to go out, said Denver Election Commission spokesman Alton Dillard.
CO: Aspen calling for ballot questions for Nov special election
http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Portals/0/docs/City/clerk/council/cc.res.055-10.pdf
a Charter amendment on how to conduct regular municipal elections. The deadline for ballot questions to be submitted to the Pitkin County Clerk is 4 pm September 3 Councils last regular meeting before that deadline is August 23
CT: The Day, Susan Bysiewicz, and we agree: No IRV for New London
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/the-day-susan-bysiewicz-and-we-agree-no-irv-for-new-london/
KS: Few voting-fraud cases found in state
http://topstorieswichita.com/news/few-voting-fraud-cases-found-in-state/
KY: Federal grand jury indicts 4 in Perry vote buying case
http://hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/8864456/article-Federal-grand-jury-indicts-4-in-Perry-vote-buying-case? Pearl Combs, Jr., Michael Ray Combs, Lewis “Cuz” Baker and Charles Marvin Herald have all been charged with unlawfully paying or offering to pay for voting in an election held in part to select a candidate for an office seat in the United States Senate.
MI: New law enables military, overseas civilians to vote
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100725/NEWS06/7250424
Most importantly, military and overseas civilian voters can now receive a ballot by e-mail or fax to speed the voting process. (The voted ballot must be returned by mail for security purposes.)
MN: Our view: Don’t let a few decide election for us all
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/174588/group/Opinion/
MN: Minn. governor joins debate over alleged 'voter fraud'
http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/minn-governor-joins-debate-over-alleged-voter-fraud
MN: Mike Dean: Felon-voting flap is a partisan distraction from bigger issues
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_15569558?nclick_check=1
The fact is that election officials have long needed better access to the Department of Corrections database so that they could verify whether someone is a felon. Thanks to legislation passed earlier this year, election officials can now properly flag possible felons to be challenged if they attempt to vote.
...
But having access to this database solves only part of the problem; many felons are not provided with the basic information regarding the status of their voting rights. Felons who have not had their voting rights restored may inadvertently vote because they were never told that their voting rights were taken away.
NY: ADA compliance was money well spent, officials say
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20100724/NEWS01/7240356/ADA-compliance-was-money-well-spent-officials-say
NT: Attorney General Candidate Failed to Vote for 18 Years
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/nyregion/25rice.html?_r=1
NY: Leaders disband county party
NO PETITIONS FILED: Independence chiefs feeling 'disillusioned'
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100724/NEWS03/307249961/-1/news
SC: South Carolina Proves Statewide Unverifiable Voting Cannot Be Trusted
http://www.opednews.com/articles/South-Carolina-Proves-Stat-by-Garland-Favorito-100724-239.html Alvin Greene was declared the winner based on a near landslide 60-40% margin in Election Day electronic voting results. However Vic Rawl actually won the mail-in paper ballot absentee voting by a solid 55-45% margin. The near 30% total point differential among the two candidates is unheard of in South Carolina election history and perhaps, nationally as well.
TN: Election commission to move voting machines to main office* (microvote DREs)
Commission to ask for use of old library building(Lost voting machine & memory cards)
http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x1896331391/Election-commission-to-move-voting-machines-to-main-office ...Cumberland County... Election Commission Chairman Calvin Smart recommended the voting machines be moved from the Community Complex to the election commission's office for a "more secure" location.
Smart reported that after inventory was taken on the equipment it revealed that one machine was missing, three card readers were missing and 12 tally cards were missing.
WI: Inflammatory Language Rejected From Wisc. Ballot
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/24/politics/main6709122.shtml Independent Candidate for State Assembly Fights to Use Slogan "Not the Whiteman's Bitch" on Ballot
Internet Voting Watch
Schneier on Security - Internet Worm Targets SCADA
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/07/internet_worm_t.html
Stuxnet is a new Internet worm that specifically targets Siemens WinCC SCADA systems: used to control production at industrial plants such as oil rigs, refineries, electronics production, and so on.
National
can i still vote if my voter registration says inactive?
http://www.where-do-i.info/can-i-still-vote-if-my-voter-registration-says-inactive/
10 States Add Campaign Finance Laws
After Supreme Court's Citizens United Ruling, Disclose Act Stalled in the Senate
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/campaign-finance-laws-emerge-states-disclose-act-stalled/story?id=11234998&page=1
Remembering the Women Who Brought Us the Vote
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Remembering-the-Women-Who-by-Elayne-Clift-100724-707.html ...stories of the 168 women who went to prison simply because they wanted to be counted as full-fledged citizens of the country in which they'd been born. Here are some of those first-hand accounts...
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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, July 23, 2010
Judge - Test NY DS-200 voting machines. Wilkinson GA election meltdown.
Denver Co's ballot tracking system malfunctioned and told 190 voters that their completed mail ballots had been received. The problem? The voters hadn't even received the ballots in the first place... Wilkinson CO GA's server crashed and also had memory card problems...Judge Wants New York's Voting Machines Tested...Where Do (NY's)Old Voting Machines Go When They Die? Lever machines are considered obsolete so can be sold for scrap... The Wisconsin State Elections office won't allow candidate to use obscene description on ballot...
All this and more in today's voting news below..
