Florida Voters Coalition encourages citizens to observe poll closing procedures...Shelby Co TN blames technician for election fiasco, local DEM party launching own investigation...J. Alex Halderman has found a good use for touchscreen machines - reprogram them as PacMan consoles...Mason County WV to volunteer overseas vote for internet vote experiment...Bo Lipari has Part I of Verified Voting's new series on concerns with Internet Voting...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: Bessemer, Ala: mayoral candidate uses fake photo and endorsement; campaign manager confesses to hoax http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006428.html
FL: Spend an Hour - Make a Difference on Election Night
http://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/spend-hour-make-difference-on-election.html
Hot dog! This is your chance to spend an hour on election-night to help secure Florida's elections. Observe poll-closing procedures in any precinct near you, and help gather important compliance data we can use to improve future elections.
NC: Local judicial candidates at odds over fall election ballot
http://www.mountainx.com/news/2010/local_judicial_candidates_at_odds_over_fall_election_ballot
Dreher takes the position that all five candidates should be included under only one ballot listing “without designation as to vacancy.” The state’s instant-runoff voting system would then be implemented to determine two winners from the list of five.
PA: Team 4: Non-US Citizens Removed From Voter Rolls
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/r/24679152/detail.html
PA: Editorial: Cash clouds image of judges
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100819_Editorial__Cash_clouds_image_of_judges.html When it comes to spending money to elect state Supreme Court justices, Pennsylvania is No. 1.
Unfortunately, this is not a top ranking to boast about. That's because the river of money that flows into judicial elections creates the perception for many that justice isn't always blind.
TN: Shelby County Election Commission Releases Its Findings On Election Day Problems * http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Shelby-County-Election-Commission-Releases-Its/gpBzJPliuk2KvChu9lvK3g.cspx
Commissioners say on August 5th, Computer Analyst Dennis Boyce loaded the wrong data files into the Electronic Polling Books (EPB). The data he loaded reflected people who voted in last May’s election and as a result people like Thompson went to vote on August 5th, only to be told they voted already.
...
Turner says he’s come across voters who say they didn’t vote in the May election, but were still turned away on August 5th. The Shelby County Democratic Party is also conducting an investigation and will release its own report and recommendations.
TN: Democrats Claim Voting Machines Can Be Altered
http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Democrats-Claim-Voting-Machines-Can-Be-Altered/nDhkxvpg50q8aJOlSQvtpw.cspx
MEMPHIS, TN—The Head of the Shelby County Democratic Party believes investigators have found a way to change votes after they have been cast. Investigators for the Democratic Party have been at the election commission digging for information since the August 5, 2010 election.
“We’re pulling down databases, records, looking at machines and trying to figure out what is going on,” said party chairman, Van Turner, “what records reveal, I think is just the tip of the iceberg.
TN: Pair of votes on same day no problem
Morgan County prepared for concurrent special, general elections Nov. 2
http://www.decaturdaily.com/detail/66788.html A special election in Hartselle on the same day as the Nov. 2 general election will not cause problems for Morgan County, officials said.
TX: New election ordered in commissioner race* (absentee ballot fraud)
http://www.delrionewsherald.com/story.lasso?ewcd=40438f4ce48b3ec6
Flores charged in his suit that he lost the election by 29 votes to the then-incumbent, Jesus “Cheo” Ortiz, because of illegal mail-in ballots.
Internet Voting Watch
Internet Voting Verified Voting's Internet Voting Series
http://blog.verifiedvoting.org/2010/08/18/752
In a wired world, it was inevitable that the subject of Internet Voting become a hot topic sooner rather than later. But more than just a topic of discussion, this year eighteen states will allow overseas ballots to be returned via email in November’s elections. Yet according to security experts, voted ballots sent via Internet simply cannot be made secure, and make easy and inviting targets for attackers ranging from lone hackers to foreign governments seeking to undermine US elections.
WV: Commission adopts Internet Voting Pilot Project
http://www.mydailyregister.com/view/full_story/9199869/article-Commission-adopts-Internet-Voting-Pilot-Project?instance=secondary_news_left_column POINT PLEASANT — Mason County has adopted a new computerized voting program, which will take effect during the upcoming general election.
During Tuesday’s Mason County Commission meeting, County Clerk Diana Cromley discussed the Internet Voting Pilot Program. According to Cromley, the program is free to Mason County, and is for anyone overseas, such as military personnel.
National
J. Alex Halderman: The Future of DRE Voting Machines (video and blog)
http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/jhalderm/future-dre-voting-machines
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that such machines can be reprogrammed to steal votes, so when we got our hands on a DRE called the Sequoia AVC Edge, we decided to do something different: we reprogrammed it to run Pac-Man.
Researchers Reprogram Voting Machine To Run Pacman
http://idle.slashdot.org/story/10/08/19/1253234/Researchers-Reprogram-Voting-Machine-To-Run-Pacman
Report probes state Supreme Court spending (overview plus full report avail)
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/228362-report-probes-state-sc-spending
Spending on state supreme court elections more than doubled from $83.3 million from 1990-1999 to $206.9 million from 2000-2009.
...
"For more than two centuries, Americans have counted on judges to ignore political pressure. But the flood of special-interest money is changing that. Without reforms, there is a real risk of irreversible damage to public confidence in our courts."
Federal Election Commission General Counsel leaving agency
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/08/19/federal-election-commission-general-counsel-leaving-agency/
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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Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Maricopa AZ election protection suit filed. TN and WA election websites crash
Citizens file emergency suit to force Maricopa AZ Elections Dept to follow law...Florida Voters Coalition collecting observations on poll closings nxt Tues...Tennessee State Election website crashed 5 times on election day, delays Dyer Cnty results...Washington election returns crash state computers...1,100 Snohomish Cnty WA voters get ballots within hours to vote..90 yrs ago the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: Alabama expands options for military, overseas voters to comply with new law
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100817/NEWS02/8170313/Alabama-expands-options-for-military-overseas-voters-to-comply-with-new-law Secretary of State Beth Chapman an nounced a contract with Scytl USA that will allow for the electronic transmission of ab sentee ballots to military and overseas vot ers. The ballot request and completed ballots still have to be sent through the U.S. Postal Service.
AR: Judge: Stone County special election unauthorized
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/aug/16/judge-stone-county-special-election-unauthorized/ Republican sheriff nominee Russ Aiken filed the suit, which claimed Gov. Mike Beebe was not authorized to call the new vote in the wake of a June 8 runoff in which the two Democratic candidates tied with 1,383 tallies each.
AZ: Emergency lawsuit filed to force Maricopa Cnty Elections Dept to follow the law to protect upcoming election results from election fraud
http://audit-az.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-monday-08162010-emergency-lawsuit.html
Election research over the last three weeks (based on the work of AUDIT AZ since 2006) discovered flagrant ILLEGAL violations of Arizona Election Laws [2]. The interlocking pattern of deliberate subversion of these security measures indicated below makes manipulation of vote counting easy, thus leaving elections vulnerable to undetectable fraud...
AZ: Institute for Justice Files Cert. Petition in Arizona Public Financing Matching Funds Case http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016748.html
CT: Post-Election Audit Drawing: 73 Districts 45 Municipalities Selected
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/post-election-audit-drawing-73-districts-45-municipalities-selected/
Today the Secretary of the State’s Office conducted the random drawing. Members of CTVotersCount and the League of Women Voters performed the selections.
FL: Eyes on the Process - Spend an Hour Making a Difference
http://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/eyes-on-process-spend-hour-making.html It's a good time for the public to exercise its ownership of elections by observing poll-closing procedures next Tuesday, election-day
...
We will have simple instructions and a simple form you can use to collect a few important observations
FL: Fla. launches new website for election results
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/17/1780066/fla-launches-new-website-for-election.html
FL: Brevard elections supervisor fights voter fraud, debunks myths
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100805/COLUMNISTS0207/8050310/Brevard-elections-supervisor-fights-voter-fraud-debunks-myths
IN: Former Roseland council member challenges jailed voter ban
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100818/News01/100819512/-1/googleNews
A former Roseland Town Council member jailed for a misdemeanor crime has sued state and county election officials, alleging that a state law allowing cancellation of his voter registration is unconstitutional.
NC: Hopkins outlines frantic elections
http://www.wdnweb.com/articles/2010/08/18/news/doc4c6b03ac7a741885212932.txt
There has been a contentious second primary involving two Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, the introduction of an unaffiliated candidate to the Beaufort County commissioners’ race — and now there’s the possibility of an “instant runoff” to replace N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Jim Wynn.
NY: How much money is New York City going to gain from new law counting prisoners at home? http://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/news/2010/08/18/howmuch/
If money is not at stake, why did 3 states pledge to count incarcerated people at home for redistricting purposes? Because those states want to ensure that legislative districts are drawn fairly, and that no district gets undue influence just because it contains a large correctional facility
OH: Voters will be contacted to correct mis-matched information
http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=156&ArticleID=185859
...in the next two weeks due to non-matching data discovered during the comparison of records between the Ohio Secretary of State’s statewide voter registration database and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ database.
TN: Certification of August election delayed by state * (State website crashed)
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1657161.html
On election night, the commission would normally go to the state's election website and enter the cumulative total. However, the website crashed several times throughout the evening, leaving counties unable to enter results. Heathcott added that it is no fault of the state, because it was simply an unforeseen technical problem that had to be resolved. She noted that Dyer County had to get in line with the other 95 counties in which to receive the information.
"That's why it has taken so long to certify," said Heathcott. "In their (the state's) defense their whole system went down five times on Election Day and it has taken them awhile to be able to get this information to us.
TN: Judge lays guidelines for inquiry of election *
Democrats given limited access to voting results
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/17/judge-lays-guidelines-for-inquiry-of-election/
A judge on Monday laid out written ground rules for Shelby County Democrats' inspection of voting equipment and records as they continued a legal challenge of how the Republican-controlled Election Commission handled the Aug. 5 vote.
...
On Monday afternoon, the Democratic team was seeking items including the "statement of votes cast" by precinct and candidate, the list of eligible voters from Aug. 5, and the incident report log, which would record calls about voting problems, said Interim County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman, one of the Democrats who filed the lawsuit.
...
Democrats filed a lawsuit Aug. 9, citing the poll book problem and alleging others, including improper tallying of votes and that at one polling location, Shiloh Baptist Church in Frayser, machines were not working when the polls opened.
TN: Litigants' Direct Inspection of Voting Results Halted Until Monday
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/17/litigants-direct-inspection-of-voting-results-halted-until-monday
TN: Group Calls on Sharpton for Voting Flap (Shelby County, Diebold machines)
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081810-group-calls-on-sharpton-for-voting-flap
"We believe that the smoking gun, as it relates to this election, are the machines themselves," said Greg Grant, President of the National Action Network's Memphis chapter
TN: Election Commission to meet Wednesday to discuss its mistake
http://www.dnj.com/article/20100817/NEWS03/100817019 Rutherford County...The mistake involved not conducting early voting during one of the three Saturdays through the early voting period for at least three hours at a polling location as required by the state law.
TX: Lawmakers listening to elections complaints, but Rep. Ryan Guillen unsure how to toughen laws on mail-in ballot fraud http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2010/08/lawmakers-listening-to-elections-complaints-but-rep-ryan/1282149900.column
TX: Hidalgo County Presses Ahead With Disputed Election
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-news-media/2010-elections-newspaper-endorsements/hidalgo-county-presses-on-with-disputed-election/ Texas’ top election official says it’s illegal. Local attorneys say they can’t do it. A judge ordered them to stop.
No matter; Rio Grande Valley officials are planning to go ahead and hold a special election in November to fill a seat on the Hidalgo County Commissioners' Court.
WA: Washington election returns crash state computers*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/
2012650094_election_returns_crash_state_c.html http://tinyurl.com/32llgu9
The Secretary of State's election website malfunctioned for much of the night Tuesday, causing frustration for news agencies, election officials and members of the public.
