Saguache County CO election problems the result of computer errors...Recount of Bridgeport CT ballots under way..Indiana's newly elected SoS is accused of "Voter Fraud" because his voter registration has incorrect address...Minnesota 'Happy Recount Day': First day is the start of a long and sometimes feisty process..NYC Election board stuck in time warp - voters get outdated voting guides...NY Court moves closer to expanding audit, hand recount possible in 7th Senate Race.....The EAC will discuss commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products in mtg Dec 2...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
Just How Bad Was Bush v. Gore?
http://www.nationaljournal.com/dailyfray/just-how-bad-was-bush-v-gore--20101129?page=1
AK: Judge moves Miller lawsuit to Juneau
http://www.adn.com/2010/11/29/1578269/miller-makes-false-claims-murkowski.html
Judge Douglas Blankenship said the case brought by Republican nominee Joe Miller raises statewide issues and that he believes it's inconvenient for the state to be involved in a case in Fairbanks, about 620 miles from Juneau.
[Judge didn't want the ballots to be moved in case they must be reviewed]
AK: Alaska certifying nearly all its election results
http://www.adn.com/2010/11/29/1578666/alaska-certifying-nearly-all-its.html
AK: Murkowski Gets a Write-in Vote in Concrete Sidewalk
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/30/murkowski-gets-a-write-in-vote-in-concrete-sidewalk/
AZ: U.S. Supreme Court to take on Arizona Clean Elections
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/11/30
/20101130cleanelex1130.html http://tinyurl.com/34eq62s
AZ: Election canvass sets up first known recount of ballot measure
http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/113010_election_recount
CA: CALIFORNIA ELECTION UPDATES: ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE DECIDED, OTHER NEWS http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/?p=3659 Also later today, the first eight members of the new California redistricting commission will hold their first meeting.
CO: Saguache County election problems the result of computer errors
http://crestoneeagle.com/?p=2175 Sec. of State gives the all-ok; Saguache County election problems the result of computer errors
...
The mandatory recount, due to the closeness of the race, for the Northern Saguache County Ambulance District has been scheduled for November 29
CT: Recount of Bridgeport ballots under way
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Recount-of-Bridgeport-ballots-under-way-840037.php "People think you just throw everyone in a room and say, `Count,' " said Cheryl Dunson, of the League of Women Voters in Connecticut. "But a credible outcome is dependent on a credible process."
Guam: Guam Tabulators Imbalanced? "We Have A Real Problem!"
http://guamnewswatch.com/201011303725/2010-Election/Guam-Tabulators-Imbalanced-We-Have-A-Real-Problem-Commissioners-Sign-Certificates-Anyway.html
Guam: GEC to discuss election complaints
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20101130/NEWS01/11300301
IN: Panel to meet Sunday on secretary of state race
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/nov/29/panel-meet-sunday-secretary-state-race/
State Democrats say Republican Charlie White shouldn't become Indiana's chief election officer even though he won the November race. They say he committed vote fraud by using his ex-wife's home instead his condo as his address in the May primary.
KY: Bullitt jailer race recount halted; Knox declared winner
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101130/ZONE10/311300058/Bullitt
+jailer+race+recount+halted+;+Knox+declared+winner http://tinyurl.com/39mgvke
"It was costing me too much money," Watkins said. "We just fell a little short, and to me, the recanvass and recount and all this stuff, you just need to have the money hand over fist to fight the system."
MA: Taunton officials eye discrepancy between Election Day and precinct recount vote tallies* http://www.tauntongazette.com/campaign2010/x1966826229/Taunton-officials-eye-discrepancy-between-Election-Day-and-precinct-recount-vote-tallies With the district-wide recount for the 3rd Bristol House District quickly approaching, city officials are still investigating why there was an 18-vote discrepancy between results from Election Day and the Nov. 20 precinct-level recount.
...
O’Connell said she was concerned that there were 18 fewer votes from precinct 1B in the recount.
MN: Governor's recount - and recounting the challenges (Great photo slideshow)
http://www.startribune.com/politics/recount/111014859.html A blank ballot was claimed by Emmer representatives as a vote for their candidate. In some Hennepin County precincts, Republicans challenged every third or fourth ballot, according to county elections manager Rachel Smith.
...
In many locations, Emmer representatives questioned ballots in which voters failed to completely black out the oval next to the DFLer's name or who missed the oval but blacked out a space next to it. One challenge was issued on a Dayton ballot with "Who Farted" written in for Ramsey County sheriff.
MN: 'Happy Recount Day': First day is the start of a long and sometimes feisty process http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2010/11/29/23746/happy_recount_day_
first_day_is_the_start_of_a_long_and_sometimes_feisty_process http://tinyurl.com/2axj3tk
MN: CEIM's blog - Ramsey and Hennepin County Reports
http://mnrecount.org/2010/11/ramsey-and-hennepin-county-reports.html
MN: Recount: Dayton gains 1 vote in Winona County, 24 statewide
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_10e8cb3e-fc42-11df-b976-001cc4c03286.html The only real glitch was the missing ballots in Utica Township.
Representatives from both gubernatorial campaigns drove to the township hall and, along with an election official, found the 23 missing ballots still in the machine.
MN: Minn. GOP chairman hints at post-recount lawsuit
http://www.kttc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13589701 Sutton says the issues include matching the number of votes and voters and a procedure known as vouching, where a registered voter can attest to the residency of an unregistered voter.
NE: Suttle Recall Lawsuit: Multiple Targets, Multiple Accusations
http://nebraska.watchdog.org/10445/suttle-recall-lawsuit-multiple-targets-multiple-accusations/ As Nebraska Watchdog first reported the recall related elections (there could be as many as three) will cost an estimated $900,000 with the City of Omaha footing the bill.
NY: “Discrepancies” Found on Voting Machines in 7th Senate Race
Court moves closer to expanding audit, hand recount possible.
http://mineola.patch.com/articles/discrepancies-found-on-voting-machines-in-7th-senate-race Republican Board of Election chair John Ryan told the court that the machines subjected to audit were hand counted and compared to their respective tape recording. Two machines were found to have one extra ballot, while one machine had two extra ballots. "The question then becomes how did it get there?" Ryan said
NY: Altschuler camp: possible voter fraud in 1st CD race
http://www.riverheadlocal.com/local-news-content/1186-altschuler-camp-possible-voter-fraud-in-1st-cd-race Vincent J. Messina told the court there are about 750 absentee ballots on which the Altschuler camp has "residency concerns," meaning the voters have two residence addresses and Altschuler's legal team is investigating whether the voters in question were simultaneously registered to vote at two addresses
NY: Bishop and Altschuler back in Riverhead courtroom today
http://www.riverheadlocal.com/local-news-content/1184-bishop-and-altschuler-back-in-riverhead-courtroom-today Altschuler has challenged 1,261 ballots and Bishop has challenged 790 ballots, according to Schneider.
NY: NY Sen. Thompson of Buffalo concedes in recount
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/30/politics/p101307S93.DTL
NY: New York City Board of Elections is stuck in a time warp
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/new_york_city_board_of_electio.html
City residents, including Staten Islanders, have been getting voting "instructions" mailed to them that are applicable to the mothballed machines -- not the new fill-in-the-oval paper ballot scanner method the city ushered in for the primary and general elections this fall.
OH: Special Putnam Board of Elections meeting Tuesday will try to resolve Virginia Price lawsuit http://www.wfin.com/localnews201.asp?id=5931&storyno=11 Former director Virginia Price and her son filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination from actions taken in 2008. Price is claiming a violation of Ohio's public meetings law, and a breach of contract.
She was released in 2008 for installing software upgrades to the board's computer system without state authorization.
OH: Lucas County to begin 2 election recounts
http://toledoblade.com/article/20101130/NEWS09/101139991/-1/NEWS02
The Lucas County Board of Elections this afternoon will start its recount of two narrowly decided races — Lucas County Commissioner and the Springfield school district levy — although the outcomes still could face a legal challenge.
...
Democrat Carol Contrada defeated Republican George Sarantou by 191 votes out of nearly 140,000 cast, under the vote certified last week.
Her victory came after the board of elections on Nov. 22 added more than 4,000 provisional ballots that had not been counted, reversing a lead of 1,376 votes that Mr. Sarantou had in the unofficial Nov. 2 count.
TX: Elections Administrator Says Accuracy Better Than Speed
http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Elections-Administrator-Says-Accuracy-Better-Than/tZQ7pYY9oUWys6JNVGXdXw.cspx There may be a decision Tuesday morning on who won the county judge's race in Cameron County...
But Elections Administrator Roger Ortiz said the race for the county judge's seat has taught him a lesson: it's better to be accurate than in a hurry to get the job done.
National
EAC will hold a public meeting and roundtable discussion on Thursday, Dec 2 in Washington, DC. http://www.eac.gov/public_meeting_and_roundtable_12022010/
Meeting topics: commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products; election official mentorship project. Roundtable topic: the administration and conduct of the 2010 election. The event will be webcast live and an on-demand webcast will be available two days. See the agenda and notice for details.
Tea Party Nation President: 'Restrict Voting to Property Owners Only'
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8217
LA Times: Election tone was anti-incumbent, but old pros handled the cash
http://protectourelections.org/index.php?q=node/90
Most went for a war on the airwaves, consultants say, making TV stations big winners.
International
Egypt: Opaque and Messy Elections
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=42034
Extensive restrictions on media coverage and civil society monitoring ensured that there would be little transparency on election day.
Taiwan: MOJ reports over 3,000 cases of vote-buying
http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=132734&CtNode=414
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
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=============================================
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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, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
NYC war against the machines. Bridgeport CT recount 'will take as long as necessary'
Is challenge to Alaska write-ins a 'literacy test'?..Bridgeport recount: Luther Weeks, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition, said the recount beginning Monday will take as long as necessary, but will probably end this week.....W&M School of Law writes on "Optical Scanners, Punch Cards, and Levers: New York City’s Continuing War Against the Machines"...Trust the internet with your vote? Massive Chinese Net Reroute Exposes Web's Achilles' Heel...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AK: Miller's write-in challenges face high hurdle
Is Republican’s spelling demand an illegal ‘literacy test?’
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/112910/sta_743006893.shtml
AK: Miller opposes Murkowski motion to intervene in suit
http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-miller-murkowski-lawsuit-intervention-112610,0,1385788.story
CA: Election crews work weekend to finish official tally (of a recount)
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_16728823 From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, about 23 people worked in teams of four, double checking the latest figures, which were last updated on the County Clerk's website on Nov. 24.
CA: Recounts requested in two O.C. elections (close contests)
http://www.ocregister.com/news/votes-277844-race-recounts.html
CA: Humboldt County Transparency Project - Progress Update 3
http://democracycounts.blogspot.com/2010/11/progress-update-3.html
Humboldt County released the remaining ballots for us to scan late last week. As of
Sunday night, we have fewer than 1500 ballots remaining to be scanned (each ballot is two sheets). That means we're 97% done with the scanning
CT: Bridgeport Ballot Recount Beginning In Governor’s Race
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/29/bridgeport-ballot-recount-beginning-in-governors-race/
He (Luther Weeks) says about 30 to 40 volunteers are helping and he hopes to have a few more.
CT: Voter registration owes a debt to the typewriter, house numbers
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Voter-registration-owes-a-debt-to-the-typewriter-839783.php "The real potential for fraud is not at polls, but rather with mail-in ballots," he said. "A person could very easily buy an unmarked mail-in ballot from someone for, say, five bucks, mark it up the way he wants, and mail it in."
CT: Recount could be a new vote on optical scanning
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Recount-could-be-a-new-vote-on-optical-scanning-836169.php This week's independent recount of Bridgeport's Nov. 2 voting results will show how well -- or how poorly -- residents of the state's largest city understood the four-year-old paper ballot and optical-scanner technology.
CT: Registrars of Voters to shed unused ballots
http://www.thehour.com/story/495127 it's better than running out of ballots on Election Day as happened in Bridgeport..
FL: New voting system is no cure for late returns
Editorial. ISSUE: Some local pols renew talk of touch screen voting.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-11-27/news/fl-voting-system-editorial-nb-20101127_1_touch-screens-new-voting-system-sequoia-voting-systems Broaching the idea of spending money the county doesn't have on a system switch, just to buy a few hours on election returns, shows neither responsible leadership nor sound fiscal judgment. For one thing, returning to touch screens would be foolish. The higher-tech machines were easy and more efficient, but they were thrown out because voters didn't like them or trust them.
KS: Kansas election results certified; few irregularities
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/nov/29/election-results-certified-few-irregularities/ Biggs, a Democrat, was defeated by Republican Kris Kobach, who had said during the campaign that voter fraud was a major problem in Kansas.
MN: Another statewide recount puts Minnesota politicos back in familiar territory
http://ballotnews.org/2010/11/29/another-statewide-recount-puts-minnesota-politicos-back-in-familiar-territory/ If the expected mid-December certification leads to a lawsuit, outgoing Governor Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, will not leave office on January 3, 2011
MN: Emmer observers make more ballot challenges
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/29/recount-day-one-ballot-challenges-mark-dayton-tom-emmer/
MN: County attorneys: Minnesota Majority reports on voter fraud ‘frivolous’
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74516/county-attorneys-say-minnesota-majority-reports-on-voter-fraud-frivolous New report states that government-issued voter identification is unnecessary
NC: Instant runoff voting count continues in NC
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8696782/ Results are expected soon on the outcome of a North Carolina appeals court election using an unusual voting method.
