Oklahoma chooses Hart Intercivic, Kentucky SoS to depart, Connecticut panel advocates reforms

"In many cases, we see security devices or electronic voting machines where we really have to wonder, 'Did anybody spend 60 seconds figuring out the security issues?" That question was posed by an Argonne National Laboratories security expert in an interview published today.

There is a good deal of news to share today: Oklahoma has chosen Hart Intercivic to supply its next generation of optical scan ballot tabulators (the state currently uses the IVS Vote by Phone system for accessibility); Washington State considers moving up the deadline for mail ballot receipt to Election Day; Kentucky's Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced plans to leave office for a position at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; and Connecticut considers state takeover of ballot procurement.

All this and more in today's Voting News below. Enjoy your weekend!

AR: Ex-Globetrotter allowed to join Ark. House | TheCabin.net

Smith was one of two incoming House members who were cleared by fellow lawmakers to be sworn in next week. The House also voted to recommend seating an incoming Democratic representative who won after her Republican rival was declared ineligible to serve in the House because of a bribery conviction. Read More

CO: Saguache County election debacle still unresolved even as officials set to be sworn in | Colorado Independent

[Jan. 6] A disputed election in a sleepy county in south-central Colorado has erupted into a cacophony of bipartisan complaints that the clerk and recorder is improperly certifying its results for her own benefit.

So far, six citizens have filed grievances with both the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office alleging official misconduct and multiple criminal offenses in sparsely populated Saguache County, where the census shows just two residents per square mile. Read More

CT: Recipe For Voting Reform Offered In Connecticut - Courant.com

Early voting, automatic registration, "no-excuse" absentee ballots, and better training for poll workers.

Connecticut should consider these and other measures to improve the voting process, according to a panel organized by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. Read More

CT: Merrill: Changes needed to avoid another Election Day fiasco | The Connecticut Mirror

The state's new chief elections officer says she plans to promote changes to ensure that the Election Day fiasco of 2010, when polling place in Bridgeport and a half dozen other communities ran out of ballots on Election Day, doesn't happen again. Read More

CT: After Bridgeport fiasco, ballot fix proposed - Connecticut Post

Merrill, speaking after a two-and-a-half-hour hearing Friday on Election Day problems, said she will also submit legislation to the General Assembly requiring the state to take over the purchase of ballots, so towns and cities can take advantage of bulk-buying power and save money. Read More

FL: Secretary of State Browning is Scott's first double-dipper hire - St. Petersburg Times

Retirement was going as former Secretary of State Kurt Browning figured it would: a lot of working in the yard, loving on his grandbaby, padding around the barn at his Dade City home.

Then last month, his phone rang. Read More

IL: No State Sanctions for Late Military Ballots | FOX 55/27 Illinois | Illinois

[Jan. 6] Local county clerks are left hanging like a chad as they await potential federal sanctions for not sending out military absentee ballots for the November election. Read More

GA: AACP lawsuit stalls in court | ajc.com

The lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court contends the state NAACP took over the local election to ensure chapter president Rev. R. L. White's slate of candidates won.

"They got rid of the voting machines and put in paper ballots with no numbers," King said. "It was outrageous." Read More

IN: Election Committee to Consider Vote Centers - Newsroom - Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick

State Sen. Ron Alting’s proposal authorizing the continued use of vote centers in Tippecanoe County and allowing it as an option for the entire state will be considered by a Senate committee on Monday.

Senate Bill 32 will be heard by the Senate Committee on Elections at 9:45 a.m. in Room 125 of the Statehouse. Read More

IN: White sworn in as inquiries go on | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com

The speculation in political circles and in the Statehouse is that if he is indicted by a grand jury, which is expected to take up the case in February, White's tenure as secretary of state may be short. A felony conviction would bar him from the office, though a judge could opt to reduce it to a misdemeanor. Still, an indictment alone could be enough to cause Republican leaders to pressure White to resign. Read More

IN: Sec. of State says he wont be diverted

New Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White will spend his first weeks as the state's top elections officer facing an ongoing investigation of voter fraud allegations. Read More

KS: Wichita lobbyist files lawsuit seeking DOJ e-mails over voter fraud policy - WDAF

[Jan. 6] A Wichita lobbyist has filed suit seeking to compel the Justice Department to turn over e-mails discussing its enforcement policies on voter fraud cases. Read More

KY: Kentucky Sec. of State Trey Grayson returns to Harvard | The State Column

Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson will return to his alma mater to assume the reins of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School. Read More

KY: Trey Grayson resigning to take Harvard position | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced Friday that he is resigning to take a position with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Read More

MA: Alicea will continue to serve until vote dispute is resolved

State Rep. Geraldo Alicea, who has mounted a court challenge to a 1-vote loss last November, will continue to represent the 6th Worcester District until the election outcome is resolved, according to the clerk of the House of Representatives. Read More

MA: Recount loser says he'll stay in house until court fight ends - Winchester, MA - The Winchester Star

Citing provisions in the state Constitution, Rep. Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) said Thursday he will continue to serve indefinitely in the Massachusetts House even though he lost a recount to Republican Peter Durant by one vote. Read More

MA: New trial date set to settle House race

A new bench trial date of Jan. 18 was set to settle the disputed 6th Worcester District House race, Dennis P. McManus, clerk of the courts, said yesterday. Read More

MD: Frederick Co. pushes to change early voting law - wtop.com

Frederick County elections officers are pushing for a change in state law to allow more early voting centers; they'd like to establish voting centers in Thurmont and Urbana in addition to the site in Frederick. Read More

MD: Wanna Be on the MoCo Board of Elections?