Editor's note: we did not send out news yesterday, it is combined with today's news.
AK: On the ballot in Alaska: transparency
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=497502 To some Alaskans, the fight against Proposition 1 has morphed into a fight to guard their state's initiative process from those who would take advantage of its loopholes.
AL: Suit filed to block enforcement of law on campaign contributions
http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006416.html A 15-year-old Alabama law that says judges should not hear cases in which one of the parties donated at least $2,000 to their campaigns has never been enforced, locked in a stalemate over whether it first needs to be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice for evidence that it would not disenfranchise minorities.
CO: Vote early and...not at all? Ballot TRACE glitch has some worried *
http://www.examiner.com/x-41664-Denver-Top-News-Examiner~y2010m7d22-Voter-early-andnot-at-all-Ballot-TRACE-glitch-has-some-worried
CO: Uh-oh, technical glitch baffles Denver voters *
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=144870&catid=188 That "hiccup" sent emails to approximately 170 voters telling them that their completed ballots had already been received by the Post Office despite the fact that those voters had yet to receive the actual ballots personally.
CT: What do [Connecticut] voters think?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/what-do-connecticut-voters-think/
A new Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project Report provides insight into the opinions of voters on several voting reform issues. We comment on Connecticut specific results and editorialize on voting integrity implications of the survey.We recommend the survey and commentary be contemplated by activists, legislators, and future Secretaries of the State
...
We caution against recommending a reform or opposing a reform based on public perception reported in a single, or several surveys providing simple reform descriptions.
FL: Voting by mail has increased in popularity, but has unintended consequences
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/political/elections_local/voting-by-mail-has-unintended-consequences Absentee voting by mail has its risks for candidates and voters. The method is considered more vulnerable to mischief and outright fraud. In 2009, voters in a special State Senate election were persuaded to send their ballots to a private mail box instead of the elections office in an apparent attempt to void their votes.
GA: Computer woes a headache for Wilkinson election officials*
http://www.macon.com/2010/07/22/1203319/computer-woes-a-headache-for-election.html
A computer system crash and difficulties with a memory card created an unexpected delay in counting votes in Wilkinson County late Tuesday night.
...
“We had the server go down around 10 p.m., and we had three precincts left to report,” she said. “We’ve never had problems like this before. Normally there’s no trouble.”
...
as of Wednesday afternoon, Barfield said she was unable to confirm whether officials were able to read the final votes from the last memory card.
GA: Voter Fraud Alleged in Brooks County (opposition to absentee ballots)
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/99140784.html
Brooks County residents are concerned there may be irregularities with the outcome of several local races. And now the GBI has launched a probe into these allegations.
GA: Congressional election redos costly, confusing
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/congressional-election-redos-costly-575715.html North Georgia voters are preparing to go to the polls for the fourth time in as many months to elect a 9th District congressman, costing cash-strapped counties hundreds of thousands of dollars.
HI: Congressional Special Election Cost $670K
Abercrombie Defends Decision To Resign
http://www.kitv.com/news/24361976/detail.html
MD: Lasting effects of prison-based gerrymandering in Maryland
http://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/news/2010/07/22/wypr/ ...no local action been taken to correct the imbalance that has allowed the First District seat to be held for 20 years by James Ring, an elderly white man who benefited from a shrunken electorate that musters fewer than 500 total votes.
NM: Secretary of State Opens Investigation into County Clerk*
http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2010/07/22/news/doc4c4704
da8c094745080678.txt http://bit.ly/cqpRv3
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office last week opened a formal investigation into whether the Rio Arriba County Clerk broke election law after the June 1 primary by opening ballot boxes without legally required supervision.
NY: Judge Wants New York's Voting Machines Tested (Nassau ES&S DS200 machines) http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/23/29079.htm MINEOLA, N.Y. (CN) - A state Supreme Court judge ordered that the New York Board of Elections submit the electronic voting machines it approved for the September primaries to a testing facility in Connecticut... the machine at issue, the ES&S DS-200, malfunctioned in Florida during the 2008 presidential elections.
...
"Since Nassau is not using Dominion's system, it would probably be very helpful for a Dominion county to arrange to have their machines evaluated by joining the lawsuit," said Howard Stanislevic, founder of the E-Voter Education Project, in a mass email.
NY: Where Do Voting Machines Go When They Die?
So...what happens to all those old voting machines, anyway?
http://larchmont.patch.com/articles/where-do-voting-machines-go-when-they-die
"The old voting machines are, indeed, now, the property of Westchester County," he said. "According to federal law, they must be retained for a period of two years. But, seeing that the lever style machines are now obsolete...it would be a safe assumption to say that we will dispose of them by selling them for scrap metal."
NY: Surprise: Charter Commission to Give More Power to the Mayor
http://citypragmatist.com/2010/07/21/surprise-charter-commission-to-give-more-power-to-the-mayor/
NY: "Many in NY election gave 6 votes to 1 candidate"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016487.html AP reports on a Port Chester exit survey. You can read the entire 72-page report by Kimball and Kropf here.