NY: Optical Scanners, Punch Cards, and Levers: New York City’s Continuing War Against the Machines http://electls.blogs.wm.edu/2010/11/29/optical-scanners-punch-cards-and-levers-new-york-citys-continuing-war-against-the-machines/ Christopher Robbins is third-year student at William & Mary Law School
NY: Altschuler Challenges Stony Brook Votes as Recount Heads to Court
An update on the First Congressional District race.
http://threevillage.patch.com/articles/altschuler-challenges-stony-brook-votes-as-recount-heads-to-court On Wednesday, the New York Public Interest Research Group issued a statement condemning Altschuler's challenge on the grounds that students have the legal right to register and vote using their campus residences.
NY: Source: GOP tries blocking George Soros’ ballot (absentee ballot)
http://empire.wnyc.org/2010/11/source-gop-tries-blocking-george-soros-ballot/
In the November 2 elections, George Soros mailed in an absentee ballot. He has a home in Westchester and votes there, where right now, there’s a recount going ...
WI: Felons and the ballot: Rehabilitated felons who meet their prison obligations should be allowed to vote on a case-by-case basis
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/110475324.html
(calls for reviving a bi partisan bill)
WY: Billings Gazette Article on Surprising Strength of “Other” Vote in Wyoming in 2010 http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/28/billings-gazette-article-on-surprising-strength-of-other-vote-in-wyoming-in-2010/
Internet Voting Watch
Massive Chinese Net Reroute Exposes Web's Achilles' Heel
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/71258.html?wlc=1290031152
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says that for a
period of 18 minutes last April, China Telecom hijacked 15 percent of the
world's Web traffic and sent it to servers in China...
Chinese fans caught stealing social security numbers to vote for idol groups online
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/11/chinese-fans-caught-stealing-social-security-numbers-in-order-to-vote-for-their-idol-groups-online
India: Polls go digital in Gujarat with e-voting (interesting video explains)
http://www.nipuninfotech.com/blog/government/polls-go-digital-in-gujarat-with-e-voting/ The state has decided to introduce e-voting in local polls which means voters wouldn’t have to queue up at polling booths.
Swiss say electronic voting working well
http://genevalunch.com/blog/2010/11/29/swiss-say-electronic-voting-working-well/
Fifteen percent of Swiss citizens authorized to vote electronically took up the option in the 28 November federal, cantonal and communal votes.
National
"CAN PUBLICLY FINANCED ELECTIONS SURVIVE WITHOUT PUNISHING FREE SPEECH?" http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018112.html
ELECTION LAW BLOG CHOSEN FOR "2010 ABA BLAWG 100;" VOTE UNTIL DEC. 30 FOR YOUR FAVORITE BLOG http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018111.html
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...
AK: Miller's write-in challenges face high hurdle
Is Republican’s spelling demand an illegal ‘literacy test?’
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/112910/sta_743006893.shtml
AK: Miller opposes Murkowski motion to intervene in suit
http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-miller-murkowski-lawsuit-intervention-112610,0,1385788.story
CA: Election crews work weekend to finish official tally (of a recount)
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_16728823 From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, about 23 people worked in teams of four, double checking the latest figures, which were last updated on the County Clerk's website on Nov. 24.
CA: Recounts requested in two O.C. elections (close contests)
http://www.ocregister.com/news/votes-277844-race-recounts.html
CA: Humboldt County Transparency Project - Progress Update 3
http://democracycounts.blogspot.com/2010/11/progress-update-3.html
Humboldt County released the remaining ballots for us to scan late last week. As of
Sunday night, we have fewer than 1500 ballots remaining to be scanned (each ballot is two sheets). That means we're 97% done with the scanning
CT: Bridgeport Ballot Recount Beginning In Governor’s Race
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/29/bridgeport-ballot-recount-beginning-in-governors-race/
He (Luther Weeks) says about 30 to 40 volunteers are helping and he hopes to have a few more.
CT: Voter registration owes a debt to the typewriter, house numbers
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Voter-registration-owes-a-debt-to-the-typewriter-839783.php "The real potential for fraud is not at polls, but rather with mail-in ballots," he said. "A person could very easily buy an unmarked mail-in ballot from someone for, say, five bucks, mark it up the way he wants, and mail it in."
CT: Recount could be a new vote on optical scanning
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Recount-could-be-a-new-vote-on-optical-scanning-836169.php This week's independent recount of Bridgeport's Nov. 2 voting results will show how well -- or how poorly -- residents of the state's largest city understood the four-year-old paper ballot and optical-scanner technology.
CT: Registrars of Voters to shed unused ballots
http://www.thehour.com/story/495127 it's better than running out of ballots on Election Day as happened in Bridgeport..
FL: New voting system is no cure for late returns
Editorial. ISSUE: Some local pols renew talk of touch screen voting.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-11-27/news/fl-voting-system-editorial-nb-20101127_1_touch-screens-new-voting-system-sequoia-voting-systems Broaching the idea of spending money the county doesn't have on a system switch, just to buy a few hours on election returns, shows neither responsible leadership nor sound fiscal judgment. For one thing, returning to touch screens would be foolish. The higher-tech machines were easy and more efficient, but they were thrown out because voters didn't like them or trust them.
KS: Kansas election results certified; few irregularities
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/nov/29/election-results-certified-few-irregularities/ Biggs, a Democrat, was defeated by Republican Kris Kobach, who had said during the campaign that voter fraud was a major problem in Kansas.
MN: Another statewide recount puts Minnesota politicos back in familiar territory
http://ballotnews.org/2010/11/29/another-statewide-recount-puts-minnesota-politicos-back-in-familiar-territory/ If the expected mid-December certification leads to a lawsuit, outgoing Governor Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, will not leave office on January 3, 2011
MN: Emmer observers make more ballot challenges
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/29/recount-day-one-ballot-challenges-mark-dayton-tom-emmer/
MN: County attorneys: Minnesota Majority reports on voter fraud ‘frivolous’
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74516/county-attorneys-say-minnesota-majority-reports-on-voter-fraud-frivolous New report states that government-issued voter identification is unnecessary
NC: Instant runoff voting count continues in NC
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8696782/ Results are expected soon on the outcome of a North Carolina appeals court election using an unusual voting method.
NY: Optical Scanners, Punch Cards, and Levers: New York City’s Continuing War Against the Machines http://electls.blogs.wm.edu/2010/11/29/optical-scanners-punch-cards-and-levers-new-york-citys-continuing-war-against-the-machines/ Christopher Robbins is third-year student at William & Mary Law School
NY: Altschuler Challenges Stony Brook Votes as Recount Heads to Court
An update on the First Congressional District race.
http://threevillage.patch.com/articles/altschuler-challenges-stony-brook-votes-as-recount-heads-to-court On Wednesday, the New York Public Interest Research Group issued a statement condemning Altschuler's challenge on the grounds that students have the legal right to register and vote using their campus residences.
NY: Source: GOP tries blocking George Soros’ ballot (absentee ballot)
http://empire.wnyc.org/2010/11/source-gop-tries-blocking-george-soros-ballot/
In the November 2 elections, George Soros mailed in an absentee ballot. He has a home in Westchester and votes there, where right now, there’s a recount going ...
WI: Felons and the ballot: Rehabilitated felons who meet their prison obligations should be allowed to vote on a case-by-case basis
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/110475324.html
(calls for reviving a bi partisan bill)
WY: Billings Gazette Article on Surprising Strength of “Other” Vote in Wyoming in 2010 http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/28/billings-gazette-article-on-surprising-strength-of-other-vote-in-wyoming-in-2010/
Internet Voting Watch
Massive Chinese Net Reroute Exposes Web's Achilles' Heel
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/71258.html?wlc=1290031152
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says that for a
period of 18 minutes last April, China Telecom hijacked 15 percent of the
world's Web traffic and sent it to servers in China...
Chinese fans caught stealing social security numbers to vote for idol groups online
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/11/chinese-fans-caught-stealing-social-security-numbers-in-order-to-vote-for-their-idol-groups-online
India: Polls go digital in Gujarat with e-voting (interesting video explains)
http://www.nipuninfotech.com/blog/government/polls-go-digital-in-gujarat-with-e-voting/ The state has decided to introduce e-voting in local polls which means voters wouldn’t have to queue up at polling booths.
Swiss say electronic voting working well
http://genevalunch.com/blog/2010/11/29/swiss-say-electronic-voting-working-well/
Fifteen percent of Swiss citizens authorized to vote electronically took up the option in the 28 November federal, cantonal and communal votes.
National
"CAN PUBLICLY FINANCED ELECTIONS SURVIVE WITHOUT PUNISHING FREE SPEECH?" http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018112.html
ELECTION LAW BLOG CHOSEN FOR "2010 ABA BLAWG 100;" VOTE UNTIL DEC. 30 FOR YOUR FAVORITE BLOG http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018111.html
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, November 28, 2010
A 'toxic' idea for Florida elections. CT Post, advocates to recount Bridgeport election
Palm Beach CO Commish Karen Marcus wants to lobby for return to touchscreen voting. FL Voters Coalition Pres Dan McCrea:"We all understand the pretty picture that is painted of a clean electronic push-button election that's over and gives everybody an early night and reliable results..It remains fantasy with today's technology."..Illegal 6-foot barrier blocks CO poll watchers..Bridgeport recount starts Monday..Wikileaks: China's politburo directed hacks on Google. Still think internet voting a good idea?..
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AK: Despite Alaska Senate race results, Joe Miller presses on in principle
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/27/AR2010112702896.html
Miller, a tea party favorite who beat Murkoswki in the GOP primary, has alleged bias on the part of state officials as well as voter fraud, arguing that some of the ballots have suspiciously similar handwriting.
...
And he has asked for a hand recount of all the ballots saying the machine-counted votes that went largely for him should receive the same scrutiny - and potentially benefit of the doubt - as the write-in ones cast for Murkowski
AK: Joe Miller Lawsuit Over Lisa Murkowski Write-ins Gets Tangled Up in Side Issues
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/26/joe-miller-lawsuit-over-lisa-murkowski-write-ins-gets-tangled-up-in-side-issues/
AZ: 'Early' voting causes count delays
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_ed24dc19-b440-5953-880b-95b1a970a9ea.html
Ballots Dropped Off at Polls Need to be Verified, Then Recorded
CA: San Leandro mayor won't challenge election, but won't concede, either
http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_16718681
CA: On the perils of 'Instant runoff' voting
A blindfold and a dartboard
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/27/INQT1GEP3A.DTL
Co: Illegal 6-foot barrier blocks Colorado poll watchers
http://coloradovotergroup.blogspot.com/2010/11/illegal-6-foot-barrier-blocks-colorado.html
CO: What if "none of the above" were to win an election?
http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_16718136
CT: How the recount will take place
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/How-the-recount-will-take-place-836087.php
Who are the counters? How can I help?
The point man for the recount is Luther Weeks, the executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition, which formed in 2007 after the state switched to optical-scanning voter machines.
FL: Is Palm Beach County's voting system too much paper?
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/is-palm-beach-countys-voting-system-too-much-1075923.html (Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus)says touch screens should be made legal again, which she says is a better system with fewer problems. She wants the county to lobby for the law to be changed and says she will bring it up with the rest of the commission Tuesday.
MN: Will ballot-challenge warfare be waged again? Even with new rules, it's complicated - Recent decision may cause trouble
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16722404?nclick_check=1
MT: Legislator wants to cut 2 paid holidays (Election day and Columbus day)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_6490dada-01c9-5eea-8bad-b93a1dcdc9bf.html Sands said she intends to tie her proposal to another legislator's separate bill to change Montana's current election system to a statewide vote-by-mail system.
NC: Instant runoff not so quick
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/instant-runoff-not-so-quick-182937
The county’s elections board and staff will meet at 10 a.m. Monday inside the auditorium of the Nash County Agriculture Center to count tallies for Court of Appeals Judge candidates Cressie Thigpen and Doug McCullough. They are the two leading vote-getters in this year’s judicial race, which had 11 other candidates.
...
Thigpen garnered 20.3 percent of votes cast, or 395,220 votes, while McCullough captured 15.2 percent, or 295,619 votes
TN: EDITORIAL: Election hiring to be closely watched
http://www.dnj.com/article/20101128/OPINION01/11280314
Rutherford County Republicans face an arduous task in restoring transparency and trust in the County Election Commission following the resignation of Chairman Tom Walker.
Internet Voting Watch
WikiLeaked Diplomatic Cables Confirm China’s Politburo Was Behind Google Hacking Incident http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/28/wikileaked-cables-china-google/
The Google hacking was part of a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and Internet outlaws recruited by the Chinese government. They have broken into American government computers and those of Western allies, the Dalai Lama and American businesses since 2002, cables said.
National
The Big Campaign Finance Story of 2011: An Effective End to Public Financing
http://summaryjudgments.lls.edu/2010/11/it-is-with-great-pleasure.html
As I explained in a June post at the Election Law Blog, I expect the Court to not only take this case, but to reverse the Ninth Circuit and strike down the Arizona public financing system.
International
Egypt: Elections Monitor: Violence and voter fraud proliferates
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/elections-monitor-violence-and-voter-fraud-proliferates
Haiti: Many Haitians have no way to vote
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-522810?ref=feeds/oncnn
many Haitians are having trouble voting because their names are not on the voter rolls.