[Jan. 5] MCDCC Member Aaron Kaufman forwarded the following information:

At our Tuesday, January 11 meeting, the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) will continue the process of nominating candidates to serve on the Montgomery County Board of Elections. The Members of the Board of Elections serve for a four-year term and oversee the operations of the Board. Read More

MN: Are you ready for Election 2011? St. Paul City Council, school board races gearing up

Complicating matters this year is the advent of ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, or IRV. Under IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. Merely getting a plurality of voters' first-choice votes isn't good enough to win. The goal of IRV is that, by dropping out the least popular candidates and redistributing their votes to their supporters' second-choice candidates, the winner assembles a majority. Read More

MO: Two Initiative Petitions Ready For Circulation - KTTS 94.7 FM, Country's Best | Springfield, MO | KTTS.com

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today announced that two initiative petitions relating to early voting and election procedures met state standards for circulation. Read More

MT: Support mail-in balloting? It was just a matter of time | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune

Just a few years ago, we probably would have opposed such a move.

"It might be a little cheaper and easier for election officials to handle, but those aren't good arguments for such a fundamental change in the way our democracy works," we would have argued. Read More

MT: Missoula County commission chair Curtiss has eye on budget, all-mail elections

Curtiss said the commissioners' main priority in the Legislature is to get a bill that provides for all-mail elections at all elections. Secretary of State Linda McCulloch held a news conference on Wednesday to unveil the plan, which starts out as House Bill 130 and was drafted by election administrators from four counties, including Vickie Zeier in Missoula.

All-mail city and school elections have proven successful, but state law forbids elections that include federal offices be conducted that way. The legislation would remove that restriction. Read More

OH: Secretary Brunner Reflects on Term, Announces Advisory Board - ProgressOhio

Outgoing Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner reflected on the achievements of her administration and announced Friday the adoption of permanent rules to create the Secretary of State Advisory Board for the next administration. Read More

OK: Vendor selected for state's new voting system | NewsOK.com

Hart InterCivic Inc., of Austin, Texas, has been awarded a $16.7 million maximum contract, state Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said. The contract includes the initial costs associated with buying and installing the voting system, as well as locking in future prices for spare parts, software license agreements, training and optional products. Read More

WA: Reed: Ballots should be in by Election Day

Voters should face a deadline of 8 p.m. on Election Day to get their ballots in to county election officials, Secretary of State Sam Reed said Friday, as he submitted a set of reforms to the Legislature.

The proposal would replace the current system under which ballots must be postmarked on Election Day. Oregon, which also has a mail-in ballot system, requires that ballots be in on Election Day. Read More

WA: Washington Secretary of State wants tighter mail ballot deadline | OregonLive.com

"Our current postmark deadline has become antiquated. We would have much more definitive results by the Thursday or Friday after Election Day by changing this deadline," Reed said in a press release from his office. Read More

WI: APNewsBreak: Wis. Republicans bring back photo ID - chicagotribune.com

Wisconsin would join 27 other state in requiring that identification be shown before voters can register to vote or cast ballots under a bill circulated for co-sponsorship by Republicans on Friday. Read More

WI: Stick with same-day registration

The Oconomowoc Republican began circulating a bill this week — shortly after new state leaders were inaugurated — to reverse Wisconsin's long and proud tradition of making it relatively easy to vote. Wisconsin has allowed eligible adults to register to vote on the same day of elections since 1976. There's no good reason to start making voting more difficult now. Read More

National

Argonne security experts calls voting systems insecure - Computerworld Blogs

No, it's not just paranoia: Voting machines really are insecure.

The latest expert voice on the subject is the head of Argonne National Laboratory's Vulnerability Assessment Team, Roger Johnston.

"In many cases, we see security devices or electronic voting machines where we really have to wonder, 'Did anybody spend 60 seconds figuring out the security issues?" he told NBC Chicago. Read More

Most Security Measures Easy to Breach, Expert Says | NBC Chicago

One of the most frightening examples Johnston has turned up is in one of the nation's most treasured franchises: the right to vote. He said he's found that most voting machines have almost no security to reveal tampering. Thus, he said, it's a fairly simple matter to tinker with the electronics while machines are in storage or being transported by the truckload. He has even demonstrated how he can turn cheating mechanisms in voting machines on and off by remote control. Read More

Internet Voting Watch

American Idol: Big Things Coming

Gender makeup of the finalists will be determined by talent this year. If the girls are better or the boys are better, then expect to see a disproportionate number of guys and girls present to sing and perform for your votes.

Speaking of voting, arrangements are still trying to be made to allow for online voting this season. It reportedly has not been hammered down as a definite for this season, but if not this season, then soon. Read More

International

India: By-Elections As Scheduled In Kadapa And Pulivendula - Hyderabad News on fullhyd.com

The CEO also informed that 6 ballot papers were stolen by a scrap dealer in Vijayawada. He said that 25 EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) were stolen, and that the District Collector had been issued notice. Read More

Indonesia: Big parties accused of killing the minnows | The Jakarta Post

The revision bill proposes a 4 percent vote tally for the parliamentary threshold in the House, provincial legislative councils and regental and municipal legislatures, and requires strict requirements for electoral districts with hope that five to seven parties will be represented at the House.