WA: 1,278 Snohomish County ballots not mailed until Monday*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012638761_missingballots17m.html
More than 1,000 Snohomish County election ballots weren't mailed to voters because of an error during printing. The county auditor's office Monday mailed replacement ballots and asked that they be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
WA: Snohomish County voters dealing with ballot snafu* (mail absentee ballots)
http://coffeblog.com/snohomish-county-voters-dealing-with-ballot-snafu-king5-com.html
...The auditor’s office says it appears there was some type of mistake in the printing process and those ballots were set aside and never re-printed.
More than 1,100 voters in Snohomish County never received their ballots, including voters who live at the Chateau Retirement and Assisted Living Facility on 148th Street Southwest in Lynnwood.
Some voters around Lynnwood-area precincts also did not get their ballots.
The auditor’s office just found out about this problem on Monday — the day before the election. It’s been crunch time since. The auditor’s office mailed out replacement ballots Monday.
WA: EXPOSED SIGNATURES ON MAILED BALLOTS
http://soundpolitics.com/archives/014170.html
WA: 9th Circuit will re-open WA felon voting case
http://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2010/08/9th-circuit-will-re-open-wa-felon-voting-case/
An 11-judge panel will re-hear the case that three of its own judges had decided in favor of the inmates earlier this year.
WA: Snohomish ballot-mailing error irks some*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2012649015_snohomish_ballot-mailing_error.html
That left voters only a few hours to return their ballots by the 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday. The concern was heightened because the ballots include the Edmonds School District levy, which would raise property taxes if approved.
Internet Voting Watch
Recapping The OSCON O’Reilly Radar Conversation (video avail, partial transc)
http://www.trustthevote.org/recapping-the-oscon-o%e2%80%99reilly-radar-conversation
Will online voting ever be viable?
...
So, we’re not supporters of widespread use of the Internet for voting and we don’t believe it will be viable in the near future on a widespread basis. And honestly, we have too much to do in just improving upon ballot casting and counting devices in a polling place setting to spend too many cycles thinking about how to do this across the Internet.
National
Today Marks the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
http://indyposted.com/38487/today-marks-the-90th-anniversary-of-the-19th-amendment/
A Brief History of How Women Earned the Right to Vote
Citizens United Strikes Again! Newscorp gives $1 Million to Republican Governors Association http://protectourelections.org/node/26
Statelight: Transparency in a Box, Pt. 2
http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/08/18/statelight-transparency-in-a-box-pt-2/
We have chosen three priority issues to begin with, and today I’m looking at why we feel like those issues are good places to start for state-based advocacy. They are: Ethics and Campaign Finance, Legislative Data, and Budget Transparency
#17: Let Prisoners Vote
http://bigthink.com/ideas/21790 Ohio State University law professor Douglas A. Berman says everyone affected by society's laws ought to have a right to vote—even if they have to mail in their ballot from the big house.
There are currently 2.3 million disenfranchised inmates in the United States
International
Canadian perspective on lobbyist disclosure
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/08/18/canadian-perspective-on-lobbyist-disclosure/
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...
AL: Alabama expands options for military, overseas voters to comply with new law
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100817/NEWS02/8170313/Alabama-expands-options-for-military-overseas-voters-to-comply-with-new-law Secretary of State Beth Chapman an nounced a contract with Scytl USA that will allow for the electronic transmission of ab sentee ballots to military and overseas vot ers. The ballot request and completed ballots still have to be sent through the U.S. Postal Service.
AR: Judge: Stone County special election unauthorized
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/aug/16/judge-stone-county-special-election-unauthorized/ Republican sheriff nominee Russ Aiken filed the suit, which claimed Gov. Mike Beebe was not authorized to call the new vote in the wake of a June 8 runoff in which the two Democratic candidates tied with 1,383 tallies each.
AZ: Emergency lawsuit filed to force Maricopa Cnty Elections Dept to follow the law to protect upcoming election results from election fraud
http://audit-az.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-monday-08162010-emergency-lawsuit.html
Election research over the last three weeks (based on the work of AUDIT AZ since 2006) discovered flagrant ILLEGAL violations of Arizona Election Laws [2]. The interlocking pattern of deliberate subversion of these security measures indicated below makes manipulation of vote counting easy, thus leaving elections vulnerable to undetectable fraud...
AZ: Institute for Justice Files Cert. Petition in Arizona Public Financing Matching Funds Case http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016748.html
CT: Post-Election Audit Drawing: 73 Districts 45 Municipalities Selected
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/post-election-audit-drawing-73-districts-45-municipalities-selected/
Today the Secretary of the State’s Office conducted the random drawing. Members of CTVotersCount and the League of Women Voters performed the selections.
FL: Eyes on the Process - Spend an Hour Making a Difference
http://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/eyes-on-process-spend-hour-making.html It's a good time for the public to exercise its ownership of elections by observing poll-closing procedures next Tuesday, election-day
...
We will have simple instructions and a simple form you can use to collect a few important observations
FL: Fla. launches new website for election results
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/17/1780066/fla-launches-new-website-for-election.html
FL: Brevard elections supervisor fights voter fraud, debunks myths
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100805/COLUMNISTS0207/8050310/Brevard-elections-supervisor-fights-voter-fraud-debunks-myths
IN: Former Roseland council member challenges jailed voter ban
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100818/News01/100819512/-1/googleNews
A former Roseland Town Council member jailed for a misdemeanor crime has sued state and county election officials, alleging that a state law allowing cancellation of his voter registration is unconstitutional.
NC: Hopkins outlines frantic elections
http://www.wdnweb.com/articles/2010/08/18/news/doc4c6b03ac7a741885212932.txt
There has been a contentious second primary involving two Democratic U.S. Senate candidates, the introduction of an unaffiliated candidate to the Beaufort County commissioners’ race — and now there’s the possibility of an “instant runoff” to replace N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Jim Wynn.
NY: How much money is New York City going to gain from new law counting prisoners at home? http://www.prisonersofthecensus.org/news/2010/08/18/howmuch/
If money is not at stake, why did 3 states pledge to count incarcerated people at home for redistricting purposes? Because those states want to ensure that legislative districts are drawn fairly, and that no district gets undue influence just because it contains a large correctional facility
OH: Voters will be contacted to correct mis-matched information
http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=156&ArticleID=185859
...in the next two weeks due to non-matching data discovered during the comparison of records between the Ohio Secretary of State’s statewide voter registration database and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ database.
TN: Certification of August election delayed by state * (State website crashed)
http://www.stategazette.com/story/1657161.html
On election night, the commission would normally go to the state's election website and enter the cumulative total. However, the website crashed several times throughout the evening, leaving counties unable to enter results. Heathcott added that it is no fault of the state, because it was simply an unforeseen technical problem that had to be resolved. She noted that Dyer County had to get in line with the other 95 counties in which to receive the information.
"That's why it has taken so long to certify," said Heathcott. "In their (the state's) defense their whole system went down five times on Election Day and it has taken them awhile to be able to get this information to us.
TN: Judge lays guidelines for inquiry of election *
Democrats given limited access to voting results
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/17/judge-lays-guidelines-for-inquiry-of-election/
A judge on Monday laid out written ground rules for Shelby County Democrats' inspection of voting equipment and records as they continued a legal challenge of how the Republican-controlled Election Commission handled the Aug. 5 vote.
...
On Monday afternoon, the Democratic team was seeking items including the "statement of votes cast" by precinct and candidate, the list of eligible voters from Aug. 5, and the incident report log, which would record calls about voting problems, said Interim County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman, one of the Democrats who filed the lawsuit.
...
Democrats filed a lawsuit Aug. 9, citing the poll book problem and alleging others, including improper tallying of votes and that at one polling location, Shiloh Baptist Church in Frayser, machines were not working when the polls opened.
TN: Litigants' Direct Inspection of Voting Results Halted Until Monday
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/17/litigants-direct-inspection-of-voting-results-halted-until-monday
TN: Group Calls on Sharpton for Voting Flap (Shelby County, Diebold machines)
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081810-group-calls-on-sharpton-for-voting-flap
"We believe that the smoking gun, as it relates to this election, are the machines themselves," said Greg Grant, President of the National Action Network's Memphis chapter
TN: Election Commission to meet Wednesday to discuss its mistake
http://www.dnj.com/article/20100817/NEWS03/100817019 Rutherford County...The mistake involved not conducting early voting during one of the three Saturdays through the early voting period for at least three hours at a polling location as required by the state law.
TX: Lawmakers listening to elections complaints, but Rep. Ryan Guillen unsure how to toughen laws on mail-in ballot fraud http://www.texaswatchdog.org/2010/08/lawmakers-listening-to-elections-complaints-but-rep-ryan/1282149900.column
TX: Hidalgo County Presses Ahead With Disputed Election
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-news-media/2010-elections-newspaper-endorsements/hidalgo-county-presses-on-with-disputed-election/ Texas’ top election official says it’s illegal. Local attorneys say they can’t do it. A judge ordered them to stop.
No matter; Rio Grande Valley officials are planning to go ahead and hold a special election in November to fill a seat on the Hidalgo County Commissioners' Court.
WA: Washington election returns crash state computers*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/
2012650094_election_returns_crash_state_c.html http://tinyurl.com/32llgu9
The Secretary of State's election website malfunctioned for much of the night Tuesday, causing frustration for news agencies, election officials and members of the public.
WA: 1,278 Snohomish County ballots not mailed until Monday*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012638761_missingballots17m.html
More than 1,000 Snohomish County election ballots weren't mailed to voters because of an error during printing. The county auditor's office Monday mailed replacement ballots and asked that they be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
WA: Snohomish County voters dealing with ballot snafu* (mail absentee ballots)
http://coffeblog.com/snohomish-county-voters-dealing-with-ballot-snafu-king5-com.html
...The auditor’s office says it appears there was some type of mistake in the printing process and those ballots were set aside and never re-printed.
More than 1,100 voters in Snohomish County never received their ballots, including voters who live at the Chateau Retirement and Assisted Living Facility on 148th Street Southwest in Lynnwood.
Some voters around Lynnwood-area precincts also did not get their ballots.
The auditor’s office just found out about this problem on Monday — the day before the election. It’s been crunch time since. The auditor’s office mailed out replacement ballots Monday.
WA: EXPOSED SIGNATURES ON MAILED BALLOTS
http://soundpolitics.com/archives/014170.html
WA: 9th Circuit will re-open WA felon voting case
http://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2010/08/9th-circuit-will-re-open-wa-felon-voting-case/
An 11-judge panel will re-hear the case that three of its own judges had decided in favor of the inmates earlier this year.
WA: Snohomish ballot-mailing error irks some*
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2012649015_snohomish_ballot-mailing_error.html
That left voters only a few hours to return their ballots by the 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday. The concern was heightened because the ballots include the Edmonds School District levy, which would raise property taxes if approved.
Internet Voting Watch
Recapping The OSCON O’Reilly Radar Conversation (video avail, partial transc)
http://www.trustthevote.org/recapping-the-oscon-o%e2%80%99reilly-radar-conversation
Will online voting ever be viable?
...
So, we’re not supporters of widespread use of the Internet for voting and we don’t believe it will be viable in the near future on a widespread basis. And honestly, we have too much to do in just improving upon ballot casting and counting devices in a polling place setting to spend too many cycles thinking about how to do this across the Internet.
National
Today Marks the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
http://indyposted.com/38487/today-marks-the-90th-anniversary-of-the-19th-amendment/
A Brief History of How Women Earned the Right to Vote
Citizens United Strikes Again! Newscorp gives $1 Million to Republican Governors Association http://protectourelections.org/node/26
Statelight: Transparency in a Box, Pt. 2
http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/08/18/statelight-transparency-in-a-box-pt-2/
We have chosen three priority issues to begin with, and today I’m looking at why we feel like those issues are good places to start for state-based advocacy. They are: Ethics and Campaign Finance, Legislative Data, and Budget Transparency
#17: Let Prisoners Vote
http://bigthink.com/ideas/21790 Ohio State University law professor Douglas A. Berman says everyone affected by society's laws ought to have a right to vote—even if they have to mail in their ballot from the big house.