Taiwan arrests 130 on alleged vote-buying
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/48606?tid=146
UK: Open Rights Group - It's our birthday! Celebrating 5 years of ORG (video)
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2010/its-our-birthday-celebrating-5-years-of-or g
Famous author Neil Gaiman explains what Open Rights Group does
We're in a digital world, we need to protect our civil rights.
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...
AK: Despite Alaska Senate race results, Joe Miller presses on in principle
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/27/AR2010112702896.html
Miller, a tea party favorite who beat Murkoswki in the GOP primary, has alleged bias on the part of state officials as well as voter fraud, arguing that some of the ballots have suspiciously similar handwriting.
...
And he has asked for a hand recount of all the ballots saying the machine-counted votes that went largely for him should receive the same scrutiny - and potentially benefit of the doubt - as the write-in ones cast for Murkowski
AK: Joe Miller Lawsuit Over Lisa Murkowski Write-ins Gets Tangled Up in Side Issues
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/26/joe-miller-lawsuit-over-lisa-murkowski-write-ins-gets-tangled-up-in-side-issues/
AZ: 'Early' voting causes count delays
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_ed24dc19-b440-5953-880b-95b1a970a9ea.html
Ballots Dropped Off at Polls Need to be Verified, Then Recorded
CA: San Leandro mayor won't challenge election, but won't concede, either
http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_16718681
CA: On the perils of 'Instant runoff' voting
A blindfold and a dartboard
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/27/INQT1GEP3A.DTL
Co: Illegal 6-foot barrier blocks Colorado poll watchers
http://coloradovotergroup.blogspot.com/2010/11/illegal-6-foot-barrier-blocks-colorado.html
CO: What if "none of the above" were to win an election?
http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_16718136
CT: How the recount will take place
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/How-the-recount-will-take-place-836087.php
Who are the counters? How can I help?
The point man for the recount is Luther Weeks, the executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Election Audit Coalition, which formed in 2007 after the state switched to optical-scanning voter machines.
FL: Is Palm Beach County's voting system too much paper?
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/is-palm-beach-countys-voting-system-too-much-1075923.html (Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus)says touch screens should be made legal again, which she says is a better system with fewer problems. She wants the county to lobby for the law to be changed and says she will bring it up with the rest of the commission Tuesday.
MN: Will ballot-challenge warfare be waged again? Even with new rules, it's complicated - Recent decision may cause trouble
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16722404?nclick_check=1
MT: Legislator wants to cut 2 paid holidays (Election day and Columbus day)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_6490dada-01c9-5eea-8bad-b93a1dcdc9bf.html Sands said she intends to tie her proposal to another legislator's separate bill to change Montana's current election system to a statewide vote-by-mail system.
NC: Instant runoff not so quick
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/instant-runoff-not-so-quick-182937
The county’s elections board and staff will meet at 10 a.m. Monday inside the auditorium of the Nash County Agriculture Center to count tallies for Court of Appeals Judge candidates Cressie Thigpen and Doug McCullough. They are the two leading vote-getters in this year’s judicial race, which had 11 other candidates.
...
Thigpen garnered 20.3 percent of votes cast, or 395,220 votes, while McCullough captured 15.2 percent, or 295,619 votes
TN: EDITORIAL: Election hiring to be closely watched
http://www.dnj.com/article/20101128/OPINION01/11280314
Rutherford County Republicans face an arduous task in restoring transparency and trust in the County Election Commission following the resignation of Chairman Tom Walker.
Internet Voting Watch
WikiLeaked Diplomatic Cables Confirm China’s Politburo Was Behind Google Hacking Incident http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/28/wikileaked-cables-china-google/
The Google hacking was part of a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and Internet outlaws recruited by the Chinese government. They have broken into American government computers and those of Western allies, the Dalai Lama and American businesses since 2002, cables said.
National
The Big Campaign Finance Story of 2011: An Effective End to Public Financing
http://summaryjudgments.lls.edu/2010/11/it-is-with-great-pleasure.html
As I explained in a June post at the Election Law Blog, I expect the Court to not only take this case, but to reverse the Ninth Circuit and strike down the Arizona public financing system.
International
Egypt: Elections Monitor: Violence and voter fraud proliferates
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/elections-monitor-violence-and-voter-fraud-proliferates
Haiti: Many Haitians have no way to vote
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-522810?ref=feeds/oncnn
many Haitians are having trouble voting because their names are not on the voter rolls.
Taiwan arrests 130 on alleged vote-buying
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/48606?tid=146
UK: Open Rights Group - It's our birthday! Celebrating 5 years of ORG (video)
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2010/its-our-birthday-celebrating-5-years-of-or g
Famous author Neil Gaiman explains what Open Rights Group does
We're in a digital world, we need to protect our civil rights.
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, November 26, 2010
New York, Colorado vote tabulator troubles. Internet Vote hacked - for Palin?
Alaska GOP repudiates all of Joe Miller vote count allegations...Open Records request for Georgia election data denied...Minnesota starts recount of gubernatorial election Monday..Was internet vote for 'Dancing with the Stars' rigged?. In real internet elections Canadian citizens in Township of Huron-Kinloss council worried more about system crashes or not getting to vote rather than tampering...John Sebes of TrustTheVote writes about Colorado & New York tabulator troubles...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AK: Murkowski argues election delay could cost seniority
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-Murkowski+argues+election+delay+could+cost+seniority%20
&id=10439318&instance=blogs_editors_desk http://tinyurl.com/2793jwr
Murkowski responded ...by filing as an intervener, saying she could suffer a "gap in service" if she isn't sworn in with her colleagues on Jan. 3, 2011.
AK: Alaska lieutenant governor calls Miller's lawsuit over write-in ballots 'baseless' http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/130655-alaska-lt-gov-calls-millers-lawsuit-baseless "...the state courts have erred on the side of enfranchising voters when their intent is clear," Campbell said.
AK: ALASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFERS POINT BY POINT REPUDIATION AGAINST JOE MILLER'S CHARGES OF PROBLEMS IN ALASKA VOTE COUNT http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018088.html
AL: R.I.P. -- ANNIE LEE COOPER
http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006481.html
The Selma Times-Journal reports: Annie Lee Cooper, a civil rights hero, died Wednesday afternoon at Vaughan Regional Medical Center. She was 100 years old.
Cooper became known worldwide in 1965 for a confrontation with Sheriff James G. Clark.
AL: Voting Rights Act still vital, representatives of Shelby County blacks tell judge
http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2010/11/voting_rights_act_still_vital.html The law, in part, requires certain areas of the country with a history of voter discrimination to have their voting-related activities pre-screened by the Justice Department to ensure minority voters are not disenfranchised.
CA: Cooley concedes California attorney general race to Harris
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/11/24/cooley-concedes-california-attorney-general-race-h/ Facing a more than 50,000 vote deficit, with a little over 100,000 votes to count, Cooley conceded in a morning telephone call
...
In a statement, the Harris campaign said the Democrat would wait until the vote count concludes next week before she declares victory.
CA: Ballots mislaid in Indian Wells (absentee ballots, Riverside County)
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101122/NEWS0301/11220305/
1006/NEWS01/Ballots+mislaid+in+Indian+Wells http://tinyurl.com/2fx2se6 The Desert Sun learned last week that 137 vote-by-mail ballots from an Indian Wells precinct were mistakenly stored away with unused ballots so their results weren't reported until 10 days after the election.
CA: Final Sonoma County votes in; school bonds win
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101124/ARTICLES/101129760/1349?Title=Final-Sonoma-County-votes-in
CA: Federal voting rights cited in Watsonville Council appointment lawsuit: Lawyers says plaintiffs seek to deprive District 2 people of representation
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16683722
CO: Canvass board members withdraw certification
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1393 SAGUACHE — After meeting all day Friday Nov. 19 to audit the contentious Nov. 2 election and signing election certification documents then forwarded to the Secretary of State (SOS), four canvass board members withdrew their signatures on Monday.
...
“In every instance,” the letter continues, “we were either informed that those reports were not available, that the data from Nov. 2 was no longer available as it had been corrupted, or that we, as a canvass board, did not have the authority to make those requests — including the request for a hand count as was made numerous times. Reports of election results by precinct were not provided to many of the canvass board members until shortly before we convened on Friday, Nov.19, making it virtually impossible to independently assess the outcomes.
CO: Saguache County voting machine reviewed (The ES&S M650 high speed scanner)
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1392
CO: Tabulator Troubles in Colorado
http://www.trustthevote.org/tabulator-troubles-in-colorado What this boils down to for me is that current voting system products’ Tabulators are not up to correctly doing some seemingly simple tasks correctly, when operated by ordinary election officials.
CO: Raising ID requirements endangers voter access (2 letters)
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2010/11/24/raising-id-requirements-endangers-voter-access-2-letters/11233/
CT: Conn. certifies down-to-the-wire election
Allegations dog Bridgeport tally http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2010/11/
25/conn_certifies_down_to_the_wire_election/ http://tinyurl.com/2vpqmru
GA: Open Records request for Georgia election data denied
http://valdostadailytimes.com/todays-top-stories/x1455938574/Open-Records-request-for-Georgia-election-data-denied The request sought to preserve two voting machines from the general election along with a copy of a county server and its election results database. The requested items would have allowed a public test of the voting machines to help verify the Election Day counting accuracy of the equipment.
GA: Two McIntosh County women charged with election violations(absentee ballot fraud)
They're suspected of mishandling ballots. http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2010-11-23/story/two-mcintosh-county-women-charged-election-violations
HI: Delivery of overseas absentee ballots explained
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/543265/Delivery-of-overseas-absentee-ballots-explained.html?nav=18 We urge overseas voters to apply for absentee ballots as soon as the law allows and to remember to supply election officials with sufficient address information to assure delivery of their ballots in the foreign country where they reside.
IN: St. Joseph County election recount now under way (close election results)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20101123/News01/101129698/1129/News
A five-member recount commission is hand counting ballots cast for county clerk and county assessor in the Nov. 2 election
IN: Election results impounded Wednesday (for manual recount)
http://www.browncountyindiana.com/index.php?id=6206
The bailiff of Brown Circuit Court is impounding election materials this Wednesday afternoon in advance of a recount hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29.
KY: Lawsuit says dead people, felons voted in Magoffin election (absentee ballots)
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/24/1537997/lawsuit-says-dead-people-felons.html
Bribery and votes by felons and dead people contaminated the November general election in Magoffin County, two losing candidates have charged in lawsuits.
Sheriff Randall Bob Jordan and John P. Montgomery, who ran for judge-executive, said in the court actions that a man allied with their opponents paid "numerous voters" at least $100 each to buy their votes.
KY: Lawsuits Claim Vote Buying in Magoffin County
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Lawsuits_Claim_Vote_Buying_
in_Magoffin_County__110407704.html http://tinyurl.com/39v54gv
MI: Bay County election officials schedule a second recount for Garfield Township road millage http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/11/bay_county_election_officials_1.html The Bay County Board of Canvassers met this past Tuesday to conduct the recount, but were unable to do so when it was determined that the number of ballots in hand — 684 — did not match the number of ballots certified on election night— 683.
MN: Minnesota election: Recount ordered
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/blog/2010/11/minnesota-election-recount-ordered/
The state’s Canvassing Board says it will begin hand-counting the 2.1 million ballots cast in this month’s gubernatorial election.
MN: Minnesota recount, the last one, was relatively inexpensive Pew study finds
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/11/24/23672/minnesota_
recount_the_last_one_was_relatively_inexpensive_pew_study_finds
http://tinyurl.com/34gx2ph
MN: Election board in recount balancing act
http://www.woodburybulletin.com/event/article/id/36722/group/homepage/
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board ordered a statewide recount in the governor's race Monday while trying to balance campaigns' rights to challenge local election decisions with limiting frivolous challenges.
MN: Minn. justices deny GOP effort to change gov tally
http://topnews360.tmcnet.com/topics/associated-press/articles/2010/11/25/120888-minn-justices-deny-gop-effort-change-gov-tally.htm
MN: Ballot counters hope Minnesotans learned their lesson
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/184566/ Minnesotans remember all too well the days, weeks, months of squabbling over ballots two years ag
NC: N.C. House candidate concedes contested race (NC House District 45)
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/24/article/nc_house_candidate_concedes_contested_race
GOP hopeful Jackie Warner said in a statement Wednesday that she decided to withdraw her election challenge because the process would be costly to both her campaign and to taxpayers. She still believes that problems with touch-screen voting machines may have cost her the election.
NV: Voting-machine age could be an issue
http://www.rgj.com/article/20101124/NEWS/11240339/1321 Complaints of voting irregularities might be attributed to the age of Nevada's fleet of electronic voting machines, Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller said Tuesday.
NY: Tabulator Technology Troubles
http://www.trustthevote.org/tabulator-technology-troubles But some canny readers are probably wondering about a simpler question. If the data was on the sticks, why not simply copy the files off the stick using a typical PC, and examine the contents of the files directly?...Answer: the voting system software is set up to prevent direct examination, that’s why!
NY: Defending The New Voting Machines (with youtube video)
http://www.capitaltonight.com/2010/11/defending-the-new-voting-machines/
Bo Lipari thinks the new machines are getting a bad rap and he’s reminding us now that those old lever machines were far from perfect.