It also allows the General Election Commission (KPU) to hold electronic voting in regions prepared for such mechanisms. Read More

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews

Please send article suggestions to votingnews@verifiedvoting.org

=============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the 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-vnDisclaimer: 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.

Montana's vote by mail legislation expected to move, New Jersey election dispute rekindles

Montana's Legislature will once again consider vote by mail legislation, Missouri's will consider early voting, and unopened ballots may change a recount result in New Jersey.

All this and more in today's Voting News below.

AR: Martin names top aids for secretary of state's office

Martin announced his leadership team Thursday, including Family Council lawyer Martha Adcock as elections director and Alice Stewart as deputy director of public affairs. Read More

CO: Saguache County clerk complaint sent to AG - Colorado Springs Conservative | Examiner.com

In answer to objections that she should “butt out” of the election controversy in Saguache County, Marks pointed out that according to state statue, any person may file a complaint with the appropriate district attorney. The fact that she resides in Pitkin, not Saguache County, Marks said, has no effect on her strong conviction that elections must be fair and uniform throughout Colorado.

“As a Coloradan, I'm not only interested in competency and fairness in the Saguache clerk's office for the conduct of future elections, but given the big questions on water, energy and the environment facing the BOCC, I know that decisions of Saguache BOCC impact the entire region,” she explained. “The election of those officials should truly reflect the will of the Saguache voters.” Read More

CT: Journal Inquirer Politics & Government Forum on ballot shortage

The forum, at 10 a.m. Friday in the Capitol Old Appropriations Room, will allow policy experts and members of the public to offer ideas on preventing such problems. Registrars of voters, town clerks, and voting rights advocates are expected to weigh in on the issue. Among those in attendance will be Manchester Town Clerk Joseph Camposeo, president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association. Read More

FL: Browning Returns as Secretary of State

Kurt Browning, a former local official who was widely respected for his knowledge of running elections, will return to lead the Department of State, which oversees the Division of Elections, from which he recently retired, Gov. Rick Scott announced late Wednesday. Read More

IN: [SoS] White sworn in despite controversy

White is still answering the charges that his victory came despite listing his ex-wife's address on voter registration forms for the May 2010 primary. Two special prosecutors are looking into the allegations that White acted intentionally to mislead voters but White said he hasn't spoken to investigators.

"We're just waiting on them and we'll cooperate when it's time," White said. Read More

IN: Charlie White sworn in as Indiana secretary of state

Charlie White was sworn in today as Indiana’s newest secretary of state, but a cloud hung over the Statehouse ceremony as special prosecutors in Hamilton County continue to investigate whether White committed voter fraud. Read More

IN: Embattled White says investigation won't affect Secretary of State's office

The Republican said he believes the investigation “will work itself out” and won’t interfere with his ability to administer an office that regulates elections, business charters and the securities industry. Read More.

MA: Recount loser says he'll stay in house until court fight ends - Sharon, MA - Sharon Advocate

Citing provisions in the state Constitution, Rep. Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) said Thursday he will continue to serve indefinitely in the Massachusetts House even though he lost a recount to Republican Peter Durant by one vote. Read More

ME: LePage administers oath to Maine officials

As secretary of state, Summers replaces Matthew Dunlap. He’ll be in charge of motor vehicle registration and licensing, elections, corporation registration and the state archive. Read More

ME: Portland city clerk retiring after a decade

The woman credited with restoring the public's trust in Portland's election process is retiring after nearly a decade. Read More

MN: Stevens County to be paid for recount expenses | Morris Sun Tribune | Morris, Minnesota

A Minnesota Republican spokesman said the party is paying counties for copying and related costs incurred during the Mark Dayton-Tom Emmer governor recount. Read More

MO: Early voting ballot measure proposed in Missouri

The proposal would change Missouri law to let voters cast ballots in person before federal general elections. Officials estimate early voting would cost state government $676,800 for one-time costs and $297,216 for each federal election. Read More

MT: McCulloch proposes mail-in balloting

Secretary of State Linda McCulloch on Wednesday unveiled a plan to move the state to a vote-by-mail system for all state, local and federal elections by January 2012.

The bipartisan measure seeks to succeed where other vote-by-mail bills failed in previous legislative sessions. Read More

NJ: Unopened ballots could change recall results

According to County Registrar Michael Kennedy, there were 11 mail-in ballots, formerly known as absentee ballots, which were not counted. He explained that the reasons a ballot were unopened varied from some not having proper signatures to others where the voter’s residence was in question. Read More

NJ: The Record: Ballot integrity

The stated aim of the vote-by-mail bill passed by the Legislature in 2009 was, quite simply, to get more people involved in the democratic process, a way to build convenience into one of America's greatest rights: the act of casting a ballot. Read More

NY: Making Ballots Easier to Read

Citing what he called "the most common complaint" with the new voting machines this past election, State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) is introducing legislation that would make the font on the ballots bigger and easier to read. Read More

OH: Butler elections chief Betty McGary stepping down | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

"To take it from manual counts to the complex rules and regulations and electronic voting that is in place today, she literally grew up with the process. She never once shirked her duties and we've always had fair elections with integrity," Ellis said.