There are currently 2.3 million disenfranchised inmates in the United States
International
Canadian perspective on lobbyist disclosure
http://politicalactivitylaw.com/2010/08/18/canadian-perspective-on-lobbyist-disclosure/
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Waukesha WI clerk keeps vote data on her PC, El Paso CO invites public oversight
A tale of two election offices: "WI's Waukesha County Clerk to Keep Elections Results on Her Personal Computer Really, really dumb...What part of 'public official' and 'public elections' to these sorts of folks not get???" ~Brad Friedman...Contrast to this good example: "Coloradans For Voting Integrity Citizen Volunteers Audit Primary Election Ballots in El Paso County, CO." Robert Balink, El Paso Cnty Clerk, & Liz Olson, MGR—Election Dept, welcomed the citizens & embraced transparency... Also in WV more reasons not to vote absentee if you don't have to...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
Editor's note - news is a little slow but be glad, yesterday was overload!
AZ: Pueblo Politics: Elections director says outcome should be known more quickly
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/article_b4fc2cac-a990-11df-97f8-001cc4c03286.html (Pima County)
CA: State elections official praises county ballot-counting upgrades
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/16/state-elections-official-praises-county-ballot/
CO: Coloradans For Voting Integrity Citizen Volunteers Audit Primary Election Ballots in El Paso County, CO
http://www.glassballotbox.org/journal/2010/8/17/coloradans-for-voting-integrity-citizen-volunteers-audit-pri.html
Robert Balink, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, and Liz Olson, Manager—Election Department, welcomed the group to reinforce the message that transparency and verifiability of elections are fundamental elements of our democracy.
CT: See That Your Vote Counted: Sign-Up for the Post-Election Audit Observations Now!
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/see-that-your-vote-counted-sign-up-for-the-post-election-audits-observations-now/ The Coalition will need 50% more volunteer observers to fully cover this election audit.
CT: New Haven Register Carries Op-Ed Critical of Connecticut’s Discrimination Against Independent Candidates in Public Funding
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/17/new-haven-register-carries-op-ed-critical-of-connecticuts-discrimination-against-independent-candidates-in-public-funding/
GA: Election Complaint Filed In Clayton County
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/08/16/election-complaint-filed-in-clayton-county
State officials are reviewing complaints made by candidates who lost the primaries in Clayton County, to see if an investigation is necessary.
...
They accuse the county elections supervisor Annie Bright of unprofessional conduct and they want an examination of the ballot computing process and the voting machines.
IN: Lawsuit Filed Against Indiana Law that Cancels Voter Registration for Anyone Sent to Jail for a Misdemeanor http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/16/lawsuit-filed-against-indiana-law-that-wont-allow-anyone-in-jail-for-a-misdemeanor-to-vote/
MI: Reaction mixed to election's electronic poll book
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100815/NEWS08/8150432
Electronic poll books were supposed to speed up things, but many city clerks across the state instead found delays election night.
RI: State police take over voter registration card investigation
http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/aug/17/state-police-take-over-voter-registration-card-inv-ar-196432/
Correction fluid was used to blank out phone numbers on 45 voter registration cards. Phone numbers are not required on the cards, and Grebian said a volunteer might have been trying to protect the privacy of new voters.
TN: REPORT: Rutherford violated state election law*
http://www.dnj.com/article/20100816/NEWS01/100816029
The Rutherford County Election Commission may have violated a state law by not having polls open on a Saturday during three weeks of early voting in July, News Channel 5 reported tonight.
Elections Administrator Hooper Penuel told Channel 5 the polls were mistakenly closed on the first Saturday during early voting.
WI: WI's Waukesha County Clerk to Keep Elections Results on Her Personal Computer
Really, really dumb: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7988
WV: Judge throws out Lincoln ballots, declares Brumfield winner* (absentee ballots)
http://wvgazette.com/News/201008160566
A circuit judge threw out more than 300 contested absentee ballots Monday in Lincoln County's primary election and ordered county officials to declare incumbent Circuit Clerk Charles Brumfield the winner of the clerk's race in the May 11 primary.
...
Harvey Peyton, Brumfield's lawyer, said more than 200 of the absentee ballot requests were partly or completely filled out by someone other than the absentee voter, and should have been thrown out. Another 100 or so absentee voters gave questionable reasons for wanting to cast absentee ballots.
National
A bunch of academic papers are now available online from the USENIX
conference on voting:
http://www.usenix.org/events/evtwote10/tech/
"Target's PAC donation a wake-up call for reform"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016735.html
Opinion: The public has the right to know who finances campaigns
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=z1xt6trzabp40v&xid=z1w0fb3mjytpmt&done=.z1xt6trzacd40v
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer:
Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's voting news below...
Editor's note - news is a little slow but be glad, yesterday was overload!
AZ: Pueblo Politics: Elections director says outcome should be known more quickly
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/article_b4fc2cac-a990-11df-97f8-001cc4c03286.html (Pima County)
CA: State elections official praises county ballot-counting upgrades
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/aug/16/state-elections-official-praises-county-ballot/
CO: Coloradans For Voting Integrity Citizen Volunteers Audit Primary Election Ballots in El Paso County, CO
http://www.glassballotbox.org/journal/2010/8/17/coloradans-for-voting-integrity-citizen-volunteers-audit-pri.html
Robert Balink, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, and Liz Olson, Manager—Election Department, welcomed the group to reinforce the message that transparency and verifiability of elections are fundamental elements of our democracy.
CT: See That Your Vote Counted: Sign-Up for the Post-Election Audit Observations Now!
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/see-that-your-vote-counted-sign-up-for-the-post-election-audits-observations-now/ The Coalition will need 50% more volunteer observers to fully cover this election audit.
CT: New Haven Register Carries Op-Ed Critical of Connecticut’s Discrimination Against Independent Candidates in Public Funding
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/17/new-haven-register-carries-op-ed-critical-of-connecticuts-discrimination-against-independent-candidates-in-public-funding/
GA: Election Complaint Filed In Clayton County
http://www.gpb.org/news/2010/08/16/election-complaint-filed-in-clayton-county
State officials are reviewing complaints made by candidates who lost the primaries in Clayton County, to see if an investigation is necessary.
...
They accuse the county elections supervisor Annie Bright of unprofessional conduct and they want an examination of the ballot computing process and the voting machines.
IN: Lawsuit Filed Against Indiana Law that Cancels Voter Registration for Anyone Sent to Jail for a Misdemeanor http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/16/lawsuit-filed-against-indiana-law-that-wont-allow-anyone-in-jail-for-a-misdemeanor-to-vote/
MI: Reaction mixed to election's electronic poll book
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100815/NEWS08/8150432
Electronic poll books were supposed to speed up things, but many city clerks across the state instead found delays election night.
RI: State police take over voter registration card investigation
http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/aug/17/state-police-take-over-voter-registration-card-inv-ar-196432/
Correction fluid was used to blank out phone numbers on 45 voter registration cards. Phone numbers are not required on the cards, and Grebian said a volunteer might have been trying to protect the privacy of new voters.
TN: REPORT: Rutherford violated state election law*
http://www.dnj.com/article/20100816/NEWS01/100816029
The Rutherford County Election Commission may have violated a state law by not having polls open on a Saturday during three weeks of early voting in July, News Channel 5 reported tonight.
Elections Administrator Hooper Penuel told Channel 5 the polls were mistakenly closed on the first Saturday during early voting.
WI: WI's Waukesha County Clerk to Keep Elections Results on Her Personal Computer
Really, really dumb: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7988
WV: Judge throws out Lincoln ballots, declares Brumfield winner* (absentee ballots)
http://wvgazette.com/News/201008160566
A circuit judge threw out more than 300 contested absentee ballots Monday in Lincoln County's primary election and ordered county officials to declare incumbent Circuit Clerk Charles Brumfield the winner of the clerk's race in the May 11 primary.
...
Harvey Peyton, Brumfield's lawyer, said more than 200 of the absentee ballot requests were partly or completely filled out by someone other than the absentee voter, and should have been thrown out. Another 100 or so absentee voters gave questionable reasons for wanting to cast absentee ballots.
National
A bunch of academic papers are now available online from the USENIX
conference on voting:
http://www.usenix.org/events/evtwote10/tech/
"Target's PAC donation a wake-up call for reform"
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/016735.html
Opinion: The public has the right to know who finances campaigns
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=z1xt6trzabp40v&xid=z1w0fb3mjytpmt&done=.z1xt6trzacd40v
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.
Monday, August 16, 2010
MORE Tenn. election fiascos. New Lee FL mail ballot probs. Wallach's 'The Wørd'
Tennessee racks up more election failures: 100 Blount County voters were given the wrong ballot. Davidson Cnty vote totals changed when an uncounted voting machine was found. Shelby Co was in news last week when e-poll books wrongly blocked thousands of voters, an investigation is underway...Candidate's envelopes cause major problems for Lee Cnty Florida voters..18 Members of Congress Call On Atty Gen Holder to Ensure Integrity of Voting Systems..24x7 help for Military Vote for Upcoming Election...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AR: Back to the future (will use touchscreens for early voting)
http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/11280 To borrow the title line from an old movie, Sebastian County will go “Back to the Future” when it begins tabulating votes precinct-by-precinct after the Nov. 2 General Election.
...
The electronic voting machines used in Sebastian County can handle the 91 ballots needed for all precincts. So early voting in Sebastian County will be only by electronic voting machine, the same method as that used in Pulaski County. Incidentally, voting in neighboring Crawford County is all electronic.
AR: Voting Machine Purchase On Hold
Commission Eyes Electronic Poll Books
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/aug/14/voting-machine-purchase-hold/?latest
A plan to add to the number of voting machines in Benton County has been put on hold by questions about software compatibility with the manufacturer’s newest model.
...
“I hope to buy electronic poll books this year if I can redirect (the money) that way,” Miller said during a discussion of the 2011 budget ...
CA: Court Date Set for Hearing in Case Against Implementation of California’s “Top-Two” System http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/14/court-date-set-for-hearing-in-case-against-implementation-of-californias-top-two-system/
CO: NOREEN: Elections don't need polling places (opinion)
http://www.gazette.com/news/noreen-102959-county-paso.html
FL: Rick Scott envelopes cause major problems with voters* (Absentee ballots)
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-16/Rick-Scott-envelopes-cause-major-problems-with-voters LEE County
If you do not use and sign the Election's Office envelope and then put the Election's Office envelope into the Scott envelope, your vote will not count.
The Scott envelope is not to be used in place of the Election's Office envelope.
FL: Another Victory – This Time in Miami-Dade; or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Precinct http://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-victory-this-time-in-miami-dade.html That means we’re to do ballot accounting at the precinct after all. The changes don’t make it perfect but they do appear to return to substantial compliance with Florida law and good practice.
IL: More Outcome Oriented Research
http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2010/08/16/more-outcome-oriented-research/
I can’t say I know much about race relations in Boston. But I know a little about election administration. Enough to know that the draft paper by Profs. Rachael Cobb, James Greiner, and Kevin Quinn, is long on conjecture and short on facts.
...
I’ve got my doubts about the value of voter ID laws. But those doubts have nothing to do with the ability of election judges to administer them fairly. This research is faulty and its conclusions unsupported. If opponents of voter ID laws are truly concerned about this issue, they should go back into the field in November 2010
NC: New Bern ballot maker defends its reputation and legacy
http://www.newbernsj.com/news/new-89823-bern-materials.html
“People eager to bash the governor or electronic voting machines were ready to use the damaging factoids and insinuations in the initial story to their advantage,” wrote Hall, who heads the citizen advocacy group. “Through the muddle, there was enough information to see that neither Bartlett nor Bev Perdue selected the vendor and that counties are free to buy ballots from other printers.”
NM: Lynn Ellins: Baseless allegations of voter fraud
http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_15773119
However, hasty accusations or unverified claims such as Ms. Cooper's promote needless distrust of the system. Citizens can rest assured that where substantiated or credible concerns are raised, the Doña Ana County Clerk's office will take appropriate action against voter fraud and will protect our system of elected government, as it has in the past. (Lynn Ellins is Doña Ana County Clerk.)