NY: Term Limits Dominate Charter Panel's Conversation In The Bronx
http://bronx.ny1.com/content/top_stories/122496/term-limits-dominate-charter-panel-s-conversation-in-the-bronx
TN: Editorial: Don't let intimidation keep you from voting (crossover in primary)
http://crossville-chronicle.com/opinion/x871674959/Editorial-Dont-let-intimidation-keep-you-from-voting ...She was pulled out of line, her voting paper taken from her hand and was told her right to vote in the Republican Primary was being challenged by Linda Thompson, a poll watcher and aunt of state Rep. Eric Swafford
...
This was an absolute slap in the face of all Cumberland Countians who hold dear the right to vote their conscience in an election.
WA: 31 voters registered at one house sparks investigation in Washington state*
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/31 _voters_registered_at_one_house_sparks_investigation_in_
washington_state.html http://bit.ly/ckCuWn
Grays Harbor County Auditor Vern Spatz suspects a computer glitch in the database and says there's no evidence that any voter has done anything wrong.
WI: Wisconsin Independent Candidate Files Federal Lawsuit Over Denial of Her Ballot Label http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/22/wisconsin-independent-candidate-files-federal-lawsuit-over-denial-of-her-ballot-label/
On July 22, independent candidate Ieshuh Griffin filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, over the state elections office refusal to print her partisan label on the November ballot. She is running for Assembly, 10th district, and wants “Not the ‘whiteman’s bitch’ ” on the ballot.
WV: Election evidence secured at courthouse (Lincoln County)
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com http://bit.ly/dlIeXO
Circuit Clerk Charles Brumfield and county commission candidate Phoebe Harless have contested the results of the May primary and a preliminary hearing in the case is not scheduled until July 28. The actual hearing in the case is set for the week of August 16. Since the circuit court, which will hear the case, had ordered all election equipment and material to be held as was at the time of the primary as possible evidence in the matter, election officials became concerned that Lincoln County would have a machine shortage for the special election.
So a conference call was held, according to Chief Circuit Judge Jay Hoke. During that call, it was agreed that information from the machines would be downloaded onto paper form, the judge said.
Internet Voting Watch
Online Voting: All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Unless You're a Vendor)
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6768
National
Some Congressional Challengers Defy Odds by Out-Raising Rival Incumbents
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/07/house-challengers-are-breaking-norm.html
The imbalance between Republican and Democratic challengers who are out-raising incumbents may foreshadow a broader change in political currents.
International
India: Jumbo ballot box to accommodate EVM mistrust
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100724/jsp/nation/story_12720981.jsp
UK: AV referendum question published
The government has published the question it plans to ask voters in a referendum on electoral reform. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10729454
Voters will be asked if they want to "adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system" for electing MPs.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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..
Editor's note: we did not send out news yesterday, it is combined with today's news.
AK: On the ballot in Alaska: transparency
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=497502 To some Alaskans, the fight against Proposition 1 has morphed into a fight to guard their state's initiative process from those who would take advantage of its loopholes.
AL: Suit filed to block enforcement of law on campaign contributions
http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006416.html A 15-year-old Alabama law that says judges should not hear cases in which one of the parties donated at least $2,000 to their campaigns has never been enforced, locked in a stalemate over whether it first needs to be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice for evidence that it would not disenfranchise minorities.
CO: Vote early and...not at all? Ballot TRACE glitch has some worried *
http://www.examiner.com/x-41664-Denver-Top-News-Examiner~y2010m7d22-Voter-early-andnot-at-all-Ballot-TRACE-glitch-has-some-worried
CO: Uh-oh, technical glitch baffles Denver voters *
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=144870&catid=188 That "hiccup" sent emails to approximately 170 voters telling them that their completed ballots had already been received by the Post Office despite the fact that those voters had yet to receive the actual ballots personally.
CT: What do [Connecticut] voters think?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/what-do-connecticut-voters-think/
A new Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project Report provides insight into the opinions of voters on several voting reform issues. We comment on Connecticut specific results and editorialize on voting integrity implications of the survey.We recommend the survey and commentary be contemplated by activists, legislators, and future Secretaries of the State
...
We caution against recommending a reform or opposing a reform based on public perception reported in a single, or several surveys providing simple reform descriptions.
FL: Voting by mail has increased in popularity, but has unintended consequences
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/political/elections_local/voting-by-mail-has-unintended-consequences Absentee voting by mail has its risks for candidates and voters. The method is considered more vulnerable to mischief and outright fraud. In 2009, voters in a special State Senate election were persuaded to send their ballots to a private mail box instead of the elections office in an apparent attempt to void their votes.
GA: Computer woes a headache for Wilkinson election officials*
http://www.macon.com/2010/07/22/1203319/computer-woes-a-headache-for-election.html
A computer system crash and difficulties with a memory card created an unexpected delay in counting votes in Wilkinson County late Tuesday night.
...
“We had the server go down around 10 p.m., and we had three precincts left to report,” she said. “We’ve never had problems like this before. Normally there’s no trouble.”
...
as of Wednesday afternoon, Barfield said she was unable to confirm whether officials were able to read the final votes from the last memory card.
GA: Voter Fraud Alleged in Brooks County (opposition to absentee ballots)
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/99140784.html
Brooks County residents are concerned there may be irregularities with the outcome of several local races. And now the GBI has launched a probe into these allegations.