McGary, who made about $86,000 a year, was considered an expert in Ohio election law, said Ellis, and other county election directors looked to her for advice.

She was one of the first county election directors to join state legal action against the manufacturer of touch-screen voting machines after software glitches caused at least 105 votes in West Chester Township to go missing in 2008. Read More

OH: Democrat Johnnie Maier leaves board of elections

The four-member elections board is to meet in regular session Friday afternoon. It will be Maier’s last meeting with the body. The county Democratic party’s executive committee will recommend a replacement for Maier — the pick is then forwarded to Ohio Secretary of State John Husted for final approval. Read More

WV: Pilot Vote-by-Mail Program Will be Tested in WV City

Morgantown City Council approved the city's participation in the program Tuesday. The Dominion Post reports that Morgantown voters will cast ballots by mail in the April municipal election.

Three council members who opposed the measure said they're concerned about rushing into the program without considering the possibility of fraud and other factors. Read More

Morgantown is preparing to send nearly 16,000 ballots out to the city's registered voters in April.

And it could cost the city up to $18,000, according to early estimates, which is only about $2,000 less than the city paid for its 2009 election -- which was done the traditional way at polling places. Read More

National

The Geek Who's Policing Your Privacy - BusinessWeek

Known for cracking the music industry's digital-copyright protection code in 2000 (in response to a challenge from the music industry), Felten boasts a résumé that includes exposing security weaknesses in electronic voting machines. In 1998 he testified for the government in its antitrust case against Microsoft, saying that the company's Internet Explorer Web browser could be separated from the Windows 98 operating system without impairing the functionality of Windows. Read More

Voter Registration Modernization a Progressive Alternative to Right-Wing Voter ID Laws

Voter registration modernization, aside from preventing fraud more effectively, would also boost the percentage of registrations coming from these historically disenfranchised communities by using already-existing government databases to compile accurate lists of eligible voters. Read More

International

Canada: A year of prosperous growth for the area comes to an end (Part 1 of 2) - News - By EMC News Kemptville Local Community News

While polls were originally scheduled to close at 8 p.m. [October 28, 2010], a failure of the Intelivote electronic voting system, used by municipalities across Ontario, caused North Grenville to make the decision to extend the voting deadline by an hour to 9 p.m.

While it was expected that Intelivote Systems Inc.'s electronic voting system was fairly fail safe, the Nova Scotia-based company didn't anticipate the large number of last-minute voters across Ontario on Monday evening. Read More

Canada: NiagaraThisWeek Article: Bentley accused of meddling in recount

While Tuesday’s manual recount went smoothly, the 24-hour period leading up to it was marked by angry e-mail exchanges running past 2 a.m. Tuesday morning and concerns about undue mayoral involvement in the process. Read More

Canada: Ward nine recount scheduled for next week - CTV News

Chapman had petitioned the court for a manual recount, and she now hopes the process will lead to improvements in the Municipal Election Act, which predates the use of electronic vote counters. Read More

Canada: Recount may come on Jan. 18

One vote tabulation machine -- which will be tested immediately prior using the same protocols in place for the Oct. 25 election -- will be used to count the 76 ballots that are subject to the recount.

Those 76 ballots were not counted on election night because the identity of the voter may be compromised. However, Justice Lauwers ruled that the anonymity of the voter could be maintained while ensuring that every valid vote is counted. Read More

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews

Please send article suggestions to votingnews@verifiedvoting.org

=============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the 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-vnDisclaimer: 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.

International Observers Report on Mid-Terms, MN SoS Ritchie to Lead NASS

AK: Miller Will Not Appeal Federal Ruling; Concedes Alaska's U.S. Senate Race to Murkowski - The BRAD BLOG (Dec. 31)

In a press conference held this afternoon in Juneau, Alaska's GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, Joe Miller, finally conceded the election to write-in candidate and incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. He has decided not to appeal his federal case as dismissed by a U.S. circuit court judge on Tuesday. See AP's coverage for more on today's announcement. Read More

CA: Low-income voters struggled with ranked-choice voting | California Watch

Voters from low-income neighborhoods had a tougher time with the complexities of the ranked-choice voting system in November's election.That’s the bottom line of a California Watch analysis of voting data from the electoral district that arguably faced the most complicated ballot in California: San Francisco’s Supervisorial District 10. Read More

IA: Activists to Branstad: Keep current voting rights rule | The Des Moines Register

A coalition of about 20 activist groups asked Gov.-elect Terry Branstad on Monday not to follow through on a pledge to rescind an executive order that automatically restores voting rights to ex-convicts. The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, sent a letter to Branstad expressing support for a statewide policy adopted in 2005. That's when Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack issued a blanket order restoring voting rights to about 50,000 Iowa felons who had completed their criminal sentences. Read More

MO: St. Clair County Clerk explains military ballot snafu - STLToday.com

Bob Delaney said today he acted with diligence when he mailed 1,207 military ballots on Oct. 4, 16 days after a federal election law deadline and 31 days late by Illinois election standards. Testifying before an Illinois House Elections and Campaign Reform committee, Delaney said he was trying to avoid reprinting costs, in case pending litigation threw candidates off the ballot. Read More