OH: Premier Elections Solutions pays up in Ohio Diebold suit, offers more faulty voting machines for free http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/14/premier-elections-solutions-pays-up-in-ohio-diebold-suit-offers/
OH: Ohio signing up more voters at public assistance offices
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/08/ohio_signing_up_more_voters_at.html
More than 11,000 people in Cuyahoga County have registered to vote this year through public-assistance programs as part of a renewed effort to involve poor people in elections throughout Ohio.
OH: Toledo Blade Editorializes in Favor of Ballot Labels in Judicial Elections
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/14/toledo-blade-editorializes-in-favor-of-ballot-labels-in-judicial-elections/ Counties are also eligible for up to $2.4 million in free Premiere software for two years, and the company's even throwing in up to 2,909 free voting machines along with a 50 percent coupon for maintenance fees. Right, because the Buckeye State is so anxious to start using the machines it found so faulty to begin with.
PA: Bill Would Universalize Absentee Ballots
http://wduqnews.blogspot.com/2010/08/bill-would-universalize-absentee.html
A Berks County Senator wants to amend the state constitution so that Pennsylvanians would not need an excuse to vote with an absentee ballot.
PA: Two Pennsylvania Statewide Minor Party Candidates Withdraw Rather than Face Challenge Fee Threat http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/16/two-pennsylvania-statewide-minor-party-candidates-withdraw-rather-than-face-challenge-fee-threat/
RI: Grebien, workers subject of voter card tampering *
http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/content/view/133590/1/ PAWTUCKET — Mayoral candidate Donald Grebien and several of his campaign workers are the subject of a Pawtucket police investigation into allegations of tampering with voter registration forms.
SC: Candidate Off Ballot Because His Dog Ate His Petitions
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/15/candidate-off-ballot-because-his-dog-ate-his-petitions/
..a candidate for the School Board in Lady’s Island, South Carolina
TN: Election audit drops Henry's lead over Yarbro to 11 votes*
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100816/NEWS02/100816025/Election+
audit+drops+Henry+s+lead+over+Yarbro+to+11+votes http://tinyurl.com/262j8mv
A new week has brought yet another set of vote totals in the close battle for the Tennessee Senate District 21 race, closing the gap slightly between Sen. Douglas Henry and challenger Jeff Yarbro.
An audit by the Davidson County Election Commission turned up a previously uncounted voting machine from one precinct, Election Administrator Ray Barrett confirmed this morning. Yarbro won that machine by two votes over Henry, reducing Henry's lead from 13 votes to 11.
TN: Rockford wants vote investigation * (Blount County)
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/13/rockford-wants-vote-investigation/
Breeding said that Rockford is a split state House of Representatives district, and the first hundred voters for the 8th District were improperly given ballots for the 20th District.
...
"I don't think the machines were set for the right district, but I can't prove it," he said. "That's why the state should look into it. I think the machines are hard-coded wrong before they get to Rockford."
TN: Primary Election Probe Underway
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081610-primary-election-probe-underway
"Basically the court has appointed clerk and Master Duane Settle to hear the on going issues that we're having," said Van Turner, attorney for the plaintiff.
But attorney for the plaintive Regina Morrison Newman said there's much more here than just problems. There are also allegations of hiding information.
TN: The Post-Election Challenge for Dummies* (Shelby County Fiasco continues)
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/14/the-lost-election-mystery-for-dummies
Two new discoveries had been made — (1) Ribbon scrolls containing candidate-by-candidate, precinct-by-precinct totals of the sort no longer released by the EC publicly were found in trash bags and, at the request of the petitioners, were impounded for safekeeping. And (2) there was such a thing as a “manual override” capability in the county’s Diebold voting-machine software, and records pertaining to possible use of it continued to be under lock and key.
The petitioners would end the evening in possession of one disc’s worth of information and two bags’ worth of the discarded ribbon scrolls.
National
Video: Dan Wallach channels Stephen Colbert
Must Watch: From the EVT/WOTE conference, Dan Wallach presents today’s word: “Out of Site, Out of Mind” http://www.ctvoterscount.org/video-dan-wallach-channels-stephen-colbert/
Program Helps Military Vote in Upcoming Election
http://www.ourmilitary.mil/Content.aspx?ID=45042631 Go to www.fvap.gov , and follow the prompts to register and request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 2 election.
Eighteen Members of Congress Call On Attorney General Holder to Ensure Integrity of Voting Systems - Urges Action In Advance of November Elections
http://blog.verifiedvoting.org/2010/08/16/746
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt led a group of 18 members of Congress in urging U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice to enlist the Department’s enforcement capabilities in advance of the November elections to ensure the viability of voting systems and that votes are counted as cast.
Against Electing Judges.
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=08&year=2010&base_name=against_electing_judges
...In the 20 states that held partisan elections for the state Supreme Court in the previous decade, candidates raised a total $153.8 million for their campaigns.
Presidential Public Financing 2.0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/14/AR2010081402608.html
The new version would increase the matching rate in a way that encourages small donors. Contributions of $200 or less -- and that is the total amount the candidate can receive from that donor -- would be matched 4 to 1 by public funds.
International
India: 'Online voter registration from November'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Online-voter-registration-from-November/articleshow/6308984.cms (Panjai)
Speaking to TOI, assistant chief electoral officerArvind Bugde said that its implementation would be part of a nationwide project to network offices of the various state electoral authorities and the Election Commission of India.
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...
AR: Back to the future (will use touchscreens for early voting)
http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/11280 To borrow the title line from an old movie, Sebastian County will go “Back to the Future” when it begins tabulating votes precinct-by-precinct after the Nov. 2 General Election.
...
The electronic voting machines used in Sebastian County can handle the 91 ballots needed for all precincts. So early voting in Sebastian County will be only by electronic voting machine, the same method as that used in Pulaski County. Incidentally, voting in neighboring Crawford County is all electronic.
AR: Voting Machine Purchase On Hold
Commission Eyes Electronic Poll Books
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/aug/14/voting-machine-purchase-hold/?latest
A plan to add to the number of voting machines in Benton County has been put on hold by questions about software compatibility with the manufacturer’s newest model.
...
“I hope to buy electronic poll books this year if I can redirect (the money) that way,” Miller said during a discussion of the 2011 budget ...
CA: Court Date Set for Hearing in Case Against Implementation of California’s “Top-Two” System http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/14/court-date-set-for-hearing-in-case-against-implementation-of-californias-top-two-system/
CO: NOREEN: Elections don't need polling places (opinion)
http://www.gazette.com/news/noreen-102959-county-paso.html
FL: Rick Scott envelopes cause major problems with voters* (Absentee ballots)
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-16/Rick-Scott-envelopes-cause-major-problems-with-voters LEE County
If you do not use and sign the Election's Office envelope and then put the Election's Office envelope into the Scott envelope, your vote will not count.
The Scott envelope is not to be used in place of the Election's Office envelope.
FL: Another Victory – This Time in Miami-Dade; or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Precinct http://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-victory-this-time-in-miami-dade.html That means we’re to do ballot accounting at the precinct after all. The changes don’t make it perfect but they do appear to return to substantial compliance with Florida law and good practice.
IL: More Outcome Oriented Research
http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2010/08/16/more-outcome-oriented-research/
I can’t say I know much about race relations in Boston. But I know a little about election administration. Enough to know that the draft paper by Profs. Rachael Cobb, James Greiner, and Kevin Quinn, is long on conjecture and short on facts.
...
I’ve got my doubts about the value of voter ID laws. But those doubts have nothing to do with the ability of election judges to administer them fairly. This research is faulty and its conclusions unsupported. If opponents of voter ID laws are truly concerned about this issue, they should go back into the field in November 2010
NC: New Bern ballot maker defends its reputation and legacy
http://www.newbernsj.com/news/new-89823-bern-materials.html
“People eager to bash the governor or electronic voting machines were ready to use the damaging factoids and insinuations in the initial story to their advantage,” wrote Hall, who heads the citizen advocacy group. “Through the muddle, there was enough information to see that neither Bartlett nor Bev Perdue selected the vendor and that counties are free to buy ballots from other printers.”
NM: Lynn Ellins: Baseless allegations of voter fraud
http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_15773119
However, hasty accusations or unverified claims such as Ms. Cooper's promote needless distrust of the system. Citizens can rest assured that where substantiated or credible concerns are raised, the Doña Ana County Clerk's office will take appropriate action against voter fraud and will protect our system of elected government, as it has in the past. (Lynn Ellins is Doña Ana County Clerk.)
OH: Premier Elections Solutions pays up in Ohio Diebold suit, offers more faulty voting machines for free http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/14/premier-elections-solutions-pays-up-in-ohio-diebold-suit-offers/
OH: Ohio signing up more voters at public assistance offices
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/08/ohio_signing_up_more_voters_at.html
More than 11,000 people in Cuyahoga County have registered to vote this year through public-assistance programs as part of a renewed effort to involve poor people in elections throughout Ohio.
OH: Toledo Blade Editorializes in Favor of Ballot Labels in Judicial Elections
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/14/toledo-blade-editorializes-in-favor-of-ballot-labels-in-judicial-elections/ Counties are also eligible for up to $2.4 million in free Premiere software for two years, and the company's even throwing in up to 2,909 free voting machines along with a 50 percent coupon for maintenance fees. Right, because the Buckeye State is so anxious to start using the machines it found so faulty to begin with.
PA: Bill Would Universalize Absentee Ballots
http://wduqnews.blogspot.com/2010/08/bill-would-universalize-absentee.html
A Berks County Senator wants to amend the state constitution so that Pennsylvanians would not need an excuse to vote with an absentee ballot.
PA: Two Pennsylvania Statewide Minor Party Candidates Withdraw Rather than Face Challenge Fee Threat http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/16/two-pennsylvania-statewide-minor-party-candidates-withdraw-rather-than-face-challenge-fee-threat/
RI: Grebien, workers subject of voter card tampering *
http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/content/view/133590/1/ PAWTUCKET — Mayoral candidate Donald Grebien and several of his campaign workers are the subject of a Pawtucket police investigation into allegations of tampering with voter registration forms.
SC: Candidate Off Ballot Because His Dog Ate His Petitions
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/15/candidate-off-ballot-because-his-dog-ate-his-petitions/
..a candidate for the School Board in Lady’s Island, South Carolina
TN: Election audit drops Henry's lead over Yarbro to 11 votes*
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100816/NEWS02/100816025/Election+
audit+drops+Henry+s+lead+over+Yarbro+to+11+votes http://tinyurl.com/262j8mv
A new week has brought yet another set of vote totals in the close battle for the Tennessee Senate District 21 race, closing the gap slightly between Sen. Douglas Henry and challenger Jeff Yarbro.
An audit by the Davidson County Election Commission turned up a previously uncounted voting machine from one precinct, Election Administrator Ray Barrett confirmed this morning. Yarbro won that machine by two votes over Henry, reducing Henry's lead from 13 votes to 11.
TN: Rockford wants vote investigation * (Blount County)
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/13/rockford-wants-vote-investigation/
Breeding said that Rockford is a split state House of Representatives district, and the first hundred voters for the 8th District were improperly given ballots for the 20th District.
...
"I don't think the machines were set for the right district, but I can't prove it," he said. "That's why the state should look into it. I think the machines are hard-coded wrong before they get to Rockford."
TN: Primary Election Probe Underway
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081610-primary-election-probe-underway
"Basically the court has appointed clerk and Master Duane Settle to hear the on going issues that we're having," said Van Turner, attorney for the plaintiff.
But attorney for the plaintive Regina Morrison Newman said there's much more here than just problems. There are also allegations of hiding information.
TN: The Post-Election Challenge for Dummies* (Shelby County Fiasco continues)
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/14/the-lost-election-mystery-for-dummies
Two new discoveries had been made — (1) Ribbon scrolls containing candidate-by-candidate, precinct-by-precinct totals of the sort no longer released by the EC publicly were found in trash bags and, at the request of the petitioners, were impounded for safekeeping. And (2) there was such a thing as a “manual override” capability in the county’s Diebold voting-machine software, and records pertaining to possible use of it continued to be under lock and key.