NY: Count leaves Grisanti with 527-vote lead (Erie County)
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/albany/article263824.ece The 3-week-old undecided election now will shift to a Niagara Falls courtroom Monday, when State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso could decide the fate of a few hundred ballots that have been challenged.
NY: Affidavits provide details of absentee ballot investigation
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1851181.shtml?cat=300
n a statement, Democrat Anthony DeFiglio, long involved in politics, said that he was well aware that absentee ballots would never be received by the people they had gotten signatures from, but that this is a political strategy used by both sides to get control of a third party line.
"The people who are targeted live in low income housing and there is a sense that they are a lot less likely to ask any questions at a later date," he said, according to the statement.
NY: DOCUMENTS: Rensselaer County grand jury to hear voter fraud case beginning Dec. 7 http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/11/21/news/doc4ce8b82bb674a202378140.txt
..nearly 50 voters who claim absentee ballots were illegally cast in their name...
NY: Silver Bullet: The Executive Order That Would Save Lots of Money, and Improve Efficiency and Performance Too http://reformny.blogspot.com/2010/11/silver-bullet-using-executive-order-to.html New York's registration system is a mess. It's costly, inefficient, and year after year, New York leads the country in complaints from people who try to vote, but for some reason don't show up on the voter rolls.
OH: Cincinnati appeals court blocks judge vote probe
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101124/NEWS0108/311240043/Appeals-court-blocks-judge-vote-probe
A panel of federal judges will consider whether to do away with her order altogether.
...
Hunter's lawyer argued that many of the 849 provisional ballots tossed out by the board of elections may have been the result of poll worker error and should have been included in the official count.
OH: TEA Party head cites flaws with voting machines (complaints of vote flipping)
http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/4937018 Tom Zawistowski, head of the Portage County TEA Party, is questioning the accuracy of the touch-screen voting machines used in the most recent election.
TN: Putnam Co. State Senate Candidate Contesting Election
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13553680 One reason Steakley is challenging the results is because it was revealed two weeks ago some of Putnam County's voting machines had been tampered with.
TX: County to replace voting equipment
$19 million purchase comes after machines were destroyed by fire
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7308772.html
The new order will include 4,612 eSlate voting machines..
TX: It’s time for Democrats to give in on voter ID bill (opinion)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7311705.html
Of course, the debate over voter ID is completely disingenuous on both sides.
...
I am particularly concerned about the effect on seniors who may have given up their driver's licenses. Perhaps a blanket exemption for seniors would be a good idea.
WA: Pierce County race among 3 set for recounts
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/11/23/1450468/pierce-county-race-among-3-set.html
WA: Machine recount set for December in Issaquah legislative race
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/11/24/machine-recount-set-for-december-in-issaquah-legislative-race/
WA: Group seeks to purge alleged illegals from voter rolls; officials say no proof
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/11/24/1738278/group-seeks-to-purge-alleged-illegals.html
King County...The group wants information on people who were disqualified from serving on juries, because it says those same disqualifications likely mean they shouldn't legally be able to vote in the state
Internet Voting Watch
Canada: Huron-Kinloss Twp. disappointed with E-voting system
http://www.lucknowsentinel.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2860036 Township of Huron-Kinloss council is disappointed and upset with the E-voting systems it used during the October 2010 election.
Problems ranged from hundreds of missed names on the voters list, voters being "booted" off the telephone or internet voting systems due to the time expiring and the many voters left wondering if their cast vote was acknowledged or not.
'Dancing with the Stars' voting hacked for Palin?
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20023485-71.html
National
The politics of cell phones
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/11/the_politics_of_cell_phones.html There has been much debate in recent years over whether telephone surveys conducted only on landlines have produced distorted findings..
Provisional Voting: Fail-Safe Voting or Trapdoor to Disenfranchisement
http://www.advancementproject.org/sites/default/files/Provisional-Ballot-Report-Final-9-16-08_0.pdf
Report by the Advancement Project
International
Afghanistan: Election flap heats up in Afghanistan
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7311486.html
Once the investigation is completed — hopefully within a month — the results will be handed to the Supreme Court, according to Nazari. A Western diplomatic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the delicate political issue, said the Supreme Court had the authority to issue rulings that could change the outcome of certain races.
India: EVMs lack credibility: Jaya to Election Commission
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4631007
Taiwan: Jail looms after Facebook `vote sale' gag
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=3&art_id=105313&sid=30419866&con_type=1&d_str=20101125&fc=4
UK: Open Rights Group Report: ELECTRONIC VOTING AND ELECTRONIC COUNTING
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/ourwork/annual-reports/annual-report-2010/electronic-voting-and-electronic-counting
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
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=============================================
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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...
AK: Murkowski argues election delay could cost seniority
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?blog-entry-Murkowski+argues+election+delay+could+cost+seniority%20
&id=10439318&instance=blogs_editors_desk http://tinyurl.com/2793jwr
Murkowski responded ...by filing as an intervener, saying she could suffer a "gap in service" if she isn't sworn in with her colleagues on Jan. 3, 2011.
AK: Alaska lieutenant governor calls Miller's lawsuit over write-in ballots 'baseless' http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/130655-alaska-lt-gov-calls-millers-lawsuit-baseless "...the state courts have erred on the side of enfranchising voters when their intent is clear," Campbell said.
AK: ALASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY OFFERS POINT BY POINT REPUDIATION AGAINST JOE MILLER'S CHARGES OF PROBLEMS IN ALASKA VOTE COUNT http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018088.html
AL: R.I.P. -- ANNIE LEE COOPER
http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006481.html
The Selma Times-Journal reports: Annie Lee Cooper, a civil rights hero, died Wednesday afternoon at Vaughan Regional Medical Center. She was 100 years old.
Cooper became known worldwide in 1965 for a confrontation with Sheriff James G. Clark.
AL: Voting Rights Act still vital, representatives of Shelby County blacks tell judge
http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2010/11/voting_rights_act_still_vital.html The law, in part, requires certain areas of the country with a history of voter discrimination to have their voting-related activities pre-screened by the Justice Department to ensure minority voters are not disenfranchised.
CA: Cooley concedes California attorney general race to Harris
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/11/24/cooley-concedes-california-attorney-general-race-h/ Facing a more than 50,000 vote deficit, with a little over 100,000 votes to count, Cooley conceded in a morning telephone call
...
In a statement, the Harris campaign said the Democrat would wait until the vote count concludes next week before she declares victory.
CA: Ballots mislaid in Indian Wells (absentee ballots, Riverside County)
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101122/NEWS0301/11220305/
1006/NEWS01/Ballots+mislaid+in+Indian+Wells http://tinyurl.com/2fx2se6 The Desert Sun learned last week that 137 vote-by-mail ballots from an Indian Wells precinct were mistakenly stored away with unused ballots so their results weren't reported until 10 days after the election.
CA: Final Sonoma County votes in; school bonds win
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101124/ARTICLES/101129760/1349?Title=Final-Sonoma-County-votes-in
CA: Federal voting rights cited in Watsonville Council appointment lawsuit: Lawyers says plaintiffs seek to deprive District 2 people of representation
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16683722
CO: Canvass board members withdraw certification
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1393 SAGUACHE — After meeting all day Friday Nov. 19 to audit the contentious Nov. 2 election and signing election certification documents then forwarded to the Secretary of State (SOS), four canvass board members withdrew their signatures on Monday.
...
“In every instance,” the letter continues, “we were either informed that those reports were not available, that the data from Nov. 2 was no longer available as it had been corrupted, or that we, as a canvass board, did not have the authority to make those requests — including the request for a hand count as was made numerous times. Reports of election results by precinct were not provided to many of the canvass board members until shortly before we convened on Friday, Nov.19, making it virtually impossible to independently assess the outcomes.
CO: Saguache County voting machine reviewed (The ES&S M650 high speed scanner)
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1392
CO: Tabulator Troubles in Colorado
http://www.trustthevote.org/tabulator-troubles-in-colorado What this boils down to for me is that current voting system products’ Tabulators are not up to correctly doing some seemingly simple tasks correctly, when operated by ordinary election officials.
CO: Raising ID requirements endangers voter access (2 letters)
http://blogs.denverpost.com/eletters/2010/11/24/raising-id-requirements-endangers-voter-access-2-letters/11233/
CT: Conn. certifies down-to-the-wire election
Allegations dog Bridgeport tally http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2010/11/
25/conn_certifies_down_to_the_wire_election/ http://tinyurl.com/2vpqmru
GA: Open Records request for Georgia election data denied
http://valdostadailytimes.com/todays-top-stories/x1455938574/Open-Records-request-for-Georgia-election-data-denied The request sought to preserve two voting machines from the general election along with a copy of a county server and its election results database. The requested items would have allowed a public test of the voting machines to help verify the Election Day counting accuracy of the equipment.
GA: Two McIntosh County women charged with election violations(absentee ballot fraud)
They're suspected of mishandling ballots. http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2010-11-23/story/two-mcintosh-county-women-charged-election-violations
HI: Delivery of overseas absentee ballots explained
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/543265/Delivery-of-overseas-absentee-ballots-explained.html?nav=18 We urge overseas voters to apply for absentee ballots as soon as the law allows and to remember to supply election officials with sufficient address information to assure delivery of their ballots in the foreign country where they reside.
IN: St. Joseph County election recount now under way (close election results)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20101123/News01/101129698/1129/News
A five-member recount commission is hand counting ballots cast for county clerk and county assessor in the Nov. 2 election
IN: Election results impounded Wednesday (for manual recount)
http://www.browncountyindiana.com/index.php?id=6206
The bailiff of Brown Circuit Court is impounding election materials this Wednesday afternoon in advance of a recount hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29.
KY: Lawsuit says dead people, felons voted in Magoffin election (absentee ballots)
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/11/24/1537997/lawsuit-says-dead-people-felons.html
Bribery and votes by felons and dead people contaminated the November general election in Magoffin County, two losing candidates have charged in lawsuits.
Sheriff Randall Bob Jordan and John P. Montgomery, who ran for judge-executive, said in the court actions that a man allied with their opponents paid "numerous voters" at least $100 each to buy their votes.
KY: Lawsuits Claim Vote Buying in Magoffin County
http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/Lawsuits_Claim_Vote_Buying_
in_Magoffin_County__110407704.html http://tinyurl.com/39v54gv
MI: Bay County election officials schedule a second recount for Garfield Township road millage http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/11/bay_county_election_officials_1.html The Bay County Board of Canvassers met this past Tuesday to conduct the recount, but were unable to do so when it was determined that the number of ballots in hand — 684 — did not match the number of ballots certified on election night— 683.
MN: Minnesota election: Recount ordered
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/blog/2010/11/minnesota-election-recount-ordered/
The state’s Canvassing Board says it will begin hand-counting the 2.1 million ballots cast in this month’s gubernatorial election.
MN: Minnesota recount, the last one, was relatively inexpensive Pew study finds
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2010/11/24/23672/minnesota_
recount_the_last_one_was_relatively_inexpensive_pew_study_finds
http://tinyurl.com/34gx2ph
MN: Election board in recount balancing act
http://www.woodburybulletin.com/event/article/id/36722/group/homepage/
The Minnesota State Canvassing Board ordered a statewide recount in the governor's race Monday while trying to balance campaigns' rights to challenge local election decisions with limiting frivolous challenges.
MN: Minn. justices deny GOP effort to change gov tally
http://topnews360.tmcnet.com/topics/associated-press/articles/2010/11/25/120888-minn-justices-deny-gop-effort-change-gov-tally.htm
MN: Ballot counters hope Minnesotans learned their lesson
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/184566/ Minnesotans remember all too well the days, weeks, months of squabbling over ballots two years ag
NC: N.C. House candidate concedes contested race (NC House District 45)
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/11/24/article/nc_house_candidate_concedes_contested_race
GOP hopeful Jackie Warner said in a statement Wednesday that she decided to withdraw her election challenge because the process would be costly to both her campaign and to taxpayers. She still believes that problems with touch-screen voting machines may have cost her the election.
NV: Voting-machine age could be an issue
http://www.rgj.com/article/20101124/NEWS/11240339/1321 Complaints of voting irregularities might be attributed to the age of Nevada's fleet of electronic voting machines, Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller said Tuesday.
NY: Tabulator Technology Troubles
http://www.trustthevote.org/tabulator-technology-troubles But some canny readers are probably wondering about a simpler question. If the data was on the sticks, why not simply copy the files off the stick using a typical PC, and examine the contents of the files directly?...Answer: the voting system software is set up to prevent direct examination, that’s why!
NY: Defending The New Voting Machines (with youtube video)
http://www.capitaltonight.com/2010/11/defending-the-new-voting-machines/
Bo Lipari thinks the new machines are getting a bad rap and he’s reminding us now that those old lever machines were far from perfect.
NY: Count leaves Grisanti with 527-vote lead (Erie County)
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/albany/article263824.ece The 3-week-old undecided election now will shift to a Niagara Falls courtroom Monday, when State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso could decide the fate of a few hundred ballots that have been challenged.
NY: Affidavits provide details of absentee ballot investigation
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S1851181.shtml?cat=300
n a statement, Democrat Anthony DeFiglio, long involved in politics, said that he was well aware that absentee ballots would never be received by the people they had gotten signatures from, but that this is a political strategy used by both sides to get control of a third party line.
"The people who are targeted live in low income housing and there is a sense that they are a lot less likely to ask any questions at a later date," he said, according to the statement.