MT: Vote-by-mail bill has bipartisan support

Montana lawmakers will be asked to approve a bill with bipartisan support that would set up vote-by-mail elections for all federal, state and local elections in Montana in 2012, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said Wednesday. "Vote-by-mail elections increase voter participation, enhance voter protection and save taxpayer money," said McCulloch, a Democrat and the state's chief election officer. House Bill 130 is the product of a working group commissioned by McCulloch that represented a variety of organizations and county governments. Rep. Pat Ingraham, R-Thompson Falls, a former county clerk and election administrator, is sponsoring the bill. Read More

NY: Troy vote probe gambit rejected by judge - Times Union

An acting state Supreme Court justice has dismissed questions raised about the status of a Rensselaer County grand jury investigating ballot fraud and a judge overseeing it. Attorneys for City Councilman Michael LoPorto and county Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough attempted in December "to intervene regarding the proceedings" of the grand jury probing allegations of absentee ballot fraud in the 2009 Working Families Party primary in Troy, according to a court document. Read More

TN: Some vote in wrong ward after Hendersonville election snafu | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

The administrator of the Sumner County Election office says a snafu that caused some Ward 6 residents to cast votes in Hendersonville’s Ward 5 in November did not affect the outcome of the tight three-person race. In that race, Matt Stamper received 829 votes, Jim Waters received 747 votes and incumbent Darlene Stringfellow received 639 votes. Election office administrator Darlean McDougal estimates 42 residents voted early in the Ward 6 race and could have voted in the wrong ward. The 42 votes are fewer than Stamper’s 82-vote margin of victory. “As soon as I found out the (voting assignments) were wrong, I got them corrected,” she said. “It was corrected by Election Day.” Read More

VA: Lawmakers push for unrestricted early voting

For the second year in a row, legislators are hoping to make it easier for Virginians to vote early by mail and in person. Del. Rosalyn Dance (D-Dist. 63) has introduced several bills that allow voters to mail in an absentee ballot without declaring a reason, which is known as no-fault voting. Her proposals also would allow voters to cast ballots prior to Election Day in person without needing to state a reason. Currently, voters must fill out an application stating they are serving in the military overseas, working out of town or are ill or disabled to receive a ballot in the mail. Read More

WA: Special February elections in Clallam to cost between $52,000-$60,000 -- in Jefferson, $45,000 -- Olympic Peninsula Daily news

Special elections in February will cost public school districts in Clallam County between $52,000 and $60,000. Both the Port Angeles School District and the Quillayute Valley School District in Forks have placed replacement maintenance and operations property tax levies on the Feb. 8 ballot. The Port Angeles district will pay between $45,000 and $50,000 to run the special election, but the final amount won't be known until after the election is over, said Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand. The Quillayute Valley School District will pay between $7,000 and $10,000, she said. Both districts are asking for a small increase over the property tax levies now in place, which will expire at the end of 2011. If approved, the levies would appear on 2012 property tax bills. Read More

WV: Court to hear arguments over gubernatorial election - LegalNewsline

The West Virginia Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in the lawsuit over a possible gubernatorial special election for next week. The West Virginia Education Association and West Virginia AFL-CIO are among those urging the Court to order a special election. Both groups filed amicus briefs last month on behalf of the West Virginia Citizens Group. The group filed a petition in November asking for a prompt election to replace Gov. Joe Manchin, who was elected to fill the late Robert C. Byrd's U.S. Senate seat. Acting Governor and state Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin has said current laws "clearly provide" that the election to replace Manchin as governor should be in 2012. But Tomblin, D-Logan, has acknowledged that he knows many people want an election before that. Read More

National

Mid-Term Congressional Elections, 2 November 2010 - Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

In response to an invitation from the ambassador of the United States to the OSCE, and based on the recommendation of a needs assessment mission that was carried out on 23-27 May, ODIHR deployed an election assessment mission on 11 October for the mid-term congressional elections on 2 November. The mission, led by Miklos Haraszti of Hungary, included 12 experts from 12 OSCE participating States. According to the mission's final report: "The mid-term congressional elections were administered in a professional manner and generally enjoyed the confidence of election stakeholders, despite some reoccurring deficiencies in the electoral framework. Many of these shortcomings are consequences of a highly decentralized and complex system of conducting federal elections." Read the OSCE Report (PDF)

House GOP ends floor voting rights for delegates - The Associated Press

One of the first acts of the new Republican-controlled House is to take away the floor voting rights of six delegates representing areas such as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa. Five of those delegates are Democrats, while one, from the Northern Marianas Islands, is an independent.

The GOP decision to rescind the ability of delegates to vote on amendments on the House floor was the predictable outcome of a longtime party divide. Democrats extended the voting rights in 1993 when they controlled the House, Republicans disenfranchised the delegates when they became the majority in 1995 and Democrats restored delegate rights when they regained control of the House in 2007. "This is a very undemocratic way to start the 112th Congress," said Virgin Islands Del. Donna Christensen. With the new GOP rule, she said, "there are over 4.5 million Americans who don't get input into shaping the final bill." Read More

MN Secretary of State Ritchie to head National Association of Secretaries of State | StarTribune.com

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will be installed Thursday as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in Washington, D.C. Ritchie, who presided over the U.S. Senate recount in 2008, became a lighting rod for GOP critics who thought he favored Democrat Al Franken over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman. But the recount survived court challenges, which didn't hurt Ritchie's national profile. Read More

International

Oman: New system launched to avoid double voting

The Ministry of Interior has launched a new electronic voting (E-voting) system for the upcoming Majlis Al Shura elections to avoid double voting, yesterday. The election will be held in October. The new system was launched under the patronage of Ahmed bin Abdul Nabi Macki, minister of national economy and deputy chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council. The automated system will avoid double voting practice. The system, which is going to be used for the first time, will monitor the number of votes cast by a voter. A voter will not be able to vote more than once at the same centre or in any other stations. Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior, said the project will check any kind of malpractices during the voting. Read More

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews =============================================
The Voting News is a free service made possible by the 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.