The petitioners would end the evening in possession of one disc’s worth of information and two bags’ worth of the discarded ribbon scrolls.
National
Video: Dan Wallach channels Stephen Colbert
Must Watch: From the EVT/WOTE conference, Dan Wallach presents today’s word: “Out of Site, Out of Mind” http://www.ctvoterscount.org/video-dan-wallach-channels-stephen-colbert/
Program Helps Military Vote in Upcoming Election
http://www.ourmilitary.mil/Content.aspx?ID=45042631 Go to www.fvap.gov , and follow the prompts to register and request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 2 election.
Eighteen Members of Congress Call On Attorney General Holder to Ensure Integrity of Voting Systems - Urges Action In Advance of November Elections
http://blog.verifiedvoting.org/2010/08/16/746
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt led a group of 18 members of Congress in urging U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice to enlist the Department’s enforcement capabilities in advance of the November elections to ensure the viability of voting systems and that votes are counted as cast.
Against Electing Judges.
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=08&year=2010&base_name=against_electing_judges
...In the 20 states that held partisan elections for the state Supreme Court in the previous decade, candidates raised a total $153.8 million for their campaigns.
Presidential Public Financing 2.0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/14/AR2010081402608.html
The new version would increase the matching rate in a way that encourages small donors. Contributions of $200 or less -- and that is the total amount the candidate can receive from that donor -- would be matched 4 to 1 by public funds.
International
India: 'Online voter registration from November'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Online-voter-registration-from-November/articleshow/6308984.cms (Panjai)
Speaking to TOI, assistant chief electoral officerArvind Bugde said that its implementation would be part of a nationwide project to network offices of the various state electoral authorities and the Election Commission of India.
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.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Shelby TN investigation Diebolded. Internet voting 'nothing to deter attacker.'
CTVoter has highlights of Ron Rivest Internet Voting Risks report: "There is nothing to deter attacker – Adv can attack anonymously over the Internet until he succeeds."...Candidates of Lee Co FL fiasco want do-over..."Hawkins County (TN)election glitch awards a different commissioner"...'Election Day From Hell' is a poll worker account of Shelby Co TN election...Review of Shelby Co TN election records thwarted by cnty agreement with 'Diebold'...US Rep Rush Holt asks AG to ensure 'viability of voting systems'...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: Yates sues county over absentee election funds
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20100812/NEWS/100819948/1017/NEWS?Title=Yates-sues-county-over-absentee-election-funds
Etowah County Circuit Clerk Billy Yates has asked a court to order the county commission to pay him additional funds for his work as absentee election manager.
FL: Ballot snafu casts shadow over GIBA vote*
http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=4848 A design glitch with the return envelopes provided to voters in Lee County is causing the ballots to be sent back to the voters. Not to the supervisor of elections office in Fort Myers.
The snafu has prompted at least two candidates for election to the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board in the August 24 election to call for the primary to be scrapped and moved to a later date.
MD: Elections board shores up voter registration rolls with better oversight, technology http://www.marylandreporter.com/page5501215.aspx After an audit this summer pointed out that the State Board of Elections did not tightly control its voter registration system, changes have been made – but their effectiveness won’t be proven until Sept. 14.
MD: Rarely Used Public Campaign Funds Redirected for Voting Machines,May Be Retiring After 2010 Election http://www.marylandreporter.com/page5504421.aspx
NY: New York 2011 Redistricting Will Count Prisoners at Their Residence Before Being Incarcerated http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/13/new-york-2011-redistricting-will-count-prisoners-at-their-residence-before-being-incarcerated/
TN: The Hawkins County election glitch awards a different commissioner* (video)
http://www2.tricities.com/news/2010/aug/13/hawkins-county-election-glitch-10087-vi-19032/
The unofficial winners of Hawkins County elections were announced on election night last Thursday. The next day, the administrator realized many votes were counted twice. The mishap changed the winner
TN: Stand-Off On Shelby County Voting Numbers*
Elections officials and independent auditors battle over access to number
http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-democrats-election-challenge,0,767269.story
They weren't dancing. Two lawyers were physically being kept from pounding the legal sand out of each other. Welcome to the elections of 2010, Shelby County style.
Lawyers for the Shelby County Democratic Party and the Elections Commission had an agreement. Independent auditors could look at the numbers on the Diebold Computer system. But there was an immediate problem. County Attorney Greg Garrick was basically saying hey, I'd love to help you, "But it's not up to us. There is an agreement between Shelby County and Diebold not to release certain information about the machines. "
TN: SCEC Report - Part 2 * (attorneys blocked from audit log records)
http://leftwingcracker.blogspot.com/2010/08/scec-report-part-2.html
The poster log is a text file (I don't presume to be an expert but this was the explanation the experts put forth). The log keeps track of actions which could have been made to the system which would override vote totals. David Cocke was stunned that such overrides were possible, but assured Mr. Settle, as the "dispute resolver" on site, that we needed a copy of the log. The SCEC attorney consulted with Richard Holden again and announced that it was proprietary to Diebold and there was no way we were going to get it.
TN: Election Day From Hell* (precinct official in Shelby Co TN)
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=6234 Yesterday, August 5, 2010, I worked as a Republican Registrar at the 7200 East Shelby Road voting precinct.
...
Of course in such a circumstance, the voter is NOT turned away. Instead the voter is referred to the poll officer who calls downtown to the SCEC to verify the information. We learned quickly that there was an error in the EV record on our portable computers and the voter was permitted to vote. Soon after, we had a second voter with the same circumstance, and that is when we knew we had a problem. In operation, this was actually a minor snafu, a definite inconvenience for some of our voters who had to wait longer to vote, but NO ONE was turned away.
...
I’m sure we will hear more of the EV snafu in the days, weeks and months ahead. It really was a stupid mistake by a programmer and perhaps he or she needs to seek employment elsewhere. This was a biggee! Not only did it inconvenience voters, but it gives an excuse for others to question the integrity of the ballot itself.
TX: Testimony continues in election lawsuit
http://www.delrionewsherald.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4befdcd2bb7b3b3f Testimony continues today in the trial of an election lawsuit filed by Gustavo Flores, who claims that illegal mail-in ballots cost him the county Democratic Party nomination for a county commissioner position.
VA: Secure voting? *
Electoral board says machine area was breached; city says no
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/aug/06/secure-voting/
A disagreement over an alleged breach of the city’s secure voting machine storage area has led to the creation of new procedures to be followed by city staff when they need access to the area.
WA: Privacy upheld, money saved without ballot-envelope 'secrecy flap' (absentee)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012609237_signature13m.html
King County Elections spokeswoman Kim van Ekstrom said the county expects to save at least $150,000 a year it otherwise would have spent on more expensive envelopes and on hiring workers to remove the flaps so signatures could be verified.
WI: Officials dispute reliability of Waukesha County clerk's election data system
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/100595954.html
Waukesha — Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus' decision to go it alone in how she collects and maintains election results has some county officials raising a red flag about the integrity of the system.
...
The tug-of-war between Nickolaus and administration is evident in a March 8 memo from Cummings to Nickolaus in which he said hardware and software on the clerk's computers were "obsolete, not repairable and unsupportable." Without improvements, he worried that the elections system could be "inoperative and irrecoverable.
WV: Massey, Others Weigh Fall Political Ads (Citizens United)
http://www.gavelgrab.org/?p=13121 Massey Energy is one of two large West Virginia coal companies that plan to buy advertising in fall congressional elections, while taking advantage of a Supreme Court ruling that would let them do so.
WY: Judge sides with American Indians in voting case
http://nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4049:judge-sides-with-american-indians-in-voting-case&catid=51&Itemid=27
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A federal judge on Tuesday sided with American Indians and ordered Fremont County to elect county commissioners in five separate districts.
Internet Voting Watch
Cyberwar Is Hell
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/28/cyberwar-is-hell.html
While we obsessed over Russian spies, top diplomats were working to stop a greater espionage problem: the threat of cyberwarfare
CTVoter comments:Prof. Ron Rivest, MIT: Military/Overseas Internet Voting Risks and Rewards http://www.ctvoterscount.org/ron-rivest-militaryoverseas-internet-voting-risks-and-rewards/ ...Professor Rivest is a security expert, the ‘R’ in RSA Security, and 2002 winner of the Turing Award, the highest honor in computing. When Ron talks security, everyone including legislators and election officials should listen carefully.
...
Will Adversary attack voting system?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Will someone pick up $20 left on sidewalk?
National
Congressman Rush Holt asks AG to ensure 'viability of voting systems'
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100813/UPDATES01/100813053/NJ-congressman-urges-Justice-Department-to-monitor-voting-accuracy
WASHINGTON – A New Jersey congressman is asking the U.S. Justice Department to monitor the November elections for potential vote-counting problems.
India: E-voting plans falter as few warm up to idea
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/E-voting-plans-falter-as-few-warm-up-to-idea/660035
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...
AL: Yates sues county over absentee election funds
http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20100812/NEWS/100819948/1017/NEWS?Title=Yates-sues-county-over-absentee-election-funds
Etowah County Circuit Clerk Billy Yates has asked a court to order the county commission to pay him additional funds for his work as absentee election manager.
FL: Ballot snafu casts shadow over GIBA vote*
http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=4848 A design glitch with the return envelopes provided to voters in Lee County is causing the ballots to be sent back to the voters. Not to the supervisor of elections office in Fort Myers.
The snafu has prompted at least two candidates for election to the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board in the August 24 election to call for the primary to be scrapped and moved to a later date.
MD: Elections board shores up voter registration rolls with better oversight, technology http://www.marylandreporter.com/page5501215.aspx After an audit this summer pointed out that the State Board of Elections did not tightly control its voter registration system, changes have been made – but their effectiveness won’t be proven until Sept. 14.
MD: Rarely Used Public Campaign Funds Redirected for Voting Machines,May Be Retiring After 2010 Election http://www.marylandreporter.com/page5504421.aspx
NY: New York 2011 Redistricting Will Count Prisoners at Their Residence Before Being Incarcerated http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/13/new-york-2011-redistricting-will-count-prisoners-at-their-residence-before-being-incarcerated/
TN: The Hawkins County election glitch awards a different commissioner* (video)
http://www2.tricities.com/news/2010/aug/13/hawkins-county-election-glitch-10087-vi-19032/
The unofficial winners of Hawkins County elections were announced on election night last Thursday. The next day, the administrator realized many votes were counted twice. The mishap changed the winner
TN: Stand-Off On Shelby County Voting Numbers*
Elections officials and independent auditors battle over access to number
http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-democrats-election-challenge,0,767269.story
They weren't dancing. Two lawyers were physically being kept from pounding the legal sand out of each other. Welcome to the elections of 2010, Shelby County style.
Lawyers for the Shelby County Democratic Party and the Elections Commission had an agreement. Independent auditors could look at the numbers on the Diebold Computer system. But there was an immediate problem. County Attorney Greg Garrick was basically saying hey, I'd love to help you, "But it's not up to us. There is an agreement between Shelby County and Diebold not to release certain information about the machines. "
TN: SCEC Report - Part 2 * (attorneys blocked from audit log records)
http://leftwingcracker.blogspot.com/2010/08/scec-report-part-2.html
The poster log is a text file (I don't presume to be an expert but this was the explanation the experts put forth). The log keeps track of actions which could have been made to the system which would override vote totals. David Cocke was stunned that such overrides were possible, but assured Mr. Settle, as the "dispute resolver" on site, that we needed a copy of the log. The SCEC attorney consulted with Richard Holden again and announced that it was proprietary to Diebold and there was no way we were going to get it.
TN: Election Day From Hell* (precinct official in Shelby Co TN)
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=6234 Yesterday, August 5, 2010, I worked as a Republican Registrar at the 7200 East Shelby Road voting precinct.
...