NY: DOCUMENTS: Rensselaer County grand jury to hear voter fraud case beginning Dec. 7 http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2010/11/21/news/doc4ce8b82bb674a202378140.txt
..nearly 50 voters who claim absentee ballots were illegally cast in their name...
NY: Silver Bullet: The Executive Order That Would Save Lots of Money, and Improve Efficiency and Performance Too http://reformny.blogspot.com/2010/11/silver-bullet-using-executive-order-to.html New York's registration system is a mess. It's costly, inefficient, and year after year, New York leads the country in complaints from people who try to vote, but for some reason don't show up on the voter rolls.
OH: Cincinnati appeals court blocks judge vote probe
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101124/NEWS0108/311240043/Appeals-court-blocks-judge-vote-probe
A panel of federal judges will consider whether to do away with her order altogether.
...
Hunter's lawyer argued that many of the 849 provisional ballots tossed out by the board of elections may have been the result of poll worker error and should have been included in the official count.
OH: TEA Party head cites flaws with voting machines (complaints of vote flipping)
http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/4937018 Tom Zawistowski, head of the Portage County TEA Party, is questioning the accuracy of the touch-screen voting machines used in the most recent election.
TN: Putnam Co. State Senate Candidate Contesting Election
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=13553680 One reason Steakley is challenging the results is because it was revealed two weeks ago some of Putnam County's voting machines had been tampered with.
TX: County to replace voting equipment
$19 million purchase comes after machines were destroyed by fire
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7308772.html
The new order will include 4,612 eSlate voting machines..
TX: It’s time for Democrats to give in on voter ID bill (opinion)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7311705.html
Of course, the debate over voter ID is completely disingenuous on both sides.
...
I am particularly concerned about the effect on seniors who may have given up their driver's licenses. Perhaps a blanket exemption for seniors would be a good idea.
WA: Pierce County race among 3 set for recounts
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/11/23/1450468/pierce-county-race-among-3-set.html
WA: Machine recount set for December in Issaquah legislative race
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/11/24/machine-recount-set-for-december-in-issaquah-legislative-race/
WA: Group seeks to purge alleged illegals from voter rolls; officials say no proof
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/11/24/1738278/group-seeks-to-purge-alleged-illegals.html
King County...The group wants information on people who were disqualified from serving on juries, because it says those same disqualifications likely mean they shouldn't legally be able to vote in the state
Internet Voting Watch
Canada: Huron-Kinloss Twp. disappointed with E-voting system
http://www.lucknowsentinel.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2860036 Township of Huron-Kinloss council is disappointed and upset with the E-voting systems it used during the October 2010 election.
Problems ranged from hundreds of missed names on the voters list, voters being "booted" off the telephone or internet voting systems due to the time expiring and the many voters left wondering if their cast vote was acknowledged or not.
'Dancing with the Stars' voting hacked for Palin?
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20023485-71.html
National
The politics of cell phones
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/11/the_politics_of_cell_phones.html There has been much debate in recent years over whether telephone surveys conducted only on landlines have produced distorted findings..
Provisional Voting: Fail-Safe Voting or Trapdoor to Disenfranchisement
http://www.advancementproject.org/sites/default/files/Provisional-Ballot-Report-Final-9-16-08_0.pdf
Report by the Advancement Project
International
Afghanistan: Election flap heats up in Afghanistan
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7311486.html
Once the investigation is completed — hopefully within a month — the results will be handed to the Supreme Court, according to Nazari. A Western diplomatic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the delicate political issue, said the Supreme Court had the authority to issue rulings that could change the outcome of certain races.
India: EVMs lack credibility: Jaya to Election Commission
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4631007
Taiwan: Jail looms after Facebook `vote sale' gag
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=3&art_id=105313&sid=30419866&con_type=1&d_str=20101125&fc=4
UK: Open Rights Group Report: ELECTRONIC VOTING AND ELECTRONIC COUNTING
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/ourwork/annual-reports/annual-report-2010/electronic-voting-and-electronic-counting
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
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
NY Count the ballots - 'best way to settle disputes.' Bridgeport Conn to have recount
Indiana voter describes "Voting as a deaf blind person" ..Bridgeport Conn to allow recount...Colorado Sunshine law partly cloudy after Election Day..Palm Beach Election sup changes mind,will consider new modems instead of whole new voting system. Modems are $1,500 each??.Minn. canvas board launches recount, battle over rules...Nevada SoS says time to replace old voting machines...New York: "It’s time to count the paper ballots. That is the best way to settle these disputes and get on with governing." ~NY Times...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
Voting as a deaf blind person (the challenges she faced)
http://hearnoevil-seenoevil.blogspot.com/2010/11/voting-as-deaf-blind-person.html
So yeah- for the time being I'll still vote at the polls, however I reluctantly realize that my time is drawing near, much sooner than I care to admit, where I am probably going to have to retreat to the ranks of others who vote via absentee ballot in order to perform my duty as a citizen to vote.
AK: Miller Brings Alaska Senate Election Lawsuit To State Court
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020614695?Miller%20Brings%20Alaska%20Senate%20Election%20Lawsuit%20To%20State%20Court
CA: STILL ALMOST 500,000 VOTES LEFT TO COUNT IN CA IN UNDECIDED AG RACE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018062.html
CA: San Leandro mayor's race drawing to a close
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_16683848
Santos has until Wednesday to challenge
CA: Our View: Of instant runoffs and our democracy (Pasadena)
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_16688670
CO: Sunshine law partly cloudy after Election Day - The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_16494067#ixzz148ysNuLw
When public records are withheld, they cease to be open public records. And with a trend in Colorado to prevent citizen and media oversight and verification of election results, the electorate should be asking, "Are these our elections?"
CO: SOS-elect Gessler dubbed ‘real activist in support of voter suppression’
http://coloradoindependent.com/68221/sos-elect-gessler-dubbed-real-activist-in-support-of-voter-suppression
CT: City agrees to unseal ballots for recount by Post, citizen groups (Bridgeport)
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/City-agrees-to-unseal-ballots-for-recount-by-826193.php A recount "will answer the questions that a lot of people are asking," said Luther Weeks, executive director of CTVotersCount.org and the CT Citizen Election Audit Coalition. "It will resolve those questions."
FL: Bucher changes mind: Now willing to fix voting system instead of buying new one
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/bucher-changes-mind-now-willing-to-fix-voting-1070029.html
She said she is now telling the company that sold the county its equipment to show her modem options - options she had previously called too unreliable to trust with voting results.
...
Bucher said she's been told each modem would cost about $1,500 plus an install fee. She thinks she might need as many as 450 or 500.
FL: Osceola Complaint attached (Contest-of-Election Lawsuit)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electionreform/message/14372
This contest-of-election complaint (attached) filed yesterday in Osceola District Court includes absentee ballot fraud (individuals shown as having voted by absentee ballot who never voted; and people who voted for one candidate but are shown as voting for the other candidate); memory card failures; the forceful and extensive shaking of voting machines; the unlawful rejection of Provisional ballots; the failure to count military overseas ballots; the failure of the optical scans to read certain colors and types of ink; and much more.
GA: Fraudsters Target Absentee Ballots (McIntosh County)
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/11/23/fraudsters-target-absentee-ballots The women were charged with three felony counts of mishandling absentee ballots, after a local postal worker tipped off authorities that one of them mailed a stack of ballots before the November 2nd general election.
...
Kemp says people trying to throw elections manipulate absentee ballots, more often in rural counties with smaller populations:
Guam: MUST SEE VIDEO. Gutierrez Files Lawsuits Seeking to Overturn Results of 2010 Gubernatorial Election http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ABcuUy7xnw&feature=player_embedded Cites every sort of voter disenfranchisement and conflicts of interest. Non citizens, underage voters, totals changed, undervotes were rejected by machines, machine recount mutilitated & chewed up ballots.
Guam: Amended Complaints Filed In Gutierrez Election Lawsuit
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9544:amended-complaints-filed-in-gutierrez-election-lawsuit&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 Read the Amended Complaint Filed in District Court
MA: Voter fraud charges alleged - Activist group singled out
http://www.telegram.com/article/20101123/NEWS/11230455/-1/NEWS06
MA: Group defends election activities, denies allegations of voter fraud
http://www.telegram.com/article/20101123/NEWS/101129878/1116
MN: Supreme court denies Emmer, GOP petition
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74521/supreme-court-denies-emmer-gop-petition
“The time to challenge the voting process is before the election,” he said. “I would urge this court to look at the fact… that this regulation has been used for a long time.” ~ Mark Elias, attorney
MN: Minn. canvassing board launches recount with battle over rules
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=883971 and scheduled the recount in the governor's race and three tight state legislative races for Monday, Nov. 29th.
...
The board decided to allow a subset of "frivolous challenges" to be set aside apart from other challenges. Judge Reilly said she wanted to make sure the tracking of those ballots made it clear which campaign issued the frivolous challenge.
...
Secretary Ritchie said that put the board in a bind, because the new law stipulated that the canvassing board can't accept frivolous ballots.
"The last time, when lawyers got to decide which ballots were frivolous it was disastrous."
MN: Emmer will ask Canvassing Board to square voter tallies
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/23/emmer-recount-supreme-court-defeat-dayton-governor/ Now, attorneys for Republican Tom Emmer are expected to ask the five member State Canvassing Board to do what the Supreme Court didn't -- require local elections officials to match up the number of ballots cast with the number of voters who signed in on Election Day.
NC: NC Elections Board Certifies Voting Results
http://www.wxii12.com/politics/25896364/detail.html
The board did not certify results of two contests. One is the state House District 45 race in Cumberland County. Republican Jackie Warner unofficially lost her race to Democratic state Rep. Rick Glazier by 46 votes, but she's challenging the process.
NJ: O’Connor to challenge votes in S. Amboy race
http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2010-11-25/Front_Page/OConnor_to_challenge_votes_in_S_Amboy_race.html
A recount held Friday by the Middlesex County Board of Elections reaffirmed Fred Henry’s single-vote victory in South Amboy’s mayoral election.
NV: Secretary of state: We need new voting machines (machines are 7-10 yrs old)
http://www.lvrj.com/news/secretary-of-state-we-need-new-voting-machines-110198379.html Secretary of State Ross Miller said Tuesday that the 7,000 electronic voting machines used in Nevada elections are aging and should be replaced.
...
The secretary of state hopes Congress eventually will fund the cost of replacing voting machines. There is $400 million left in a Help America Vote Act fund to cover replacing machines, he said.
NY: Count the Votes
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/opinion/23tues4.html?_r=1
A recount is hugely labor-intensive. But in these very close elections, it is best the way to guarantee a fair vote and a comparatively swift resolution.
NY: Judge Sets Deadline for Decision in 37th Senate District
http://larchmont.patch.com/articles/judge-sets-deadline-for-decision-in-37th-senate-district The state's top judge has set a Dec. 20 deadline for three tight Senate races to be decided. Among them is a bid in the 37th Senate District, in which Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer is currently leading GOP candidate Bob Cohen by 600 votes.
NY: Court Calls in Referee for 7th Senate District
Appointee to oversee, report to court on disputed absentee ballots.
http://mineola.patch.com/articles/court-calls-in-referee-for-7th-senate-district
NY: Dan Maffei concedes; Ann Marie Buerkle wins 25th Congressional seat
http://www.henriettapost.com/feature/x1966815411/Dan-Maffei-concedes-Ann-Marie-Buerkle-wins-25th-Congressional-seat ..Dan Maffei has conceded the race for the 25th Congressional District to Ann Marie Buerkle, a Republican newcomer.
NY: Voting machines stir controversy
http://longislandreport.org/voting-machines-stir-controversy/3708
OH: OH SoS Brad's Guest on 'Malloy' Tonight!; MUCH MORE..(6p-9p PT)
MORE, LIVE CHAT DURING SHOW: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8208
OH: Local election fight now in federal court (provisional ballots)
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20101123/NEWS010702/11240330/Local-election-fight-now-in-federal-court It could be weeks, or even months, before the issue of who was elected Nov. 2 to a vacant Hamilton County Juvenile Court judgeship is decided, while a legal tug of war grinds on over which provisional ballots should be counted.
TN: Voting machines outnumber voters
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/23/voting-machines-outnumber-voters/
VA: Voter-fraud charge withdrawn against former Petersburg sheriff's deputy
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/nov/23/pete23-ar-671130/
WV: County Clerk’s staff did job in primary election
http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/551887/County-Clerk-s-staff-did-job-in-primary-election.html?nav=5061 First, the error in the "unofficial" election returns from the May 2010 primary. That error was caused by a glitch in the software used in election reporting and was not isolated to Berkeley County; other counties experienced similar problems.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
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at Twitter http://twitter.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...
Voting as a deaf blind person (the challenges she faced)
http://hearnoevil-seenoevil.blogspot.com/2010/11/voting-as-deaf-blind-person.html
So yeah- for the time being I'll still vote at the polls, however I reluctantly realize that my time is drawing near, much sooner than I care to admit, where I am probably going to have to retreat to the ranks of others who vote via absentee ballot in order to perform my duty as a citizen to vote.