ES&S 'Glitch' in Champaign Co. IL Explained, NY State Assembly Contest May Go to Court, No voting Rights for Puerto Rico

CA: Secetrary of State Bowen unveils four-year strategic plan - Kim Alexander's Weblog

http://kimalex.blogspot.com/2011/01/sos-bowen-unveils-four-year-strategic.html

At her inauguration ceremony today, Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced that her office was implementing a four-year strategic plan focused on three priorities: ensuring fair and secure elections, doing business, and protecting rights and state treasures. She also listed six values that will guide the work of the office of Secretary of State: service; integrity; teamwork; openness; innovation; and consistency. She concluded by saying that standing up for the workers in her office is the most important thing she can do to make sure they deliver excellent public service, so "let's get back to work."

CT: State senator resigns, pleads guilty to election violations | Local Politics | The State Column

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/local-politics/connecticut-state-senator-resigns-pleads-guilty-to-election-violations/

Sen. Tom Gaffey, D-13th, announced Monday he will not take the oath of office on Wednesday. Mr. Gaffey was re-elected to office in November. Mr. Gaffey is charged with double-billing his political action committee, a charge that amounts to larceny. He says he plans to plead guilty on Wednesday and that he has taken steps to repay the money. The state senator said in a press release that he apologizes to family and constituents, saying “I apologize to my family, friends, colleagues and the voters of my district for any embarrassment my mistakes may have caused.”

IL: our objections for St. Charles elections denied by board - Downers Grove, IL - MySuburbanLife.com

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/news/x1599389713/Four-objections-for-St-Charles-elections-denied-by-board

While four candidates challenged their opponents' petition for nomination early Monday evening, all four candidates were upheld in the end. The St. Charles election board, which consisted of Mayor Donald DeWitte, 4th Ward Alderman James Martin and Clerk Nancy Garrison, decided in all cases that even though certain points were valid, nothing made any of the challenged candidates ineligible for the election.

IL: ES&S Glitch Explained | Blog - Champaign County Clerk, IL - Mark Shelden

http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2011/01/04/glitch-explained/

ES&S used a “Graphic Dump” on the M100 to show exactly what was being read in each oval on the ballot. What that graphic dump showed was that for the ballots in question, when placed in the machine top first, the M100 read not the area within the oval, but rather the area to the left. That area to the left corresponds to the place on the top of the ballot where the judge’s initials go within the area that contains the column timing bars. Essentially what appears to have happened is that when the judge’s initials cross into the timing area within a very limited range and at a very limited angle (that is, very horizontal), that extra line is being read as one of the column timing bars. No one at ES&S had seen this before, and it is odd enough that it is unlikely that its cropped up many times before. At the same time, I’d be surprised if we were the first people to witness this.

IA: Former Morningside student sentenced for voter fraud - KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA

http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13777266

A former Morningside College student could be deported for claiming to be a United States citizen so he could vote. Christopher Mettin, of Germany, pled guilty to one of the two counts he was originally charged with and was sentenced to time already served, which was 52 days.

KS: Coalition to fight photo-voter ID proposal / LJWorld.com

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/jan/03/coalition-fight-photo-voter-id-proposal/

A coalition of voting rights groups has formed to oppose an effort led by Secretary of State-elect Kris Kobach to require voters show a photo ID to vote. The Kansas Voter Coalition said on Monday that the proposal by Kobach, a Republican who takes office Jan. 10, is "a solution to a problem whose existence cannot be demonstrated empirically." Gov.-elect Sam Brownback also supports voter ID.

MA: One-Vote Dispute Leads To Court Battle Over Worcester Co. Seat | WBUR

http://www.wbur.org/2011/01/04/contested-election

Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he will wait for a court battle over a Worcester County seat to play out before swearing the winner in. A recount shows Republican Peter Durant ahead by a single vote over incumbent Democratic Rep. Geraldo Alicea.

NY: State Assembly election fight may go to court | recordonline.com

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110104%2FNEWS%2F101040328%2F-1%2FSITEMAP

State Assemblyman Frank Skartados narrowed the gap Monday in his fight to hold on to his 100th District seat against Tom Kirwan. But he might have to go to court to win that battle. On Monday, the Dutchess County Board of Elections opened 44 absentee and affidavit ballots from the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie at the direction of Judge Victor Alfieri in a decision issued following a hearing in Orange County Court. Both cities are predominantly Democratic. Skartados, the Democrat in the race, picked up 37 votes to 6 for Kirwan, for a net gain of 31. (One ballot was objected to by Jim Walsh, the lawyer for the Republican team.)

OK: New Voting Machines Expected in Oklahoma in 2012 - KTEN.com

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=13776804

Voters in Oklahoma could see new polling machines by next election. State officials say it's time for the old machines to retire. According to the State Election Board, the machines are 18 years old, but the state only expected them to work for 10 years. The new devices can be expected to hit voting precincts by 2012.