GA: Congressional election redos costly, confusing
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/congressional-election-redos-costly-575715.html North Georgia voters are preparing to go to the polls for the fourth time in as many months to elect a 9th District congressman, costing cash-strapped counties hundreds of thousands of dollars.
HI: Congressional Special Election Cost $670K
Abercrombie Defends Decision To Resign
http://www.kitv.com/news/24361976/detail.html
MD: Lasting effects of prison-based gerrymandering in Maryland
http://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/news/2010/07/22/wypr/ ...no local action been taken to correct the imbalance that has allowed the First District seat to be held for 20 years by James Ring, an elderly white man who benefited from a shrunken electorate that musters fewer than 500 total votes.
NM: Secretary of State Opens Investigation into County Clerk*
http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2010/07/22/news/doc4c4704
da8c094745080678.txt http://bit.ly/cqpRv3
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office last week opened a formal investigation into whether the Rio Arriba County Clerk broke election law after the June 1 primary by opening ballot boxes without legally required supervision.
NY: Judge Wants New York's Voting Machines Tested (Nassau ES&S DS200 machines) http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/23/29079.htm MINEOLA, N.Y. (CN) - A state Supreme Court judge ordered that the New York Board of Elections submit the electronic voting machines it approved for the September primaries to a testing facility in Connecticut... the machine at issue, the ES&S DS-200, malfunctioned in Florida during the 2008 presidential elections.
...
"Since Nassau is not using Dominion's system, it would probably be very helpful for a Dominion county to arrange to have their machines evaluated by joining the lawsuit," said Howard Stanislevic, founder of the E-Voter Education Project, in a mass email.
NY: Where Do Voting Machines Go When They Die?
So...what happens to all those old voting machines, anyway?
http://larchmont.patch.com/articles/where-do-voting-machines-go-when-they-die
"The old voting machines are, indeed, now, the property of Westchester County," he said. "According to federal law, they must be retained for a period of two years. But, seeing that the lever style machines are now obsolete...it would be a safe assumption to say that we will dispose of them by selling them for scrap metal."
NY: Surprise: Charter Commission to Give More Power to the Mayor
http://citypragmatist.com/2010/07/21/surprise-charter-commission-to-give-more-power-to-the-mayor/
NY: "Many in NY election gave 6 votes to 1 candidate"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016487.html AP reports on a Port Chester exit survey. You can read the entire 72-page report by Kimball and Kropf here.
NY: Term Limits Dominate Charter Panel's Conversation In The Bronx
http://bronx.ny1.com/content/top_stories/122496/term-limits-dominate-charter-panel-s-conversation-in-the-bronx
TN: Editorial: Don't let intimidation keep you from voting (crossover in primary)
http://crossville-chronicle.com/opinion/x871674959/Editorial-Dont-let-intimidation-keep-you-from-voting ...She was pulled out of line, her voting paper taken from her hand and was told her right to vote in the Republican Primary was being challenged by Linda Thompson, a poll watcher and aunt of state Rep. Eric Swafford
...
This was an absolute slap in the face of all Cumberland Countians who hold dear the right to vote their conscience in an election.
WA: 31 voters registered at one house sparks investigation in Washington state*
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/31 _voters_registered_at_one_house_sparks_investigation_in_
washington_state.html http://bit.ly/ckCuWn
Grays Harbor County Auditor Vern Spatz suspects a computer glitch in the database and says there's no evidence that any voter has done anything wrong.
WI: Wisconsin Independent Candidate Files Federal Lawsuit Over Denial of Her Ballot Label http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/22/wisconsin-independent-candidate-files-federal-lawsuit-over-denial-of-her-ballot-label/
On July 22, independent candidate Ieshuh Griffin filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, over the state elections office refusal to print her partisan label on the November ballot. She is running for Assembly, 10th district, and wants “Not the ‘whiteman’s bitch’ ” on the ballot.
WV: Election evidence secured at courthouse (Lincoln County)
http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com http://bit.ly/dlIeXO
Circuit Clerk Charles Brumfield and county commission candidate Phoebe Harless have contested the results of the May primary and a preliminary hearing in the case is not scheduled until July 28. The actual hearing in the case is set for the week of August 16. Since the circuit court, which will hear the case, had ordered all election equipment and material to be held as was at the time of the primary as possible evidence in the matter, election officials became concerned that Lincoln County would have a machine shortage for the special election.
So a conference call was held, according to Chief Circuit Judge Jay Hoke. During that call, it was agreed that information from the machines would be downloaded onto paper form, the judge said.
Internet Voting Watch
Online Voting: All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Unless You're a Vendor)
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6768
National
Some Congressional Challengers Defy Odds by Out-Raising Rival Incumbents
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/07/house-challengers-are-breaking-norm.html
The imbalance between Republican and Democratic challengers who are out-raising incumbents may foreshadow a broader change in political currents.