AK: Miller Brings Alaska Senate Election Lawsuit To State Court
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020614695?Miller%20Brings%20Alaska%20Senate%20Election%20Lawsuit%20To%20State%20Court
CA: STILL ALMOST 500,000 VOTES LEFT TO COUNT IN CA IN UNDECIDED AG RACE
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/018062.html
CA: San Leandro mayor's race drawing to a close
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_16683848
Santos has until Wednesday to challenge
CA: Our View: Of instant runoffs and our democracy (Pasadena)
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_16688670
CO: Sunshine law partly cloudy after Election Day - The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_16494067#ixzz148ysNuLw
When public records are withheld, they cease to be open public records. And with a trend in Colorado to prevent citizen and media oversight and verification of election results, the electorate should be asking, "Are these our elections?"
CO: SOS-elect Gessler dubbed ‘real activist in support of voter suppression’
http://coloradoindependent.com/68221/sos-elect-gessler-dubbed-real-activist-in-support-of-voter-suppression
CT: City agrees to unseal ballots for recount by Post, citizen groups (Bridgeport)
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/City-agrees-to-unseal-ballots-for-recount-by-826193.php A recount "will answer the questions that a lot of people are asking," said Luther Weeks, executive director of CTVotersCount.org and the CT Citizen Election Audit Coalition. "It will resolve those questions."
FL: Bucher changes mind: Now willing to fix voting system instead of buying new one
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/bucher-changes-mind-now-willing-to-fix-voting-1070029.html
She said she is now telling the company that sold the county its equipment to show her modem options - options she had previously called too unreliable to trust with voting results.
...
Bucher said she's been told each modem would cost about $1,500 plus an install fee. She thinks she might need as many as 450 or 500.
FL: Osceola Complaint attached (Contest-of-Election Lawsuit)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electionreform/message/14372
This contest-of-election complaint (attached) filed yesterday in Osceola District Court includes absentee ballot fraud (individuals shown as having voted by absentee ballot who never voted; and people who voted for one candidate but are shown as voting for the other candidate); memory card failures; the forceful and extensive shaking of voting machines; the unlawful rejection of Provisional ballots; the failure to count military overseas ballots; the failure of the optical scans to read certain colors and types of ink; and much more.
GA: Fraudsters Target Absentee Ballots (McIntosh County)
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/11/23/fraudsters-target-absentee-ballots The women were charged with three felony counts of mishandling absentee ballots, after a local postal worker tipped off authorities that one of them mailed a stack of ballots before the November 2nd general election.
...
Kemp says people trying to throw elections manipulate absentee ballots, more often in rural counties with smaller populations:
Guam: MUST SEE VIDEO. Gutierrez Files Lawsuits Seeking to Overturn Results of 2010 Gubernatorial Election http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ABcuUy7xnw&feature=player_embedded Cites every sort of voter disenfranchisement and conflicts of interest. Non citizens, underage voters, totals changed, undervotes were rejected by machines, machine recount mutilitated & chewed up ballots.
Guam: Amended Complaints Filed In Gutierrez Election Lawsuit
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9544:amended-complaints-filed-in-gutierrez-election-lawsuit&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 Read the Amended Complaint Filed in District Court
MA: Voter fraud charges alleged - Activist group singled out
http://www.telegram.com/article/20101123/NEWS/11230455/-1/NEWS06
MA: Group defends election activities, denies allegations of voter fraud
http://www.telegram.com/article/20101123/NEWS/101129878/1116
MN: Supreme court denies Emmer, GOP petition
http://minnesotaindependent.com/74521/supreme-court-denies-emmer-gop-petition
“The time to challenge the voting process is before the election,” he said. “I would urge this court to look at the fact… that this regulation has been used for a long time.” ~ Mark Elias, attorney
MN: Minn. canvassing board launches recount with battle over rules
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=883971 and scheduled the recount in the governor's race and three tight state legislative races for Monday, Nov. 29th.
...
The board decided to allow a subset of "frivolous challenges" to be set aside apart from other challenges. Judge Reilly said she wanted to make sure the tracking of those ballots made it clear which campaign issued the frivolous challenge.
...
Secretary Ritchie said that put the board in a bind, because the new law stipulated that the canvassing board can't accept frivolous ballots.
"The last time, when lawyers got to decide which ballots were frivolous it was disastrous."
MN: Emmer will ask Canvassing Board to square voter tallies
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/23/emmer-recount-supreme-court-defeat-dayton-governor/ Now, attorneys for Republican Tom Emmer are expected to ask the five member State Canvassing Board to do what the Supreme Court didn't -- require local elections officials to match up the number of ballots cast with the number of voters who signed in on Election Day.
NC: NC Elections Board Certifies Voting Results
http://www.wxii12.com/politics/25896364/detail.html
The board did not certify results of two contests. One is the state House District 45 race in Cumberland County. Republican Jackie Warner unofficially lost her race to Democratic state Rep. Rick Glazier by 46 votes, but she's challenging the process.
NJ: O’Connor to challenge votes in S. Amboy race
http://suburban.gmnews.com/news/2010-11-25/Front_Page/OConnor_to_challenge_votes_in_S_Amboy_race.html
A recount held Friday by the Middlesex County Board of Elections reaffirmed Fred Henry’s single-vote victory in South Amboy’s mayoral election.
NV: Secretary of state: We need new voting machines (machines are 7-10 yrs old)
http://www.lvrj.com/news/secretary-of-state-we-need-new-voting-machines-110198379.html Secretary of State Ross Miller said Tuesday that the 7,000 electronic voting machines used in Nevada elections are aging and should be replaced.
...
The secretary of state hopes Congress eventually will fund the cost of replacing voting machines. There is $400 million left in a Help America Vote Act fund to cover replacing machines, he said.
NY: Count the Votes
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/opinion/23tues4.html?_r=1
A recount is hugely labor-intensive. But in these very close elections, it is best the way to guarantee a fair vote and a comparatively swift resolution.
NY: Judge Sets Deadline for Decision in 37th Senate District
http://larchmont.patch.com/articles/judge-sets-deadline-for-decision-in-37th-senate-district The state's top judge has set a Dec. 20 deadline for three tight Senate races to be decided. Among them is a bid in the 37th Senate District, in which Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer is currently leading GOP candidate Bob Cohen by 600 votes.
NY: Court Calls in Referee for 7th Senate District
Appointee to oversee, report to court on disputed absentee ballots.
http://mineola.patch.com/articles/court-calls-in-referee-for-7th-senate-district
NY: Dan Maffei concedes; Ann Marie Buerkle wins 25th Congressional seat
http://www.henriettapost.com/feature/x1966815411/Dan-Maffei-concedes-Ann-Marie-Buerkle-wins-25th-Congressional-seat ..Dan Maffei has conceded the race for the 25th Congressional District to Ann Marie Buerkle, a Republican newcomer.
NY: Voting machines stir controversy
http://longislandreport.org/voting-machines-stir-controversy/3708
OH: OH SoS Brad's Guest on 'Malloy' Tonight!; MUCH MORE..(6p-9p PT)
MORE, LIVE CHAT DURING SHOW: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8208
OH: Local election fight now in federal court (provisional ballots)
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20101123/NEWS010702/11240330/Local-election-fight-now-in-federal-court It could be weeks, or even months, before the issue of who was elected Nov. 2 to a vacant Hamilton County Juvenile Court judgeship is decided, while a legal tug of war grinds on over which provisional ballots should be counted.
TN: Voting machines outnumber voters
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/23/voting-machines-outnumber-voters/
VA: Voter-fraud charge withdrawn against former Petersburg sheriff's deputy
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/nov/23/pete23-ar-671130/
WV: County Clerk’s staff did job in primary election
http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/551887/County-Clerk-s-staff-did-job-in-primary-election.html?nav=5061 First, the error in the "unofficial" election returns from the May 2010 primary. That error was caused by a glitch in the software used in election reporting and was not isolated to Berkeley County; other counties experienced similar problems.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
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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
Monday, November 22, 2010
Osceola CO Florida voting machines shaken too hard? E-voting 'vulnerable'
Osceola County candidate sues over election loss, cites irregularities. "While absentee ballots were being scanned, election workers shook the machines vigorously and often, at times even banging the wall with them."..Tues night Brad Friedman radio interview outgoing Ohio Sec of State Jennifer Brunner...NYT: What the Secret Donors Want..No internet voting for Singapore: "The internet platform while convenient is vulnerable to power outage, hacking and service attacks.."~ Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng....
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CA: Editorial: Setting a vote-count standard
http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_16662610 More than two weeks after Election Day, the California Republican Party is pursuing a lawsuit against Contra Costa County over whether vote-count observers have the right to challenge specific signatures on mail-vote ballots.
CA: Ranked-choice voting complaints mount
http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/ranked-choice-voting-complaints-mount-6839
Meanwhile, Oakland election data shows that vote-by-mail voters were far more likely to make mistakes in the mayor’s contest than voters who cast ballots at the polls.
CA: Busy weekend for elections staff: Final results may be available by Thanksgiving
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_16666518 Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Carolyn Crnich said Friday that her office is still sorting through the almost 1,700 provisional ballots that were cast on Election Day, trying to determine if the voters who cast them were eligible and, if so, where they were registered to vote.
CO: State review confirms Myers-Joseph win - Saguache County
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1385&page=72
(County officials initially blocked media from observing claiming meeting was not public. Officials were wrong on legal code & reversed decision after SoS & Colorado Press Assoc. Atty were contacted.)
CO: Election discrepancies explained* Saguache County
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1384
One of the primary issues revolving around the retabulation of the votes cast on Nov. 2 was the cause of the error that resulted in the generation of additional votes.
...
Other than the one error loading the wrong group totals into the mail-in group, King said he did not see any procedural issues in his review of the ERM system log. “My only suggestion is to print the final reports on the 650 itself and use those to verify that the reporting software totals match,” he concluded.
CT: A few bucks for a few more ballots would have changed history
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/A-few-bucks-for-a-few-more-ballots-would-have-823774.php
For less than $1,000, there would have been enough ballots in Bridgeport to handle the flow of voters and there would have been no need to use makeshift photocopies or seek a judge's order to keep a dozen precincts open an additional two hours.
...
Cliff Heintz, who heads the printing operation at Adkins Printing Inc. in New Britain, said that when Bridgeport faxed through its initial request for 21,100, he thought it wasn't going to be enough. "I'm sure that we said that was pretty low," he said, recalling that the price was 30 cents a sheet.
FL: Former Osceola County candidate sues over his election loss
County Commission candidate Armando Ramirez says he lost because of election irregularities http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/os-osceola-elections-lawsuit-20101122,0,1261357.story One of Brett's main contentions has to do with 304 ballots the county's optical scanners didn't read. The machine registers them as "undercounts." Brett thinks that because the margin of victory for Quiñones was only 50 votes, the court should order that those ballots be reviewed for discrepancies and decide whether the election should be voided.
...
While absentee ballots were being scanned, election workers shook the machines vigorously and often, at times even banging the wall with them. At the time, a supervisor of elections spokeswoman said the shaking was intended to prevent paper jams, and that the practice had been approved by the manufacturer.
Guam: Gutierrez Files Lawsuits Seeking to Overturn Results of 2010 Gubernatorial Election http://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9463:20101119kkgutierrez-suit&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 (alleges ballot box tampering and more)
KY: Coursey says only minor problems with election seen*
http://murrayledger.com/news/article_627e5680-f45e-11df-b1cb-001cc4c002e0.html
According to the reports made available by Calloway County Clerk Ray Coursey Jr. some irregularities include some voters failing to report changes of address, some security tags broken but machine security still intact, voters pushing the wrong button when casting a vote and some questioning why straight-ticket party lights did not light up on at least one machine.
...
Some voters continue to dislike the new eslate voting machine.
ME: Rundown of runoff voting options (Opinion)
http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/bdn/Rundown-of-runoff-voting-options,159587
MN: UPDATED: Minnesota high court hears arguments in Minnesota governor race recount http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/299367/group/homepage/ The Minnesota Supreme Court questioned both sides harshly about Tom Emmer's governor's race case that claims not all 4,136 precincts' election judges made sure the number of ballots cast in the Nov. 2 election matched the number of people who voted.
MN: Prosecutor group says voter fraud probes costly
http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=13549740
Kingrey says he knows of only one case that was prosecuted but then dismissed
MN: Report: Photo ID requirement would not prevent voter fraud
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/22/voter-fraud-report-photo-id/
Kathy Bonnifield, the report co-author, said county attorneys investigated 1,500 allegations of ineligible voting in the 2008 election.
"The only type of conviction was due to felons," she said. "In total, 26 people were convicted because they had not completed their sentence and voted, while an additional 12 convictions were because felons registered to vote, but they did not vote."
Press conference video at this link http://theuptake.org/2010/11/22/citizens-for-election-integrity-examine-voter-fraud-allegations/
NC: Elections board denies Warner's request for new election
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/11/22/1050006?sac=Home
Warner lost to state Rep. Rick Glazier, a Democrat, by 46 votes for N.C. House District 45.
...
She also had a sworn statement from Douglas W. Jones, an associate professor at the University of Iowa's computer science department, that said between a third and two-thirds of voters using touch screens don't notice errors they have made ...
...
Warner lost to Glazier by 123 votes from ballots - almost exclusively using touch-screen machines - cast during one stop. She won by 37 votes among those cast on Election Day, not including provisional or absentee ballots received in the mail. Among provisional ballots, she lost; among absentee ballots by mail, she won.
NC: Pender County: Every vote counts!
http://watchdogs.blogs.starnewsonline.com/14187/pender-county-every-vote-counts/
But a further review found 19 of the 22 provisional ballots in questions actually did include real addresses, some that were apparently so new that they had yet to be inputted into the state’s computer system.