PR: Court Denies Puerto Rico's Latest Voting Rights Bid

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/11/30/32201.htm

The 4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico can't vote in American elections, the 1st Circuit ruled, even though the U.S. government signed an international treaty protecting all citizens' civil and political rights. In a 2-1 decision, the federal appeals court in Boston held that the Constitution trumped international law in determining whether Puerto Rico has the right to elect its own member to the House of Representatives.

In the majority opinion, Chief Judge Sandra Lynch said voting rights are "limited to the citizens of states." Puerto Rico residents could only vote in U.S. elections through a constitutional amendment, or if the territory became a state, according to the ruling. "The constitutional text is entirely unambiguous as to what constitutes statehood; the constitution explicitly recites the thirteen original states as being the states and articulates a clear mechanism for the admission of other states, as distinct from territories," Lynch wrote. "Puerto Rico does not meet these criteria."

National

Misidentified Priorities | Oped by Tova Wang in The American Prospect

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=misidentified_priorities

With Republicans taking control of state legislatures and governorships across the country this month, newly emboldened GOP lawmakers in places like North Carolina, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas are pushing laws that would require photo identification for all voters. Voter-ID bills have already been "prefiled" -- that is, submitted before sessions begin -- in at least six states. In North Carolina, legislators have even vowed to pass such a measure in the first hundred days of the session, and incoming Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has said a voter-ID law will be the first bill introduced in the 2011 legislative session.

But despite Republican alarmism over rigged elections, voter-ID laws are a solution in search of a problem: They address an exceedingly rare type of vote fraud, cost the state money that could be used to address more pressing issues in a time of economic crisis, and serve primarily to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters -- just so politicians can influence who votes in the next election. Given the sense of urgency behind these laws, one would expect that on Election Day, droves of people scheme to fix elections by impersonating other voters. That's not the case. The type of fraud that voter-identification laws would address -- that is, impersonation of another voter at the polling place -- is exceedingly rare. An extensive analysis by professor Lori Minnite at Barnard College showed that at the federal level, only 24 people were convicted of or pleaded guilty to illegal voting between 2002 and 2005, an average of eight people a year.

International

Kosovo wraps up recount of 40 per cent of votes cast in general poll amid allegations of fraud - Winnipeg Free Press

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/breakingnews/kosovo-wraps-up-recount-of-40-per-cent-of-votes-cast-in-general-poll-amid-allegations-of-fraud-112863824.html

Kosovo's election authorities were nearing the end of a recount of nearly 40 per cent of votes cast in last month's general election, an official said Tuesday, following complaints of widespread fraud in the country's first poll since it declared its independence from Serbia. Ballots from 700 polling stations out of 760 across Kosovo where irregularities were reported have already been recounted, said Fehmi Ajvazi, a spokesman for the Central Election Commission. The commission agreed on a recount just days after the Dec. 12 poll when candidates for the 120-seat legislature complained of widespread fraud. Suspicion arose in poling station where monitors complained that votes for party candidates exceeded those cast for a single political party. Voters in Kosovo are asked to choose a political party and up to five party candidates.

Institute for Public Policy Research Issues Analysis of Winner-Take-All Elections » Ballot Access News

http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/01/04/institute-for-public-policy-research-issues-analysis-of-winner-take-all-elections/

The Institute for Public Policy Research was formed in Great Britain in 1988, and now has a presence in 25 nations. On January 4, 2011, it issued a 24-page report, “Worst of Both Worlds: Why First Past the Post No Longer Works.” The study finds that British parliamentary elections, which use the same winner-take-all system that the United States uses for federal and state elections, are deeply flawed.

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews =============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the 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.

Oklahoma to replace its optical scanners, new SoSs take office, speedy results emphasized in latest India coverage

Happy New Year! The first few days of 2011 have been busy news days (despite apparent quiet regarding Internet voting). Tonight's edition covers articles published since our December 31 edition, unless otherwise noted.

Among the news highlights: Oklahoma election officials are looking to replace their 18-year-old optical scanners with new precinct scanners for the 2012 elections; new Secretaries of State take office around the nation; and internationally, coverage of the first-time use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Indian local elections emphasizes the desirability of speedy results.

All this and more in today's Voting News below.

AZ: State officers sworn in at capitol
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_7b92621e-179b-11e0-9d6a-001cc4c03286.html

AZ: Editorial: Election process should include basic review of nominating petitions
http://campverdebugleonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=29091

CA: November election dispute lingers
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/01/dispute-about-election-results-in-ojai-and/

CT: Bridgeport's Response to a Potential Election Disaster
http://www.afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2011/January2011/Bridgeports%20Response.htm

CT: Why We Need Audits and Recounts: AccuVote Missed 0.4% of Ballots in Aspen Elections [Dec. 28]
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/why-we-need-audits-and-recounts-accuvote-missed-0-4-of-ballots-in-aspen-elections/

IN: Voting machine maintenance on county's agenda
http://www.jconline.com/article/20110102/NEWS02/101020333/Voting-machine-maintenance-on-county-s-agenda
Tippecanoe County commissioners are set to choose a company to maintain the county's voting machines. At the commissioners' Monday meeting, they will choose between Nebraska-based ES&S and Ohio-based GBS, both of which are licensed to service voting machines in Indiana.