Of course in such a circumstance, the voter is NOT turned away. Instead the voter is referred to the poll officer who calls downtown to the SCEC to verify the information. We learned quickly that there was an error in the EV record on our portable computers and the voter was permitted to vote. Soon after, we had a second voter with the same circumstance, and that is when we knew we had a problem. In operation, this was actually a minor snafu, a definite inconvenience for some of our voters who had to wait longer to vote, but NO ONE was turned away.
...
I’m sure we will hear more of the EV snafu in the days, weeks and months ahead. It really was a stupid mistake by a programmer and perhaps he or she needs to seek employment elsewhere. This was a biggee! Not only did it inconvenience voters, but it gives an excuse for others to question the integrity of the ballot itself.
TX: Testimony continues in election lawsuit
http://www.delrionewsherald.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4befdcd2bb7b3b3f Testimony continues today in the trial of an election lawsuit filed by Gustavo Flores, who claims that illegal mail-in ballots cost him the county Democratic Party nomination for a county commissioner position.
VA: Secure voting? *
Electoral board says machine area was breached; city says no
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/aug/06/secure-voting/
A disagreement over an alleged breach of the city’s secure voting machine storage area has led to the creation of new procedures to be followed by city staff when they need access to the area.
WA: Privacy upheld, money saved without ballot-envelope 'secrecy flap' (absentee)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012609237_signature13m.html
King County Elections spokeswoman Kim van Ekstrom said the county expects to save at least $150,000 a year it otherwise would have spent on more expensive envelopes and on hiring workers to remove the flaps so signatures could be verified.
WI: Officials dispute reliability of Waukesha County clerk's election data system
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/100595954.html
Waukesha — Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus' decision to go it alone in how she collects and maintains election results has some county officials raising a red flag about the integrity of the system.
...
The tug-of-war between Nickolaus and administration is evident in a March 8 memo from Cummings to Nickolaus in which he said hardware and software on the clerk's computers were "obsolete, not repairable and unsupportable." Without improvements, he worried that the elections system could be "inoperative and irrecoverable.
WV: Massey, Others Weigh Fall Political Ads (Citizens United)
http://www.gavelgrab.org/?p=13121 Massey Energy is one of two large West Virginia coal companies that plan to buy advertising in fall congressional elections, while taking advantage of a Supreme Court ruling that would let them do so.
WY: Judge sides with American Indians in voting case
http://nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4049:judge-sides-with-american-indians-in-voting-case&catid=51&Itemid=27
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A federal judge on Tuesday sided with American Indians and ordered Fremont County to elect county commissioners in five separate districts.
Internet Voting Watch
Cyberwar Is Hell
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/28/cyberwar-is-hell.html
While we obsessed over Russian spies, top diplomats were working to stop a greater espionage problem: the threat of cyberwarfare
CTVoter comments:Prof. Ron Rivest, MIT: Military/Overseas Internet Voting Risks and Rewards http://www.ctvoterscount.org/ron-rivest-militaryoverseas-internet-voting-risks-and-rewards/ ...Professor Rivest is a security expert, the ‘R’ in RSA Security, and 2002 winner of the Turing Award, the highest honor in computing. When Ron talks security, everyone including legislators and election officials should listen carefully.
...
Will Adversary attack voting system?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Will someone pick up $20 left on sidewalk?
National
Congressman Rush Holt asks AG to ensure 'viability of voting systems'
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100813/UPDATES01/100813053/NJ-congressman-urges-Justice-Department-to-monitor-voting-accuracy
WASHINGTON – A New Jersey congressman is asking the U.S. Justice Department to monitor the November elections for potential vote-counting problems.
India: E-voting plans falter as few warm up to idea
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/E-voting-plans-falter-as-few-warm-up-to-idea/660035
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.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Pitkin CO touchscreen woes. Foul play in TN vote? Free Xpress for military ballots
Pitkin CO failure of DREs results in hours of delay and "hand count"...Lee CO FL deserves new election...Precinct mixup in Fulton GA...Not clear how NC will tally 1st statewide IRV judicial contest...VotePA Calls For Withdrawal of Challenges to Candidates...OH SOS announces multi $M settlement with Premier/Diebold, ES&S, DIMS...'Electoral Foul Play or Incompetence' in Shelby TN election -"When a Memphis election goes off without a hitch, that will be the shocker"..Overseas Vote Foundation on waivers & state compliance with MOVE Act"...Overseas voters can mail ballots free via military express mail...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
CO: Primary turnout breaks records* (voter confusion, touchscreen trouble)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/141958
A technical difficulty uploading voting information from the county’s touch-screen machines caused hours of delay and an eventual hand count, Shellman said. Come general election time in November, that issue should be eliminated, Shellman said.
...
As Pitkin County ran both a mail-in and polling place election, some voters showed up to the polling place to cast a ballot, but had previously requested a mail-in ballot. Voters in those cases either had to fill out a provisional ballot or were asked to go to the county clerk’s office and cast an absentee ballot there. This often caused frustrating delays for voters, Shellman said.
CO: PitCo sets voting standard (in praise of polling places)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/141966
Few people realize that because of Janice and Dwight’s leadership, unlike most Colorado counties, Pitkin voters could vote in the most secure and verifiable type of election — an election-day polling place election. They bucked the unfortunate trend of most counties to move to an all mail-in primary, and saved money by consolidating polling places.
FL: COMMENTARY: Absentee ballot disaster demands a new election so all the votes are counted. This time.* (Lee County) http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=4835 First there were the hanging chads. Now this. Has screwing up elections become some kind of organized team sport here in Florida? This year, more than 400 registered voters in Boca Grande asked Lee County to send them ballots for the Tuesday, Aug. 24 election. For Boca Grande, that’s a big number. A huge number. Way more than enough to determine the outcome of a contested local election...
FL: Computer glitch affecting absentee ballots*
http://www.nbc-2.com/global/story.asp?s=12965097
LEE COUNTY: A computer glitch is causing a major problem with Lee County absentee ballots. Some voters are getting their absentee ballots right back in their mailboxes just one day after sending them in to be counted.
GA: Precinct Mix-Up Caused Voter Confusion For Some* (video available)
http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/24601754/detail.html
A wrong address for a Fulton County voting precinct may have cost some voters the chance to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s runoff election.
"I drove up and down Roswell Road, looking for the address printed on the precinct card. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist," said Alexandra Geist.
GA: Verifiable Voting Opponents Suffer Dramatic Defeats in Georgia
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Verifiable-Voting-Opponent-by-Garland-Favorito-100811-676.html
IA: Soldiers reminded: Voting absentee is easy
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/08/11/soldiers-reminded-voting-absentee-is-easy/
MN: Wrong Winona County vote totals released to public
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_4e836030-a5c1-11df-917a-001cc4c03286.html Winona County officials mistakenly failed to report more than 1,500 ballots when announcing primary election results to the public Tuesday night
NC: NC judge’s departure means one more election* (uncertified software use?)
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8128299/
“This will be a massive undertaking,” he said. “We will have to have an intense education effort, not only for the election officials but also for the voters.”
NC: Handle N.C.'s ballots with care (OpEd)
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/12/624627/handle-ncs-ballots-with-care.html
News stories about a lack of competition for ballot printing in North Carolina feed a storyline of political corruption - but before we form conclusions we need to understand why there's a lack of competition for ballot printing, and work for a solution that does not undermine the integrity of our election process.
NE: Nebraska Libertarians Certified for the Ballot
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/12/nebraska-libertarians-certified-for-the-ballot/
NM: Clerk's Office Sure None Registered in 1801 Voted in Primary
http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2010/08/12/news/doc4c62f77454e4f126853962.txt
The list of Rio Arriba County voters in the June 1 primary election is riddled with questionable registrants, dozens of which appear to violate state statute.
NJ: New Jersey Officials Refuse to Let Voters Register into the Socialist Party
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/12/new-jersey-officials-refuse-to-let-voters-register-into-the-socialist-party/
NY: Ulster Board of Elections asks for additional funding
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/August/11/UC_BOE_funding-11Aug10.html
The Ulster County Board of Elections needs an additional $35,000 for this fall’s elections.
NY: Common Cause/NY Releases a Report on the Board of Elections New Voter Learning Centers http://readme.readmedia.com/Common-Cause-NY-Releases-a-Report-on-the-Board-of-Elections-New-Voter-Learning-Centers/1682863
OH: Ohio Secretary of State's settlement with Premier/Diebold, ES&S, DIMS
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/PressReleases/2010/2010-08-11.aspx
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced Wednesday that a multi-million dollar settlement has been reached with Premier Election Solutions that could benefit more than half of Ohio’s county boards of elections with direct one-time payments and free licensing, equipment and discounted services.
OH: Former Diebold e-voting unit settles Ohio lawsuit
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180612/Former_Diebold_e_
voting_unit_settles_Ohio_lawsuit http://tinyurl.com/36uaprl
Premier Election Solutions will pay cash, equipment and discounts to settle suit over dropped votes in '08 primary
PA: VotePA Calls For Withdrawal of Challenges to Candidates
http://www.votepa.us/newsarchive/2010/PetitionChallenge8-11-2010.html
August 11, 2010 -- VotePA announced today that it is urging both major political parties and their candidates to withdraw legal challenges filed this week against the nomination papers of third party and independent candidates, unless the challengers are claiming willful election fraud.
TN: When a Memphis election goes off without a hitch, that will be the shocker*
http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2010/08/12/when-a-memphis-election-goes-off-without-a-hitch-that-will-be-the-shocker/ The fact that the wrong voter file was loaded into the system (and I am receiving reports that people who did NOT EVEN VOTE IN MAY were affected by this problem) shows incompetence from the EC
...
Bill Gibbons had to call in the TBI because HE was one of the affected voters, folks, and as such could not investigate it.
TN: Cohen Did The Right Thing Bringing in the DOJ, This is Officially FUBAR
http://leftwingcracker.blogspot.com/2010/08/cohen-did-right-thing-bringing-in-doj.html There was a meeting Wednesday night at the IBEW Hall on Madison, and nearly 500 people showed up to sign affidavits and tell their stories about voting problems on Election Day
TN: Electoral Foul Play or Incompetence Alleged *
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/08/12/29526.htm
Candidates Minerva Johnican and Regina Newman sued the Shelby County Election Commission, with co-plaintiff Lexie Carter, a voter. They want the Election Commission to hand over all the data gathered and equipment used during the elections for an independent review.
According to the complaint, the Election Committee Chairman Bill Giannini acknowledged that an estimated 5,000 voters were turned away on Election Day.
TN: Cohen's Call for DOJ Probe of Voting Snafu Climaxes First Protest Meeting
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/12/cohens-call-for-doj-probe-of-voting-snafu-climaxes-first-protest-meeting
[article goes into more detail on assortment of election problems]
WA: Voters taking their time getting ballots in mail
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100812/NEWS01/708129939&news01ad=1
But officials say most people wait until the last minute to submit ballots
National
EVT/WOTE ’10 : Panel on India’s Electronic Voting Machine
http://ergodicity.net/2010/08/09/evtwote-10-panel-on-indias-electronic-voting-machine/
Panel on Indian Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
Moderator: Joseph Lorenzo Hall, University of California, Berkeley and Princeton University. Panelists: P.V. Indiresan, Former Director, IIT-Madras; G.V.L Narasimha Rao, Citizens for Verifiability, Transparency, and Accountability in Elections, VeTA; Alok Shukla, Election Commission of India; J. Alex Halderman, University of Michigan
More than Just Waivers: State Compliance with the MOVE Act
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/MOVE_Act_waivers Based on the responses received and our contact with election officials at all levels including the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), we think current condemnation of the states’ implementation fails to grasp the bigger picture of legislative movement that is currently taking place.
The MOVE Act in the News: Our Take
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/MOVE_Act_in_the_news
Yes, we should indeed still be debating the impact of the MOVE Act, but not because the Department of Justice is failing to punish states for not acting fast enough. We should keep talking about it because too many people are ignorant of the nitty-gritty details of how elections are run and those details do influence the behavior of voters and non-voters.