NC: Editorial - Money from anonymous groups has grip on elections
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20101121/ARTICLES/101129987/1108/editorial?Title=Editorial-Money-from-anonymous-groups-has-grip-on-elections
The public has no idea who is behind some of the most expensive efforts to influence elections.
NH: Ballot machines good example of appropriate technology (Opinion)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/900330-196/ballot-machines-good-example-of--appropriate.html
NJ: Freeholder recount set for Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2010/11/freeholder_recount_set_for_nov.html Voting machines and over 7,000 paper ballots will be recounted for the freeholder race here in Gloucester County, said Stephanie Salvatore, superintendent of elections.
NJ: Assemblywoman Quigley responds to letter that said vote-by-mail leads to abuse
http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/10407234/article--Assemblywoman-Quigley-responds-to-letter-that-said-vote-by-mail-leads-to-abuse---?instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column
NY: Ritchie files lawsuit in 48th District election
http://www.valleynewsonline.com/viewnews.php?newsid=85780&id=1 New York State Senator-elect Patricia Ritchie has filed a lawsuit against the election commissioners in the three counties representing the 48th District and Senator Darrel Aubertine.
The lawsuit seeks to preserve Ritchie’s rights under state Election Law to provide for court review of all ballots, including all emergency ballots, absentee ballots, affidavit ballots, special ballots, federal ballots and military ballots, if necessary.
OH: Tuesday November 23 at 9PM eastern, Brad Friedman to interview Ohio Secretary of State live on the Mike Malloy show. Election admin changes. Will Ohio 2012 be like Ohio 2004? See www.bradblog.com for details and to listen online. Call in!
OH: Hunter sues to stop juvenile court election count* (poll worker error)
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2010/11/22/hunter-sues-to-stop-juvenile-court-election-count/ In the lawsuit, filed by attorney Jennifer Branch, Hunter said there were 849 provisional ballots that the board of elections did not count in the final result because the voters voted in the wrong precinct. Hunter’s lawsuit contends that many of those voters went to the right polling place but to the wrong precinct table; and were not directed by the precinct poll workers to the proper table.
PA: Swearing on Bible may have been inappropriate
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1236458
The church and state collided in Pennsylvania on Election Day.
On November 2, a voter in Fairmont who had changed addresses was asked to swear, with her hand on a Bible, to her new address
TX: Did straight-ticket votes affect Victoria County election?
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/nov/20/gs_election_analysis_112110_117110/?news&local-news The voting trend was less pervasive in Victoria County, at least during the recent election.
TX: Texas Bill to Abolish Straight-Ticket Device on Ballots
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/22/texas-bill-to-abolish-straight-ticket-device-on-ballots/
TX: South Texas recount continues for Rep. Ortiz (hand count in Cameron County)
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/11/house-undecided-races-solomon-ortiz-dan-maffei-/1
WI: Men deserve voting rights hearing, judge says
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/109291274.html
Defendants say justice system has inherent bias
WV: Only 1 W.Va. city applies for vote-by-mail program (Morgantown)
http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/201011220442
Internet Voting Watch
Singapore: Elections Department rules out internet or postal voting for overseas voters http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094907/1/.html
Mr Wong said, "The internet platform while convenient is vulnerable to power outage, hacking and service attacks. Without a printed voting slip, auditing the voting result in the event of a petition to the Election Judge can be problematic.
"As regards [to] postal voting, there is no guarantee of voting secrecy as we do not know who marked the ballot paper. It is also difficult to ensure that all ballot papers would be mailed back to the Election Department on time to be counted. Missing votes will also cast doubts on the integrity of the process."
National
What the Secret Donors Want
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/opinion/22mon1.html?_r=1&src=twrhp
According to tax records unearthed by Bloomberg News, the health insurance lobby secretly gave $86.2 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2009 to try to prevent the health care bill from becoming law. The huge contribution — 40 percent of the chamber’s spending for that year — allowed the group to run ads against the bill without tainting the insurance industry,
International
Bangladesh: PM wants e-voting: commissioner
http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=179503&cid=2
She said that transparent ballot boxes will not be needed ...
New Zealand: Government backtracks on electoral finance law
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10689429
Political parties have finally reached a consensus on electoral finance laws with both sides compromising on public disclosure of donations and spending caps on lobby groups
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...
CA: Editorial: Setting a vote-count standard
http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_16662610 More than two weeks after Election Day, the California Republican Party is pursuing a lawsuit against Contra Costa County over whether vote-count observers have the right to challenge specific signatures on mail-vote ballots.
CA: Ranked-choice voting complaints mount
http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/ranked-choice-voting-complaints-mount-6839
Meanwhile, Oakland election data shows that vote-by-mail voters were far more likely to make mistakes in the mayor’s contest than voters who cast ballots at the polls.
CA: Busy weekend for elections staff: Final results may be available by Thanksgiving
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_16666518 Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Carolyn Crnich said Friday that her office is still sorting through the almost 1,700 provisional ballots that were cast on Election Day, trying to determine if the voters who cast them were eligible and, if so, where they were registered to vote.
CO: State review confirms Myers-Joseph win - Saguache County
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=1385&page=72
(County officials initially blocked media from observing claiming meeting was not public. Officials were wrong on legal code & reversed decision after SoS & Colorado Press Assoc. Atty were contacted.)
CO: Election discrepancies explained* Saguache County
http://www.centerpostdispatch.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1384
One of the primary issues revolving around the retabulation of the votes cast on Nov. 2 was the cause of the error that resulted in the generation of additional votes.
...
Other than the one error loading the wrong group totals into the mail-in group, King said he did not see any procedural issues in his review of the ERM system log. “My only suggestion is to print the final reports on the 650 itself and use those to verify that the reporting software totals match,” he concluded.
CT: A few bucks for a few more ballots would have changed history
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/A-few-bucks-for-a-few-more-ballots-would-have-823774.php
For less than $1,000, there would have been enough ballots in Bridgeport to handle the flow of voters and there would have been no need to use makeshift photocopies or seek a judge's order to keep a dozen precincts open an additional two hours.
...
Cliff Heintz, who heads the printing operation at Adkins Printing Inc. in New Britain, said that when Bridgeport faxed through its initial request for 21,100, he thought it wasn't going to be enough. "I'm sure that we said that was pretty low," he said, recalling that the price was 30 cents a sheet.
FL: Former Osceola County candidate sues over his election loss
County Commission candidate Armando Ramirez says he lost because of election irregularities http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/os-osceola-elections-lawsuit-20101122,0,1261357.story One of Brett's main contentions has to do with 304 ballots the county's optical scanners didn't read. The machine registers them as "undercounts." Brett thinks that because the margin of victory for Quiñones was only 50 votes, the court should order that those ballots be reviewed for discrepancies and decide whether the election should be voided.
...
While absentee ballots were being scanned, election workers shook the machines vigorously and often, at times even banging the wall with them. At the time, a supervisor of elections spokeswoman said the shaking was intended to prevent paper jams, and that the practice had been approved by the manufacturer.
Guam: Gutierrez Files Lawsuits Seeking to Overturn Results of 2010 Gubernatorial Election http://pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9463:20101119kkgutierrez-suit&catid=45:guam-news&Itemid=156 (alleges ballot box tampering and more)
KY: Coursey says only minor problems with election seen*
http://murrayledger.com/news/article_627e5680-f45e-11df-b1cb-001cc4c002e0.html
According to the reports made available by Calloway County Clerk Ray Coursey Jr. some irregularities include some voters failing to report changes of address, some security tags broken but machine security still intact, voters pushing the wrong button when casting a vote and some questioning why straight-ticket party lights did not light up on at least one machine.
...
Some voters continue to dislike the new eslate voting machine.
ME: Rundown of runoff voting options (Opinion)
http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/bdn/Rundown-of-runoff-voting-options,159587
MN: UPDATED: Minnesota high court hears arguments in Minnesota governor race recount http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/299367/group/homepage/ The Minnesota Supreme Court questioned both sides harshly about Tom Emmer's governor's race case that claims not all 4,136 precincts' election judges made sure the number of ballots cast in the Nov. 2 election matched the number of people who voted.
MN: Prosecutor group says voter fraud probes costly
http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=13549740
Kingrey says he knows of only one case that was prosecuted but then dismissed
MN: Report: Photo ID requirement would not prevent voter fraud
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/22/voter-fraud-report-photo-id/
Kathy Bonnifield, the report co-author, said county attorneys investigated 1,500 allegations of ineligible voting in the 2008 election.
"The only type of conviction was due to felons," she said. "In total, 26 people were convicted because they had not completed their sentence and voted, while an additional 12 convictions were because felons registered to vote, but they did not vote."
Press conference video at this link http://theuptake.org/2010/11/22/citizens-for-election-integrity-examine-voter-fraud-allegations/
NC: Elections board denies Warner's request for new election
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/11/22/1050006?sac=Home
Warner lost to state Rep. Rick Glazier, a Democrat, by 46 votes for N.C. House District 45.
...
She also had a sworn statement from Douglas W. Jones, an associate professor at the University of Iowa's computer science department, that said between a third and two-thirds of voters using touch screens don't notice errors they have made ...
...
Warner lost to Glazier by 123 votes from ballots - almost exclusively using touch-screen machines - cast during one stop. She won by 37 votes among those cast on Election Day, not including provisional or absentee ballots received in the mail. Among provisional ballots, she lost; among absentee ballots by mail, she won.
NC: Pender County: Every vote counts!
http://watchdogs.blogs.starnewsonline.com/14187/pender-county-every-vote-counts/
But a further review found 19 of the 22 provisional ballots in questions actually did include real addresses, some that were apparently so new that they had yet to be inputted into the state’s computer system.
NC: Editorial - Money from anonymous groups has grip on elections
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20101121/ARTICLES/101129987/1108/editorial?Title=Editorial-Money-from-anonymous-groups-has-grip-on-elections
The public has no idea who is behind some of the most expensive efforts to influence elections.
NH: Ballot machines good example of appropriate technology (Opinion)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/900330-196/ballot-machines-good-example-of--appropriate.html
NJ: Freeholder recount set for Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2010/11/freeholder_recount_set_for_nov.html Voting machines and over 7,000 paper ballots will be recounted for the freeholder race here in Gloucester County, said Stephanie Salvatore, superintendent of elections.
NJ: Assemblywoman Quigley responds to letter that said vote-by-mail leads to abuse
http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/10407234/article--Assemblywoman-Quigley-responds-to-letter-that-said-vote-by-mail-leads-to-abuse---?instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column
NY: Ritchie files lawsuit in 48th District election
http://www.valleynewsonline.com/viewnews.php?newsid=85780&id=1 New York State Senator-elect Patricia Ritchie has filed a lawsuit against the election commissioners in the three counties representing the 48th District and Senator Darrel Aubertine.
The lawsuit seeks to preserve Ritchie’s rights under state Election Law to provide for court review of all ballots, including all emergency ballots, absentee ballots, affidavit ballots, special ballots, federal ballots and military ballots, if necessary.
OH: Tuesday November 23 at 9PM eastern, Brad Friedman to interview Ohio Secretary of State live on the Mike Malloy show. Election admin changes. Will Ohio 2012 be like Ohio 2004? See www.bradblog.com for details and to listen online. Call in!
OH: Hunter sues to stop juvenile court election count* (poll worker error)
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2010/11/22/hunter-sues-to-stop-juvenile-court-election-count/ In the lawsuit, filed by attorney Jennifer Branch, Hunter said there were 849 provisional ballots that the board of elections did not count in the final result because the voters voted in the wrong precinct. Hunter’s lawsuit contends that many of those voters went to the right polling place but to the wrong precinct table; and were not directed by the precinct poll workers to the proper table.
PA: Swearing on Bible may have been inappropriate
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=1236458
The church and state collided in Pennsylvania on Election Day.
On November 2, a voter in Fairmont who had changed addresses was asked to swear, with her hand on a Bible, to her new address
TX: Did straight-ticket votes affect Victoria County election?
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/nov/20/gs_election_analysis_112110_117110/?news&local-news The voting trend was less pervasive in Victoria County, at least during the recent election.
TX: Texas Bill to Abolish Straight-Ticket Device on Ballots
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/22/texas-bill-to-abolish-straight-ticket-device-on-ballots/
TX: South Texas recount continues for Rep. Ortiz (hand count in Cameron County)
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/11/house-undecided-races-solomon-ortiz-dan-maffei-/1
WI: Men deserve voting rights hearing, judge says
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/109291274.html
Defendants say justice system has inherent bias
WV: Only 1 W.Va. city applies for vote-by-mail program (Morgantown)
http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/201011220442
Internet Voting Watch
Singapore: Elections Department rules out internet or postal voting for overseas voters http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1094907/1/.html
Mr Wong said, "The internet platform while convenient is vulnerable to power outage, hacking and service attacks. Without a printed voting slip, auditing the voting result in the event of a petition to the Election Judge can be problematic.
"As regards [to] postal voting, there is no guarantee of voting secrecy as we do not know who marked the ballot paper. It is also difficult to ensure that all ballot papers would be mailed back to the Election Department on time to be counted. Missing votes will also cast doubts on the integrity of the process."