IN: Indiana secretary of state challenge to be filed in court
http://www.wndu.com/indiana/headlines/Indiana_secretary_of_state_challenge_filed_in_court_112728604.html

IA: Schultz sworn in as Secretary of State
http://www.kgan.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.ia/24da4822-www.kgan.com.shtml

IA: Four statewide elected officials, including rookie, sworn in today http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/01/03/four-statewide-elected-officials-including-rookie-sworn-in-today/

LA: Mock election to be held at Herod

http://www.abbevillenow.com/view/full_story/10855772/article-Mock-election-to-be-held-at-Herod-?instance=home_news_lead

MI: Republicans take the reins in Michigan
http://michiganmessenger.com/45296/republicans-take-the-reins-in-michigan

MN: With new ballots, curbing confusion, costs is challenging
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16996117?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1

MN: Save money and improve election integrity
http://www.reviewmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8717:save-money-and-improve-election-integrity&catid=19:guest-opinion

MN: Another recount yields more evidence that Minnesota's system is sound [Dec. 30]
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_16967744?source=rss

MN: New Kansas secretary of state critical of Minnesota's Mark Ritchie
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/01/03/24512/new_kansas_secretary_of_state_critical_of_minnesotas_mark_ritchie

MN: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will lead National Association of Secretaries of State
http://www.jordannews.com/node/15707

NM: Duran sworn in as first GOP Sec. of State in 80 years
http://newmexicoindependent.com/68469/other-state-officials-sworn-in-as-well

NJ: Reorganized township council takes power
http://www.northjersey.com/news/112749794_Bloomfield_council_sworn_in.html
The mood at the reorganization was especially upbeat for the Democrats, as Bloomfield Republicans only recently withdrew a challenge of the November election results. Republican mayoral candidate John Lazar previously alleged illegal electioneering tactics, equipment difficulty involving one voting machine and denial of voter access.

NY: Experts shouldn't be needed to call outcome of election

http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Experts-shouldn-t-be-needed-to-call-outcome-of-930928.php

NY: Albany Times-Union Asks Legislature to Fix Recall [sic] Statute
http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/01/02/albany-times-union-asks-legislature-to-fix-recall-statute/

NY: New York Voting Must Be Improved, Says League of Women Voters
http://nyconvergence.com/2011/01/new-york-voting-must-be-improved-says-league-of-women-voters.html

NY: Watching and Waiting For a Return to Innocence
http://e-voter.blogspot.com/2010/12/watching-and-waiting-for-return-to.html

NY: Your vote counts: The Help America Vote Act - Help or hindrance?
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-letters/1731-by-virginia-martin

OK: Officials seek bids for voting machines
http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x879866766/Officials-seek-bids-for-voting-machines
State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax told The Oklahoman newspaper that the Optech-III Eagle optical-scanner machines in use since 1992 have lasted much longer than their 10-year life expectancy, but their age has become a problem.

Ziriax said bids are now being sought for a new system to be used statewide. He said officials have specified that they want a new system that’s similar to the one now being used, with optical scanners to read ballots marked by voters.

OK: Oklahoma State Officials Looking for Voting Machine Upgrade
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=13771500

OK: Oklahoma's voting machines: Out with the old
http://newsok.com/state-to-replace-voting-machines/article/3528762

OK: Voter fraud law takes effect today
http://newsok.com/voter-fraud-law-takes-effect/article/3528459

PA: City may pay for fill-in election commissioners
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20110103_City_may_pay_for_fill-in_election_commissioners_-_again.html

TX: South Texas voter fraud is rampant, seldom prosecuted
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/rio-45868-seldom-south.html

VA: Charlottesville Council Redistricting
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=13770824
As for the budgetary impact, the biggest expense would be voting machines for any new precincts, which could cost up to $40,000. Before anything is finalized, the city plans to hold public hearings on the matter this spring.

WV: Morgantown Looking to Use 'Vote by Mail' for Council Elections
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/4355-morgantown-looking-to-use-vote-by-mail-for-citycouncil-elections


National

Secretaries of state up the political ante
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=538319


International

India: Poll results to be out by Tuesday noon
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Poll-results-to-be-out-by-Tuesday-noon/articleshow/7212533.cms

India: Local body poll results to decide state's political course http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/local-body-poll-results-decide-state%E2%80%99s-political-course-148

India: Mangalore ZP, TP - EVMs to Unravel Fate of Candidates Tomorrow
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=92881&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+ZP%2C+TP+-+EVMs+to+Unravel+Fate+of+Candidates+Tomorrow+
Unlike the previous elections in which ballot boxes were used, electronic voting machines have been put to use for the first time for zilla and taluk panchayat elections in the state. In the past, counting of votes used to take a full day. Compared to that, the counting this time is expected to take only a couple of hours, as the EVMs give out candidate-wise voting pattern at the push of a button. For the electoral staff too, the tedious workload, request for recounting etc., witnessed in previous elections, will be a thing of the past.

Philippines: Is the Comelec that gullible?
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=23801

Philippines: Think-tank doesn't think much of Comelec claims
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110103-312241/Think-tank-doesnt-think-much-of-Comelec-claim


Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews

Please send article suggestions to votingnews at verifiedvoting dot org.

=============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vnDisclaimer: 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.