International
India: Jumbo ballot box to accommodate EVM mistrust
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100724/jsp/nation/story_12720981.jsp
UK: AV referendum question published
The government has published the question it plans to ask voters in a referendum on electoral reform. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10729454
Voters will be asked if they want to "adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system" for electing MPs.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
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, July 21, 2010
Montgomery CO PA exempt from election code? New Mexico not so secret ballot
Concerning the issue of internet voting -"Who are you going to believe? Scientists or Vendors?" asks CT Voter...Van Hollen, 'Corporate Candidate' Murray Hill Spar Over Political Rights of Businesses... Secret ballot? Not for everybody (in New Mexico)...There's a Constitutional Amendment Campaign to Undo Citizens United in the works...Are Montgomery County PA voting machines exempt from accountability?...A few questions about Mass Natl Pop Vote Bill...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: ADC files complaint against judge over ad
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100720/NEWS02/7200322/ADC-files-complaint-against-judge-over-ad The Alabama Democratic Conference has filed a complaint against Circuit Court Judge Patricia Warner over what the organization's chairman said are questionable and misleading campaign tactics.
...
The "advertisement" in question was a sample ballot printed under the banner of the Montgomery County Democratic Conference.
...
Reed said in his letter that the flier was a fraud because only the state organization can make endorsements in state races.
AL: U.S. set to defend Voting Rights Act against Shelby County challenge
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/us_set_to_defend_voting_rights.html
The U.S. Department of Justice will mount a vigorous defense against a Shelby County lawsuit that seeks to have parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ruled unconstitu tional, a DOJ spokeswoman said.
AL: Councilman Ben Little files suit seeking clarity on state law
http://annistonstar.com/bookmark/8816845-Councilman-Ben-Little-files-suit-seeking-clarity-on-state-law Little has said that Anniston attorney Donald Stewart’s contributions to the campaigns of several local judges has influenced their rulings. He reiterated those claims Monday, saying people without Stewart’s resources can’t expect a fair hearing.
AZ: Important information for ALL voters
http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2010/07/20/important-information-for-all-voters/
If you have a drivers license you can register to vote online right now!
AZ: Cooperation is right approach in voting probe
http://www.yumasun.com/opinion/flier-62557-probe-investigation.html
Agree or disagree- Click here to send letters to the editor
The intent of a flier being circulated in the border city of San Luis, Ariz. about a voter fraud investigation is disputed, but it does seem to be an attempt to undermine the probe.
CA: SF Voters Could See Same-Day Registration; Some Supes Don't Like
http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/07/register-and-vote-on-same-day-not-everyone-likes-comments.php
CA: Fresno woman charged with 30 counts of voter fraud
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/politics&id=7566375 A complaint filed in Fresno County Superior Court on Monday charges Holland in 10 of those cases. She's charged with 10-counts of forgery, 10-counts of perjury and 10-counts of filing false documents. Holland faces up to 10-years in prison if convicted.
CA: Board gets another look at non-citizen voting plan (San Francisco)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=68222
The measure would limit non-citizen voting to the school board election and only include parents and guardians of students in the school district.
CT: Supreme Court allows more public funds for Fedele campaign
http://www.ctmirror.org/story/6880/supreme-court-clears-way-more-campaign-funds-fedele
The state Supreme Court today refused to block Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael C. Fedele from seeking an additional $312,500 in public financing for his campaign
CO: Track your ballot via email or text
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24329250/detail.html
FL: Are Florida Primaries too close to the general election?
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/07/are-florida-primaries-too-close-to.html
This year Florida will hold its primaries on August 24th just 11 weeks before the general election
GA: Scanners Speed Primary Voting
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/07/20/scanners-speed-primary-voting Poll workers in 31 counties have been using bar code scanners on voters’ drivers licenses at check-in.
GA: Glitch slows Cherokee voting, no results impacted *
http://www.ajc.com/news/cherokee/glitch-slows-cherokee-voting-575474.html
Some technological glitches and one operator error slowed the tallying of voting results in Cherokee County Tuesday and caused about 500 ballots to have to be recounted.
GA: Handful of voting hiccups in Effingham County on Tuesday
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-07-21/handful-voting-hiccups-effingham-county-tuesday
A few minor issues were reported at various voting locations across the county, including the lone precinct in Clyo at the community center.
GA: Georgia voters locked out of Virginia-Highland Church early Tuesday *
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia_elections_news/2010/07/20/1302/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_elections_news Polling place opened at 9:30 AM
GA: Fulton County releases unofficial election results *
http://neighbornewspapers.com/detail/161711.html There was one small hiccup yesterday with a polling place, which resulted in the county changing the precinct but failing to mail cards to the voters. But Garner said they were able to rectify that situation quickly and the correct polling location stayed open later to accommodate voters.
IL: Illinois Green Party Legislative Nominee Wins Ballot Access Lawsuit
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/21/illinois-green-party-legislative-nominee-wins-ballot-access-lawsuit/
MA: Mass. Legislature poised to enact Electoral College bypass bill
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/legislature_poi.html
Critics say the current system is not broken. They also point to the disturbing scenario that Candidate X wins nationally, but Candidate Y has won in Massachusetts. In that case, all of the state's 12 electoral votes would go to Candidate X, the candidate who was not supported by Massachusetts voters
MD: Van Hollen, 'Corporate Candidate' Murray Hill Spar Over Political Rights of Businesses
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/07/van-hollen-corporate-candidate-murr.html
In his closing statement, Murray Hill told the audience that the political system, like a carnival game, "is rigged," and if "you can't come around the corner and challenge the game that you are just going to have to accept the fact, as fact, that corporations are people, too."