National
What the Secret Donors Want
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/opinion/22mon1.html?_r=1&src=twrhp
According to tax records unearthed by Bloomberg News, the health insurance lobby secretly gave $86.2 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2009 to try to prevent the health care bill from becoming law. The huge contribution — 40 percent of the chamber’s spending for that year — allowed the group to run ads against the bill without tainting the insurance industry,
International
Bangladesh: PM wants e-voting: commissioner
http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=179503&cid=2
She said that transparent ballot boxes will not be needed ...
New Zealand: Government backtracks on electoral finance law
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10689429
Political parties have finally reached a consensus on electoral finance laws with both sides compromising on public disclosure of donations and spending caps on lobby groups
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
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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
Sunday, November 21, 2010
New York Dems mull recount in 60th. CA GOP challenges provisional ballot signatures
California GOP challenges signatures on provisional ballots...Update on 2 "lost" voting machines in NY..Dems mull recount in New York's 60th District: “Make no mistake, this is really bad. The state put into law that there has to be a paper trail precisely so that when there are irregularities of exactly the type we’re seeing in this race we can ensure that the votes are counted properly.” ~ Downstate Senator-Elect Mike Gianaris & attorney overseeing count..My Florida Recount Memory... CT voters says no patchwork solutions please... Wisconsin: Better way than photo ID?..
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AK: Abstention in Alaska
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/ ...there seems little likelihood that either a state or federal court would end up nullfying the outcome of this election
AK: Federal Judge Rules for Miller, Temporarily Halts Certification of Murkowski in AK Senate Race http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8203
Question of misspelled write-in ballots belongs in state court, says judge...
...
Miller would be performing a service to the voters of Alaska and the rest of the country if he used his standing to insist on a full, public hand-count...
CA: GOP challenges signatures on provisional ballots
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/opinionshop/detail?entry_id=77478
Contra Costa County Registrar Steve Weir: "We cannot allow a 'casual' observer to challenge a voter's right to participate when he or she is not present."
CA: Harris' lead over Cooley grows in attorney general race
The Democrat is ahead by about 40,000, with about 300,000 ballots left to count.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-attorney-general-20101120,0,4410535.story
Most of the remaining votes statewide are provisional ballots, given to voters when polling places do not have a record of their registration, often because a voter has moved.
...
About 80% to 85% of provisional ballots are usually deemed valid, said Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan.
CA: Bay Area races increase scrutiny of ranked-choice voting
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ranked-choice-20101120,0,6759361.story
The method avoids runoffs by having voters pick candidates in order of preference. Some question its fairness, but all agree it will transform the nature of campaigning.
CO: Boyd brings election complaint to BOCC* (asks for recount)
http://www.southforktines.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1278
Boyd also brought an affidavit from Sheila Saudevs Casias, who worked as an Elections Assistant, that reported “at the main Elections Polling Precinct, there were several mechanical problems that occurred while the Rio Grande County Elections Officials were tallying the ballot votes using the scanner machines” and that “due to inconsistencies… the ballots had to be rescanned numerous times, because the numbers kept changing.”
CT: Bysiewicz: Secretary of the State powerless to enforce election laws, count ballots http://www.ctvoterscount.org/bysiewicz-secretary-of-the-state-powerless-to-enforce-election-laws-count-ballots/ We caution agains patchwork solutions. The problem goes well beyond the number of ballots printed; voting integrity and confidence call for a much broader study and action than proposed by the current Secretary
FL: My Florida Recount Memory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21florida.html
Ten years ago this month, all eyes were on Florida ..The Op-Ed editors asked some of the people at the center of the recount to share their reminiscences.
MN: New voting not as simple as 1-2-3
http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/109543404.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU6:iPhD_oD3aPc:i_kchO7DU
Minneapolis' 2009 foray into the ranked-voting system showed promise for statewide use but pitfalls, too.
MN: County officials blast GOP request for vote match
http://www.startribune.com/politics/recount/109351909.html
Counties say Tom Emmer's call for signature count is unwarranted.
MN: Ritchie responds to Emmer petition
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/109295259.html
MO: Warned about potential conflict, Election Board refuses to release security contract http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_305bd8a2-f41e-11df-a732-0017a4a78c22.html
NJ: Why vote-by-mail can lead to fraud
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/10385190/article-Why-vote-by-mail-can-lead-to-fraud?instance=home_Most_popular
Under the current law, agents of political campaigns are permitted to handle as many Vote by Mail ballots as they can get their hands on.
NY: Dems mull recount in 60th
http://tonawanda-news.com/top_stories/x1897759002/Dems-mull-recount-in-60th
NY: Lost Voting Machine In 60th Senate Race? (Erie)
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95935&catid=37
"Well there certainly aren't any new voting machines," Ralph Mohr, Republican elections commissioner, said. "Those voting machines were present on Election Day, and they were returned to the warehouse with the other voting machines that were utilized in the election."
Mohr's Democratic counterpart Dennis Ward agreed that there are no new machines.
They explained that on Election Day, two voting machines in two separate districts malfunctioned. As a result, replacement machines were delivered.
NY: State finds no flaws with voting machines (Erie County)
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/politics/article259438.ece Gianaris' laundry list of mistakes range from two newly discovered voting machines to machines with memory sticks that are not readable to machines with paper records that do not match comparable computer records.
...
Ward and Mohr confirmed that two voting machines not previously included in the final count were discovered Thursday. When they were, Grisanti gained an additional 136 votes over Thompson.
Mohr said the two machines were dispatched on Election Day to polling places in Buffalo when two other machines broke down. He said the practice of replacing a broken machine with a new one is state approved.
NY: BREAKING: Hudson County prosecutor will forward 4th Ward case to Attorney General http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/10381547/article--BREAKING--Hudson-County-prosecutor-will-forward-4th-Ward-case-to-Attorney-General-?instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column
The campaign of former Councilman Michael Lenz has alleged voter fraud.
Wednesday night, at a meeting, the Hudson County Board of Elections said they were forwarding 190 "suspicious" ballots to the county prosecutor's office. Then, on Friday, Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said the matter would be referred to the state Attorney General's Office
TX: Turmoil still swirling over Cameron County election* election & recount errors)
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/election-44688-swirling-turmoil.html
Before the recount, Cascos was told he had won the election by 77 votes. Immediately after the recount, on Nov. 13, he was told his margin of victory had narrowed to 50 but he was still the winner.
But hours later, on Nov. 14, Elections Administrator Roger Ortiz reportedly called in the candidates and told them that an error had been made in totaling the tally sheets, and that Wood was the winner by five votes.
A tally sheet from Precinct 54 had been left out of the totals, Ortiz said. When it was included, it resulted in a shift of 55 votes, giving the victory to Wood.
WI: A better way than voter ID
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/109308494.html
Every system is capable of manipulation. Fake IDs are available as are courses in forging handwriting. But if the real object of Wisconsin Republicans is to lower the odds of voter fraud, then a sign-in system would accomplish the goal just as well as would requiring a photo ID. And it would not give the Democrats a reason to object that the GOP was creating an unreasonable block to the ballot.
National
United States Government Files Brief in U.S. Supreme Court in Lawsuit over Size of U.S. House http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/21/united-states-government-files-brief-in-u-s-supreme-court-in-lawsuit-over-size-of-u-s-house/
International
One in 10 victorious Afghan candidates banned for fraud
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/21/afghan-candidates-banned-for-fraud
Hamid Karzai may overturn election body's ruling over ballot in which polling station closures hit Pashtun votes
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...
AK: Abstention in Alaska
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/ ...there seems little likelihood that either a state or federal court would end up nullfying the outcome of this election
AK: Federal Judge Rules for Miller, Temporarily Halts Certification of Murkowski in AK Senate Race http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8203
Question of misspelled write-in ballots belongs in state court, says judge...
...
Miller would be performing a service to the voters of Alaska and the rest of the country if he used his standing to insist on a full, public hand-count...
CA: GOP challenges signatures on provisional ballots
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/opinionshop/detail?entry_id=77478
Contra Costa County Registrar Steve Weir: "We cannot allow a 'casual' observer to challenge a voter's right to participate when he or she is not present."
CA: Harris' lead over Cooley grows in attorney general race
The Democrat is ahead by about 40,000, with about 300,000 ballots left to count.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-attorney-general-20101120,0,4410535.story
Most of the remaining votes statewide are provisional ballots, given to voters when polling places do not have a record of their registration, often because a voter has moved.
...
About 80% to 85% of provisional ballots are usually deemed valid, said Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan.
CA: Bay Area races increase scrutiny of ranked-choice voting
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ranked-choice-20101120,0,6759361.story
The method avoids runoffs by having voters pick candidates in order of preference. Some question its fairness, but all agree it will transform the nature of campaigning.
CO: Boyd brings election complaint to BOCC* (asks for recount)
http://www.southforktines.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1278
Boyd also brought an affidavit from Sheila Saudevs Casias, who worked as an Elections Assistant, that reported “at the main Elections Polling Precinct, there were several mechanical problems that occurred while the Rio Grande County Elections Officials were tallying the ballot votes using the scanner machines” and that “due to inconsistencies… the ballots had to be rescanned numerous times, because the numbers kept changing.”
CT: Bysiewicz: Secretary of the State powerless to enforce election laws, count ballots http://www.ctvoterscount.org/bysiewicz-secretary-of-the-state-powerless-to-enforce-election-laws-count-ballots/ We caution agains patchwork solutions. The problem goes well beyond the number of ballots printed; voting integrity and confidence call for a much broader study and action than proposed by the current Secretary
FL: My Florida Recount Memory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21florida.html
Ten years ago this month, all eyes were on Florida ..The Op-Ed editors asked some of the people at the center of the recount to share their reminiscences.
MN: New voting not as simple as 1-2-3
http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/109543404.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU6:iPhD_oD3aPc:i_kchO7DU
Minneapolis' 2009 foray into the ranked-voting system showed promise for statewide use but pitfalls, too.
MN: County officials blast GOP request for vote match
http://www.startribune.com/politics/recount/109351909.html
Counties say Tom Emmer's call for signature count is unwarranted.
MN: Ritchie responds to Emmer petition
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/109295259.html
MO: Warned about potential conflict, Election Board refuses to release security contract http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_305bd8a2-f41e-11df-a732-0017a4a78c22.html
NJ: Why vote-by-mail can lead to fraud
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/10385190/article-Why-vote-by-mail-can-lead-to-fraud?instance=home_Most_popular
Under the current law, agents of political campaigns are permitted to handle as many Vote by Mail ballots as they can get their hands on.
NY: Dems mull recount in 60th
http://tonawanda-news.com/top_stories/x1897759002/Dems-mull-recount-in-60th
NY: Lost Voting Machine In 60th Senate Race? (Erie)
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95935&catid=37
"Well there certainly aren't any new voting machines," Ralph Mohr, Republican elections commissioner, said. "Those voting machines were present on Election Day, and they were returned to the warehouse with the other voting machines that were utilized in the election."
Mohr's Democratic counterpart Dennis Ward agreed that there are no new machines.
They explained that on Election Day, two voting machines in two separate districts malfunctioned. As a result, replacement machines were delivered.
NY: State finds no flaws with voting machines (Erie County)
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/politics/article259438.ece Gianaris' laundry list of mistakes range from two newly discovered voting machines to machines with memory sticks that are not readable to machines with paper records that do not match comparable computer records.
...
Ward and Mohr confirmed that two voting machines not previously included in the final count were discovered Thursday. When they were, Grisanti gained an additional 136 votes over Thompson.
Mohr said the two machines were dispatched on Election Day to polling places in Buffalo when two other machines broke down. He said the practice of replacing a broken machine with a new one is state approved.
NY: BREAKING: Hudson County prosecutor will forward 4th Ward case to Attorney General http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/10381547/article--BREAKING--Hudson-County-prosecutor-will-forward-4th-Ward-case-to-Attorney-General-?instance=up_to_the_minute_lead_story_left_column
The campaign of former Councilman Michael Lenz has alleged voter fraud.
Wednesday night, at a meeting, the Hudson County Board of Elections said they were forwarding 190 "suspicious" ballots to the county prosecutor's office. Then, on Friday, Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said the matter would be referred to the state Attorney General's Office
TX: Turmoil still swirling over Cameron County election* election & recount errors)
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/election-44688-swirling-turmoil.html
Before the recount, Cascos was told he had won the election by 77 votes. Immediately after the recount, on Nov. 13, he was told his margin of victory had narrowed to 50 but he was still the winner.
But hours later, on Nov. 14, Elections Administrator Roger Ortiz reportedly called in the candidates and told them that an error had been made in totaling the tally sheets, and that Wood was the winner by five votes.
A tally sheet from Precinct 54 had been left out of the totals, Ortiz said. When it was included, it resulted in a shift of 55 votes, giving the victory to Wood.
WI: A better way than voter ID
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/109308494.html
Every system is capable of manipulation. Fake IDs are available as are courses in forging handwriting. But if the real object of Wisconsin Republicans is to lower the odds of voter fraud, then a sign-in system would accomplish the goal just as well as would requiring a photo ID. And it would not give the Democrats a reason to object that the GOP was creating an unreasonable block to the ballot.
National
United States Government Files Brief in U.S. Supreme Court in Lawsuit over Size of U.S. House http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/11/21/united-states-government-files-brief-in-u-s-supreme-court-in-lawsuit-over-size-of-u-s-house/
International
One in 10 victorious Afghan candidates banned for fraud
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/21/afghan-candidates-banned-for-fraud
Hamid Karzai may overturn election body's ruling over ballot in which polling station closures hit Pashtun votes
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.
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