Overseas Vote Foundation - Want to track overseas voting news in 2010? Don't forget to check in with our overseas voting newswire. http://ht.ly/2onNk
Your vote counts: ballots free via express mail
http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123217216
American citizens stationed or living overseas can use U.S. Postal Service express mail for free to send their official absentee voting ballots back to the United States.
DNC uses open-source software to ease voter registration
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/113975-democrats-going-open-source
The Democratic National Committee launched a new website Thursday that showcases the party's open-source software efforts and offers easy access to voter registration tools for campaigns and state parties.
International
US experts say Indian EVMs not tamper-proof
http://www.zeenews.com/news647738.html Washington: A group of IT experts from US have claimed that the Indian EVMs are not tamper-proof and asked the Election Commission to explore other forms of voting that provide "transparency" and security.
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...
CO: Primary turnout breaks records* (voter confusion, touchscreen trouble)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/141958
A technical difficulty uploading voting information from the county’s touch-screen machines caused hours of delay and an eventual hand count, Shellman said. Come general election time in November, that issue should be eliminated, Shellman said.
...
As Pitkin County ran both a mail-in and polling place election, some voters showed up to the polling place to cast a ballot, but had previously requested a mail-in ballot. Voters in those cases either had to fill out a provisional ballot or were asked to go to the county clerk’s office and cast an absentee ballot there. This often caused frustrating delays for voters, Shellman said.
CO: PitCo sets voting standard (in praise of polling places)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/141966
Few people realize that because of Janice and Dwight’s leadership, unlike most Colorado counties, Pitkin voters could vote in the most secure and verifiable type of election — an election-day polling place election. They bucked the unfortunate trend of most counties to move to an all mail-in primary, and saved money by consolidating polling places.
FL: COMMENTARY: Absentee ballot disaster demands a new election so all the votes are counted. This time.* (Lee County) http://www.bocabeacon.com/?p=4835 First there were the hanging chads. Now this. Has screwing up elections become some kind of organized team sport here in Florida? This year, more than 400 registered voters in Boca Grande asked Lee County to send them ballots for the Tuesday, Aug. 24 election. For Boca Grande, that’s a big number. A huge number. Way more than enough to determine the outcome of a contested local election...
FL: Computer glitch affecting absentee ballots*
http://www.nbc-2.com/global/story.asp?s=12965097
LEE COUNTY: A computer glitch is causing a major problem with Lee County absentee ballots. Some voters are getting their absentee ballots right back in their mailboxes just one day after sending them in to be counted.
GA: Precinct Mix-Up Caused Voter Confusion For Some* (video available)
http://www.wsbtv.com/politics/24601754/detail.html
A wrong address for a Fulton County voting precinct may have cost some voters the chance to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s runoff election.
"I drove up and down Roswell Road, looking for the address printed on the precinct card. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist," said Alexandra Geist.
GA: Verifiable Voting Opponents Suffer Dramatic Defeats in Georgia
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Verifiable-Voting-Opponent-by-Garland-Favorito-100811-676.html
IA: Soldiers reminded: Voting absentee is easy
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/08/11/soldiers-reminded-voting-absentee-is-easy/
MN: Wrong Winona County vote totals released to public
http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/article_4e836030-a5c1-11df-917a-001cc4c03286.html Winona County officials mistakenly failed to report more than 1,500 ballots when announcing primary election results to the public Tuesday night
NC: NC judge’s departure means one more election* (uncertified software use?)
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8128299/
“This will be a massive undertaking,” he said. “We will have to have an intense education effort, not only for the election officials but also for the voters.”
NC: Handle N.C.'s ballots with care (OpEd)
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/12/624627/handle-ncs-ballots-with-care.html
News stories about a lack of competition for ballot printing in North Carolina feed a storyline of political corruption - but before we form conclusions we need to understand why there's a lack of competition for ballot printing, and work for a solution that does not undermine the integrity of our election process.
NE: Nebraska Libertarians Certified for the Ballot
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/12/nebraska-libertarians-certified-for-the-ballot/
NM: Clerk's Office Sure None Registered in 1801 Voted in Primary
http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2010/08/12/news/doc4c62f77454e4f126853962.txt
The list of Rio Arriba County voters in the June 1 primary election is riddled with questionable registrants, dozens of which appear to violate state statute.
NJ: New Jersey Officials Refuse to Let Voters Register into the Socialist Party
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/12/new-jersey-officials-refuse-to-let-voters-register-into-the-socialist-party/
NY: Ulster Board of Elections asks for additional funding
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/August/11/UC_BOE_funding-11Aug10.html
The Ulster County Board of Elections needs an additional $35,000 for this fall’s elections.
NY: Common Cause/NY Releases a Report on the Board of Elections New Voter Learning Centers http://readme.readmedia.com/Common-Cause-NY-Releases-a-Report-on-the-Board-of-Elections-New-Voter-Learning-Centers/1682863
OH: Ohio Secretary of State's settlement with Premier/Diebold, ES&S, DIMS
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/PressReleases/2010/2010-08-11.aspx
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced Wednesday that a multi-million dollar settlement has been reached with Premier Election Solutions that could benefit more than half of Ohio’s county boards of elections with direct one-time payments and free licensing, equipment and discounted services.
OH: Former Diebold e-voting unit settles Ohio lawsuit
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180612/Former_Diebold_e_
voting_unit_settles_Ohio_lawsuit http://tinyurl.com/36uaprl
Premier Election Solutions will pay cash, equipment and discounts to settle suit over dropped votes in '08 primary
PA: VotePA Calls For Withdrawal of Challenges to Candidates
http://www.votepa.us/newsarchive/2010/PetitionChallenge8-11-2010.html
August 11, 2010 -- VotePA announced today that it is urging both major political parties and their candidates to withdraw legal challenges filed this week against the nomination papers of third party and independent candidates, unless the challengers are claiming willful election fraud.
TN: When a Memphis election goes off without a hitch, that will be the shocker*
http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2010/08/12/when-a-memphis-election-goes-off-without-a-hitch-that-will-be-the-shocker/ The fact that the wrong voter file was loaded into the system (and I am receiving reports that people who did NOT EVEN VOTE IN MAY were affected by this problem) shows incompetence from the EC
...
Bill Gibbons had to call in the TBI because HE was one of the affected voters, folks, and as such could not investigate it.
TN: Cohen Did The Right Thing Bringing in the DOJ, This is Officially FUBAR
http://leftwingcracker.blogspot.com/2010/08/cohen-did-right-thing-bringing-in-doj.html There was a meeting Wednesday night at the IBEW Hall on Madison, and nearly 500 people showed up to sign affidavits and tell their stories about voting problems on Election Day
TN: Electoral Foul Play or Incompetence Alleged *
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/08/12/29526.htm
Candidates Minerva Johnican and Regina Newman sued the Shelby County Election Commission, with co-plaintiff Lexie Carter, a voter. They want the Election Commission to hand over all the data gathered and equipment used during the elections for an independent review.
According to the complaint, the Election Committee Chairman Bill Giannini acknowledged that an estimated 5,000 voters were turned away on Election Day.
TN: Cohen's Call for DOJ Probe of Voting Snafu Climaxes First Protest Meeting
http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2010/08/12/cohens-call-for-doj-probe-of-voting-snafu-climaxes-first-protest-meeting
[article goes into more detail on assortment of election problems]
WA: Voters taking their time getting ballots in mail
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100812/NEWS01/708129939&news01ad=1
But officials say most people wait until the last minute to submit ballots
National
EVT/WOTE ’10 : Panel on India’s Electronic Voting Machine
http://ergodicity.net/2010/08/09/evtwote-10-panel-on-indias-electronic-voting-machine/
Panel on Indian Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
Moderator: Joseph Lorenzo Hall, University of California, Berkeley and Princeton University. Panelists: P.V. Indiresan, Former Director, IIT-Madras; G.V.L Narasimha Rao, Citizens for Verifiability, Transparency, and Accountability in Elections, VeTA; Alok Shukla, Election Commission of India; J. Alex Halderman, University of Michigan
More than Just Waivers: State Compliance with the MOVE Act
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/MOVE_Act_waivers Based on the responses received and our contact with election officials at all levels including the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), we think current condemnation of the states’ implementation fails to grasp the bigger picture of legislative movement that is currently taking place.
The MOVE Act in the News: Our Take
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/MOVE_Act_in_the_news
Yes, we should indeed still be debating the impact of the MOVE Act, but not because the Department of Justice is failing to punish states for not acting fast enough. We should keep talking about it because too many people are ignorant of the nitty-gritty details of how elections are run and those details do influence the behavior of voters and non-voters.
Overseas Vote Foundation - Want to track overseas voting news in 2010? Don't forget to check in with our overseas voting newswire. http://ht.ly/2onNk
Your vote counts: ballots free via express mail
http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123217216
American citizens stationed or living overseas can use U.S. Postal Service express mail for free to send their official absentee voting ballots back to the United States.
DNC uses open-source software to ease voter registration
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/113975-democrats-going-open-source
The Democratic National Committee launched a new website Thursday that showcases the party's open-source software efforts and offers easy access to voter registration tools for campaigns and state parties.
International
US experts say Indian EVMs not tamper-proof
http://www.zeenews.com/news647738.html Washington: A group of IT experts from US have claimed that the Indian EVMs are not tamper-proof and asked the Election Commission to explore other forms of voting that provide "transparency" and security.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy
Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link:http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Feds, TBI called on TN election. FL mail ballot fiasco. '3 Idiots' and India elections
Prof. David Wagner (UC Berkeley)"There is no known way to audit Internet voting. UOCAVA votes might fall 'under a cloud of suspicion.'”..Lee Co FL Ballot blunder could keep votes from counting; envelope design to blame..Shelby Co asks TBI, FEDS to find out "Did someone intentionally load the wrong poll data onto the electronic poll books?"..David Dill: “all voting systems that have been claimed to be secure have been proved to be insecure. And all systems that have been alleged to be insecure by critics have been proved to be insecure.” in article "'3 Idiots' determine Indian election results"..Primaries Aug 17: WA & WY. Aug 24: AZ, VT, FL & AK...
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Mesa election switch confuses some voters
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/08/11/20100811mesa-election-changes-voters0811.html
CO: City not exonerated
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/141951 While the recent DA’s opinion on Aspen election issues did not find any violations worthy of criminal prosecution, it did cite numerous “technical law violations,” “rule violations,” instances of “bad practice,” “serious errors,” “unwise practice,” “violation of duty” and “appearances of impropriety.” This is hardly an exoneration of the city.
CT: UCONN: Failed memory cards caused by weak batteries, inadequate design
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/uconn-failed-memory-cards-caused-by-weak-batteries-poor-engineering/ We suggest that $10 per year per card is well worth avoiding most of the problems associated with the current huge, unacceptable failure rate.
FL: Ballot blunder could keep votes from counting; envelope design to blame*
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-11/Ballot-blunder-could-keep-votes-from-counting It could be happening across Lee County. Over 40,000 absentee ballots were requested, and all sent out with the same faulty return envelope design. Lee County Elections officials are working with USPS on the problem. Still, the ballot blunder is a sorespot for many, who are trying to make their vote count in the upcoming election.
FL: Absentee ballots returned to sender * (Lee Co)
Votes boomerang thanks to automatic sorters
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100811/NEWS0107/8110373/1075/Absentee-ballots-returned-to-sender Turns out a design flaw in the envelopes causes post office machines to scan a voter's return address instead of the destination address.
GA: Faye Coffield Will Appeal Georgia Ballot Access Case to U.S. Supreme Court
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/11/faye-coffield-will-appeal-georgia-ballot-access-case-to-u-s-supreme-court/
“Does the U.S. Constitution protect the ability of minor party and independent candidates to run for the U.S. House of Representatives?”"
MI: High Humidity Causes Issues With Voting Machines
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1691664.shtml?cat=1
A voting machine at a polling location in Cottage Grove is rejecting ballots due to the humidity.