MD: Maryland social media rules: respect my authority (line)
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/07/21/maryland-social-media-rules-respect-my-authority-line/ Maryland’s rules for campaigns using social media moved forward yesterday and the Baltimore Sun reports here
NC: County DSS part of e-filing voter registration program
http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/clients-35473-dss-registration.html
The Alamance County Department of Social Services and DSS departments in eight other Tar Heel counties are taking part in a pilot program that allows the agencies to electronically file voter registration forms with the state Board of Elections in Raleigh if clients wish.
...
In February, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said the DSS departments in Alamance, Burke and Johnston counties had “consistently and substantially failed to comply with the requirements of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act,” the 1993 federal law, and asked the agencies to comply.
NM: Secret ballot? Not for everybody
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/Secret-ballot-Not-for-everybody
Seems they've been given access to enough data to sniff out some citizens' election choices: It tends to happen in small precincts, and where there's only a single contested race; by cross-checking public records, such as lists of people who cast ballots, against results reported from a precinct, political operatives can pin down who voted for whom, at least in some cases.
NM: Public hearing planned on secret ballot safeguards
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12834472 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The secretary of state's office will hold a hearing in September to solicit public comments on how to safeguard the secret ballot for voters in New Mexico.
...
Currently, it's possible to identify voters and determine who they supported in precincts where only one or a handful of people cast ballots.
NY: Many in NY election gave 6 votes to 1 candidate
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=952824
PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- An exit survey indicates that nearly a third of the voters in an unusual New York election cast all six of their votes for one candidate.
NY: Comptroller's Office: Federal mandate strains Board of Elections finances
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100720/NEWS01/100720013/
1006 /Comptroller-s-Office--Federal-mandate-strains-Board-of-Elections-
finances http://bit.ly/bXISgv
NY: Machine politics! City unveils new voting machines in Boerum Hill
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/29/all_newballots_2010_07_16_bk.html?comm=1
Not only was New York State late to upgrade, New York City became one of the last municipalities within the state to select a new system when it awarded the contract for new machines to Omaha-based Election Systems and Software, a contract reportedly worth $50 million.
OH: Absentee voting is OK; lack of polling places, not
http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/524574.html?nav=5006
Polling places should not be closed if there is any indication doing so will inconvenience Ohioans - perhaps prompting some to decide voting just isn't worth the trouble of driving to a more distant precinct.
OH: Voting machines lawsuit settlement includes free upgrades
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/voting-machines-lawsuit-settlement-includes-free-upgrades-821876.html The lawsuit settlement also includes:
A discount on licensing fees worth about $113,000.
The company will give Montgomery County 380 new voting machines, eliminating the need for a future hardware maintenance contract and saving the county $125,000.
The ability to buy new equipment at half price...
PA: Letter: Montgomery County needs to do closer examination of its voting machines
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/07/21/souderton_independent/
opinion/doc4c469dac60f1e979051842.txt http://bit.ly/aJPGiU However, when we asked why the county did not abide by the ballot reconciliation requirement in the PA election code, the response was, well, creative, saying that electronic vote machines are just plain exempt. But not according to the Allegheny County Elections Division.
PA: Conservative Media Stokes New Black Panther Story
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128647537
Internet Voting Watch
Who are you going to believe? Scientists or Vendors?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/who-are-you-going-to-believe-scientists-or-vendors/
Calling it safe does not make it safe. Using the challenges facing those we would like to help vote, does not mean it would actually be a good idea:
EVOTE2010 conference about to start
http://www.e-voting.cc/stories/6434977/ It is Wednesday noon, July 21st, and we are ready to start with the 4th International E-Voting Conference.
...
We are very happy to welcome the Chair of the U.S. Election Administration Commission, Donetta Davidson, as keynote speaker
National
THE FEC AO: WHY EXISTING DISCLOSURE LAW WON'T DISCLOSURE BE ADEQUATE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016482.html Undisclosed donations will be especially important to corporations. Many corporations won't want to alienate many of their customers by having their corporate names associated with advertising against a candidate. But they'll be more than happy to participate if they can obscure their identity. This is what I expect to happen under the new AO.
Rove-linked group uses secret donors to fund attacks
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39998.html
People For the American Way, Public Citizen Launch Constitutional Amendment Pledge Campaign to Undo Citizens United
http://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/2010/07/people-for-the-american-way-public-citizen-launch-constitutional-amendment-pl "...a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision giving corporations the same First Amendment rights as people.”
New Policy Paper: Restricting Voter Registration Drives
http://www.projectvote.org/component/content/article/494-new-policy-paper-restricting-voter-registration-drives.html The paper offers reasonable recommendations for how state and local election officials can work together with civic organizations, to ensure reasonable regulation, without unfairly impeding the vital role community-based voter registration drives play in America.
Civil Rights in the Supreme Court: Wrapping up the 2009-2010 Term
http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2010/07/1024-scotus-term2010.html
During its 2009-2010 term, which ended last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard several cases with civil rights implications.
International
India: VeTA petitions the President of India to intervene on the vexed EVM issue
http://www.indianevm.com/blogs/?p=337
Even as the introduction of EVMs has brought efficiency into our election operations, a major shortcoming is that they function like “black boxes” as they store voting data only electronically. The election results cannot thus be verified as physical record of votes is not maintained in a paper form.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe 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: ADC files complaint against judge over ad
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100720/NEWS02/7200322/ADC-files-complaint-against-judge-over-ad The Alabama Democratic Conference has filed a complaint against Circuit Court Judge Patricia Warner over what the organization's chairman said are questionable and misleading campaign tactics.
...
The "advertisement" in question was a sample ballot printed under the banner of the Montgomery County Democratic Conference.
...
Reed said in his letter that the flier was a fraud because only the state organization can make endorsements in state races.
AL: U.S. set to defend Voting Rights Act against Shelby County challenge
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/07/us_set_to_defend_voting_rights.html
The U.S. Department of Justice will mount a vigorous defense against a Shelby County lawsuit that seeks to have parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ruled unconstitu tional, a DOJ spokeswoman said.
AL: Councilman Ben Little files suit seeking clarity on state law
http://annistonstar.com/bookmark/8816845-Councilman-Ben-Little-files-suit-seeking-clarity-on-state-law Little has said that Anniston attorney Donald Stewart’s contributions to the campaigns of several local judges has influenced their rulings. He reiterated those claims Monday, saying people without Stewart’s resources can’t expect a fair hearing.
AZ: Important information for ALL voters
http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2010/07/20/important-information-for-all-voters/
If you have a drivers license you can register to vote online right now!
AZ: Cooperation is right approach in voting probe
http://www.yumasun.com/opinion/flier-62557-probe-investigation.html
Agree or disagree- Click here to send letters to the editor
The intent of a flier being circulated in the border city of San Luis, Ariz. about a voter fraud investigation is disputed, but it does seem to be an attempt to undermine the probe.
CA: SF Voters Could See Same-Day Registration; Some Supes Don't Like
http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/07/register-and-vote-on-same-day-not-everyone-likes-comments.php
CA: Fresno woman charged with 30 counts of voter fraud
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/politics&id=7566375 A complaint filed in Fresno County Superior Court on Monday charges Holland in 10 of those cases. She's charged with 10-counts of forgery, 10-counts of perjury and 10-counts of filing false documents. Holland faces up to 10-years in prison if convicted.
CA: Board gets another look at non-citizen voting plan (San Francisco)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=68222
The measure would limit non-citizen voting to the school board election and only include parents and guardians of students in the school district.
CT: Supreme Court allows more public funds for Fedele campaign
http://www.ctmirror.org/story/6880/supreme-court-clears-way-more-campaign-funds-fedele
The state Supreme Court today refused to block Republican gubernatorial candidate Michael C. Fedele from seeking an additional $312,500 in public financing for his campaign
CO: Track your ballot via email or text
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24329250/detail.html
FL: Are Florida Primaries too close to the general election?
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/07/are-florida-primaries-too-close-to.html
This year Florida will hold its primaries on August 24th just 11 weeks before the general election
GA: Scanners Speed Primary Voting
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/07/20/scanners-speed-primary-voting Poll workers in 31 counties have been using bar code scanners on voters’ drivers licenses at check-in.
GA: Glitch slows Cherokee voting, no results impacted *
http://www.ajc.com/news/cherokee/glitch-slows-cherokee-voting-575474.html
Some technological glitches and one operator error slowed the tallying of voting results in Cherokee County Tuesday and caused about 500 ballots to have to be recounted.
GA: Handful of voting hiccups in Effingham County on Tuesday
http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-07-21/handful-voting-hiccups-effingham-county-tuesday
A few minor issues were reported at various voting locations across the county, including the lone precinct in Clyo at the community center.
GA: Georgia voters locked out of Virginia-Highland Church early Tuesday *
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia_elections_news/2010/07/20/1302/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_elections_news Polling place opened at 9:30 AM
GA: Fulton County releases unofficial election results *
http://neighbornewspapers.com/detail/161711.html There was one small hiccup yesterday with a polling place, which resulted in the county changing the precinct but failing to mail cards to the voters. But Garner said they were able to rectify that situation quickly and the correct polling location stayed open later to accommodate voters.
IL: Illinois Green Party Legislative Nominee Wins Ballot Access Lawsuit
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/07/21/illinois-green-party-legislative-nominee-wins-ballot-access-lawsuit/
MA: Mass. Legislature poised to enact Electoral College bypass bill
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/legislature_poi.html
Critics say the current system is not broken. They also point to the disturbing scenario that Candidate X wins nationally, but Candidate Y has won in Massachusetts. In that case, all of the state's 12 electoral votes would go to Candidate X, the candidate who was not supported by Massachusetts voters
MD: Van Hollen, 'Corporate Candidate' Murray Hill Spar Over Political Rights of Businesses
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/07/van-hollen-corporate-candidate-murr.html
In his closing statement, Murray Hill told the audience that the political system, like a carnival game, "is rigged," and if "you can't come around the corner and challenge the game that you are just going to have to accept the fact, as fact, that corporations are people, too."
MD: Maryland social media rules: respect my authority (line)
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/07/21/maryland-social-media-rules-respect-my-authority-line/ Maryland’s rules for campaigns using social media moved forward yesterday and the Baltimore Sun reports here
NC: County DSS part of e-filing voter registration program
http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/clients-35473-dss-registration.html
The Alamance County Department of Social Services and DSS departments in eight other Tar Heel counties are taking part in a pilot program that allows the agencies to electronically file voter registration forms with the state Board of Elections in Raleigh if clients wish.
...
In February, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said the DSS departments in Alamance, Burke and Johnston counties had “consistently and substantially failed to comply with the requirements of Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act,” the 1993 federal law, and asked the agencies to comply.
NM: Secret ballot? Not for everybody
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/Secret-ballot-Not-for-everybody
Seems they've been given access to enough data to sniff out some citizens' election choices: It tends to happen in small precincts, and where there's only a single contested race; by cross-checking public records, such as lists of people who cast ballots, against results reported from a precinct, political operatives can pin down who voted for whom, at least in some cases.
NM: Public hearing planned on secret ballot safeguards
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12834472 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The secretary of state's office will hold a hearing in September to solicit public comments on how to safeguard the secret ballot for voters in New Mexico.
...
Currently, it's possible to identify voters and determine who they supported in precincts where only one or a handful of people cast ballots.
NY: Many in NY election gave 6 votes to 1 candidate
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=952824
PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- An exit survey indicates that nearly a third of the voters in an unusual New York election cast all six of their votes for one candidate.
NY: Comptroller's Office: Federal mandate strains Board of Elections finances
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20100720/NEWS01/100720013/
1006 /Comptroller-s-Office--Federal-mandate-strains-Board-of-Elections-
finances http://bit.ly/bXISgv
NY: Machine politics! City unveils new voting machines in Boerum Hill
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/29/all_newballots_2010_07_16_bk.html?comm=1
Not only was New York State late to upgrade, New York City became one of the last municipalities within the state to select a new system when it awarded the contract for new machines to Omaha-based Election Systems and Software, a contract reportedly worth $50 million.
OH: Absentee voting is OK; lack of polling places, not
http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/524574.html?nav=5006
Polling places should not be closed if there is any indication doing so will inconvenience Ohioans - perhaps prompting some to decide voting just isn't worth the trouble of driving to a more distant precinct.
OH: Voting machines lawsuit settlement includes free upgrades
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/voting-machines-lawsuit-settlement-includes-free-upgrades-821876.html The lawsuit settlement also includes:
A discount on licensing fees worth about $113,000.
The company will give Montgomery County 380 new voting machines, eliminating the need for a future hardware maintenance contract and saving the county $125,000.
The ability to buy new equipment at half price...
PA: Letter: Montgomery County needs to do closer examination of its voting machines
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2010/07/21/souderton_independent/
opinion/doc4c469dac60f1e979051842.txt http://bit.ly/aJPGiU However, when we asked why the county did not abide by the ballot reconciliation requirement in the PA election code, the response was, well, creative, saying that electronic vote machines are just plain exempt. But not according to the Allegheny County Elections Division.
PA: Conservative Media Stokes New Black Panther Story
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128647537
Internet Voting Watch
Who are you going to believe? Scientists or Vendors?
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/who-are-you-going-to-believe-scientists-or-vendors/
Calling it safe does not make it safe. Using the challenges facing those we would like to help vote, does not mean it would actually be a good idea:
EVOTE2010 conference about to start
http://www.e-voting.cc/stories/6434977/ It is Wednesday noon, July 21st, and we are ready to start with the 4th International E-Voting Conference.
...
We are very happy to welcome the Chair of the U.S. Election Administration Commission, Donetta Davidson, as keynote speaker
National
THE FEC AO: WHY EXISTING DISCLOSURE LAW WON'T DISCLOSURE BE ADEQUATE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016482.html Undisclosed donations will be especially important to corporations. Many corporations won't want to alienate many of their customers by having their corporate names associated with advertising against a candidate. But they'll be more than happy to participate if they can obscure their identity. This is what I expect to happen under the new AO.
Rove-linked group uses secret donors to fund attacks
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39998.html
People For the American Way, Public Citizen Launch Constitutional Amendment Pledge Campaign to Undo Citizens United
http://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/2010/07/people-for-the-american-way-public-citizen-launch-constitutional-amendment-pl "...a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision giving corporations the same First Amendment rights as people.”
New Policy Paper: Restricting Voter Registration Drives
http://www.projectvote.org/component/content/article/494-new-policy-paper-restricting-voter-registration-drives.html The paper offers reasonable recommendations for how state and local election officials can work together with civic organizations, to ensure reasonable regulation, without unfairly impeding the vital role community-based voter registration drives play in America.
Civil Rights in the Supreme Court: Wrapping up the 2009-2010 Term
http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2010/07/1024-scotus-term2010.html
During its 2009-2010 term, which ended last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard several cases with civil rights implications.
International
India: VeTA petitions the President of India to intervene on the vexed EVM issue
http://www.indianevm.com/blogs/?p=337
Even as the introduction of EVMs has brought efficiency into our election operations, a major shortcoming is that they function like “black boxes” as they store voting data only electronically. The election results cannot thus be verified as physical record of votes is not maintained in a paper form.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe 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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