NC: Ballot printer charges more, has big advantage
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/05/616405/ballot-printer-charges-more-has.html
NC: Unfair 'fun'
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/11/623217/unfair-fun.html
The News & Observer had great fun with a gotcha story about state elections director Gary Bartlett and with a follow-up Aug. 7 about all the Democrats and Republicans who denounced election officials. You cited only three denouncers who had quotes that fit your story line; you avoided people like me who might ask more probing questions.
Through the muddle, there was enough information to see that neither Bartlett nor Bev Perdue selected the vendor and that counties are free to buy ballots from other printers. Ironically, the push by citizen advocates (and N&O editorialists) to avoid a Florida fiasco by enacting rigo
NY: Fear New Machines Will Confuse Voters
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703435104575421982778514628.html
Electronic Scanners Replace Levers at N.Y. Polls Next Month
OH: Cuyahoga County elections board can't reach agreement on bilingual ballots
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/08/cuyahoga_ lections_board_cant_reach_agreement_on_bilingual_ballots.html
http://tinyurl.com/33rw4qr
OH: Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Ohio secretary of state advise elections board on bilingual ballot demand
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/08/cuyahoga_county _prosecutor_ohio_secretary_of_state_advise_elections_board_
on_bilingual_ballot_demand.html http://tinyurl.com/37q5ksy
PA: Chesco polling place to relocate after lawsuit
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100811_ Chesco_ polling_place_to_relocate_after_lawsuit.html http://tinyurl.com/2an3tj4
A small but significant victory has been won by Chester County voters who waited for hours in the rain to take part in a historic presidential election.
They have persuaded county officials to move a polling place back to the campus of Lincoln University after a lawsuit arising from a chaotic Election Day in November 2008.
TN: US Rep Cohen Asks Feds To Investigate Election Problems *
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081110-cohen-asks-feds-to-investigate-election-problems The election commission reported that problems occurred after election workers accidentally loaded early voting information from the May election, prompting poll workers to incorrectly tell some people they had already voted in the Aug. 5 election.
TN: Shelby Co DA Asks TBI to Investigate Problems at the Polls *
http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Shelby-County-D-A-Asks-TBI-To-Investigate/A38mXTOo1EiaOqOyNG6O9w.cspx
Did someone intentionally load the wrong poll data onto the electronic poll books
TN: Randy Wade Refuses to Concede (video interview about Shelby Co mess)
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/080610-randy-wade-refuses-to-concede
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Candidate for Sheriff Randy Wade said he will not concede until a voting glitch at the polls has been investigated.
WA: PR: Pierce County poll sites open at lower cost
http://www.thesubtimes.com/2010/08/11/pr-pierce-county-poll-sites-open-at-lower-cost/
For the last three years, Ranked Choice Voting prevented the use of precinct tabulators. Since voters repealed Ranked Choice Voting, Pierce County can return to counting ballots at each polling place. This saves considerable time, labor and expense. Pierce County has also saved money with more efficient printing of polling-place materials.
WA: U.S. District Court in Washington State Keeps Names and Addresses of Petition Signers Private for Now http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/11/u-s-district-court-in-washington-state-keeps-names-and-addresses-of-petition-signers-private-for-now/
WI: Election Officials won't Enforce Issue Ad Rules
http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=6659
The new rules took effect this month. They require groups that air so-called issue ads to disclose where they get their money and how they spend it.
Internet Voting Watch
Ontario Canada. Don't make wishes - you might get more than you dreamed of.
http://theburdreport.blogspot.com/2010/08/dont-make-wishes-you-might-get-more.html
This adage comes to mind when it was revealed that paper ballots , in Cobourg, are as dead as the dodo. A dangerous move and one subject to manipulation.
Prof. David Wagner (UC Berkeley):
http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/ST/UOCAVA/2010/Presentations/WAGNER_UOCAVA2010.pdf
It is not technologically feasible today to make Internet voting safe against attack.
Operating an Internet voting system safely requires expertise and money way beyond what election officials are likely to have.
Comcast.net Hijacker Gets 4 Months
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/08/comcast-black/
Governments Battle to Stay Ahead of Threats on Internet, 'The Great Leveler'
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec10/cybersec_08-10.html
Suspect in $9 Million RBS WorldPay Hack Extradited to U.S
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/08/tsurikov-extradition/
The hackers compromised RBS WorldPay’s database encryption to raise the amount of funds available on the compromised cards and boost their daily withdrawal limits. In some case, the hackers raised the limits to $500,000.
National
Upcoming Primaries: Last Chance to Vote States
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/Primary-Deadlines
Overseas Vote Foundation. Wyoming State Primary August 17, Washington August 17
Arizona August 24, Vermont August 24, Florida August 24, Alaska August 24
Did you request your ballot? Did you get it? It is not too late if you act RIGHT NOW.
Statelight: Transparency in a Box, Pt. 1
http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/08/11/statelight-transparency-in-a-box-pt-1/
I’m excited to announce a new project from Public Equals Online and the Sunlight Foundation. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be developing – in large part through public blog posts such as this one – a curriculum, or guide, on how to do state level organizing and advocacy around transparency and open government.
Voting: The 233-year-old design problem
http://ballotusability.blogspot.com/2010/08/voting-233-year-old-design-problem.html
Did you know that the presidential election in 2000 was not the first - or last - time that design problems affected the outcome of an election?
International
India: “3 Idiots” determine Indian election results
http://www.indianevm.com/blogs/?p=387 The three people that I am referring to are junior programmers in the EVM manufacturing companies who have written the EVM software or source code that drive all the functions of the EVMs.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/VotingNews and
at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNews
Subscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews
To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to us at votingnews@earthlink.net
=============================================
"The Voting News is a free service made possible in part by support from Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note "for Voting News" in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law."
Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn
Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
All this and more in today's voting news below...
AZ: Mesa election switch confuses some voters
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/08/11/20100811mesa-election-changes-voters0811.html
CO: City not exonerated
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/141951 While the recent DA’s opinion on Aspen election issues did not find any violations worthy of criminal prosecution, it did cite numerous “technical law violations,” “rule violations,” instances of “bad practice,” “serious errors,” “unwise practice,” “violation of duty” and “appearances of impropriety.” This is hardly an exoneration of the city.
CT: UCONN: Failed memory cards caused by weak batteries, inadequate design
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/uconn-failed-memory-cards-caused-by-weak-batteries-poor-engineering/ We suggest that $10 per year per card is well worth avoiding most of the problems associated with the current huge, unacceptable failure rate.
FL: Ballot blunder could keep votes from counting; envelope design to blame*
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-11/Ballot-blunder-could-keep-votes-from-counting It could be happening across Lee County. Over 40,000 absentee ballots were requested, and all sent out with the same faulty return envelope design. Lee County Elections officials are working with USPS on the problem. Still, the ballot blunder is a sorespot for many, who are trying to make their vote count in the upcoming election.
FL: Absentee ballots returned to sender * (Lee Co)
Votes boomerang thanks to automatic sorters
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100811/NEWS0107/8110373/1075/Absentee-ballots-returned-to-sender Turns out a design flaw in the envelopes causes post office machines to scan a voter's return address instead of the destination address.
GA: Faye Coffield Will Appeal Georgia Ballot Access Case to U.S. Supreme Court
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/11/faye-coffield-will-appeal-georgia-ballot-access-case-to-u-s-supreme-court/
“Does the U.S. Constitution protect the ability of minor party and independent candidates to run for the U.S. House of Representatives?”"
MI: High Humidity Causes Issues With Voting Machines
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1691664.shtml?cat=1
A voting machine at a polling location in Cottage Grove is rejecting ballots due to the humidity.
NC: Ballot printer charges more, has big advantage
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/05/616405/ballot-printer-charges-more-has.html
NC: Unfair 'fun'
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/11/623217/unfair-fun.html
The News & Observer had great fun with a gotcha story about state elections director Gary Bartlett and with a follow-up Aug. 7 about all the Democrats and Republicans who denounced election officials. You cited only three denouncers who had quotes that fit your story line; you avoided people like me who might ask more probing questions.
Through the muddle, there was enough information to see that neither Bartlett nor Bev Perdue selected the vendor and that counties are free to buy ballots from other printers. Ironically, the push by citizen advocates (and N&O editorialists) to avoid a Florida fiasco by enacting rigo
NY: Fear New Machines Will Confuse Voters
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703435104575421982778514628.html
Electronic Scanners Replace Levers at N.Y. Polls Next Month
OH: Cuyahoga County elections board can't reach agreement on bilingual ballots
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/08/cuyahoga_ lections_board_cant_reach_agreement_on_bilingual_ballots.html
http://tinyurl.com/33rw4qr
OH: Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Ohio secretary of state advise elections board on bilingual ballot demand
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2010/08/cuyahoga_county _prosecutor_ohio_secretary_of_state_advise_elections_board_
on_bilingual_ballot_demand.html http://tinyurl.com/37q5ksy
PA: Chesco polling place to relocate after lawsuit
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100811_ Chesco_ polling_place_to_relocate_after_lawsuit.html http://tinyurl.com/2an3tj4
A small but significant victory has been won by Chester County voters who waited for hours in the rain to take part in a historic presidential election.
They have persuaded county officials to move a polling place back to the campus of Lincoln University after a lawsuit arising from a chaotic Election Day in November 2008.
TN: US Rep Cohen Asks Feds To Investigate Election Problems *
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081110-cohen-asks-feds-to-investigate-election-problems The election commission reported that problems occurred after election workers accidentally loaded early voting information from the May election, prompting poll workers to incorrectly tell some people they had already voted in the Aug. 5 election.
TN: Shelby Co DA Asks TBI to Investigate Problems at the Polls *
http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Shelby-County-D-A-Asks-TBI-To-Investigate/A38mXTOo1EiaOqOyNG6O9w.cspx
Did someone intentionally load the wrong poll data onto the electronic poll books
TN: Randy Wade Refuses to Concede (video interview about Shelby Co mess)
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/080610-randy-wade-refuses-to-concede
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Candidate for Sheriff Randy Wade said he will not concede until a voting glitch at the polls has been investigated.
WA: PR: Pierce County poll sites open at lower cost
http://www.thesubtimes.com/2010/08/11/pr-pierce-county-poll-sites-open-at-lower-cost/
For the last three years, Ranked Choice Voting prevented the use of precinct tabulators. Since voters repealed Ranked Choice Voting, Pierce County can return to counting ballots at each polling place. This saves considerable time, labor and expense. Pierce County has also saved money with more efficient printing of polling-place materials.
WA: U.S. District Court in Washington State Keeps Names and Addresses of Petition Signers Private for Now http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/11/u-s-district-court-in-washington-state-keeps-names-and-addresses-of-petition-signers-private-for-now/
WI: Election Officials won't Enforce Issue Ad Rules
http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=6659
The new rules took effect this month. They require groups that air so-called issue ads to disclose where they get their money and how they spend it.
Internet Voting Watch
Ontario Canada. Don't make wishes - you might get more than you dreamed of.
http://theburdreport.blogspot.com/2010/08/dont-make-wishes-you-might-get-more.html
This adage comes to mind when it was revealed that paper ballots , in Cobourg, are as dead as the dodo. A dangerous move and one subject to manipulation.
Prof. David Wagner (UC Berkeley):
http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/ST/UOCAVA/2010/Presentations/WAGNER_UOCAVA2010.pdf
It is not technologically feasible today to make Internet voting safe against attack.
Operating an Internet voting system safely requires expertise and money way beyond what election officials are likely to have.
Comcast.net Hijacker Gets 4 Months
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/08/comcast-black/
Governments Battle to Stay Ahead of Threats on Internet, 'The Great Leveler'
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec10/cybersec_08-10.html
Suspect in $9 Million RBS WorldPay Hack Extradited to U.S
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/08/tsurikov-extradition/
The hackers compromised RBS WorldPay’s database encryption to raise the amount of funds available on the compromised cards and boost their daily withdrawal limits. In some case, the hackers raised the limits to $500,000.
National
Upcoming Primaries: Last Chance to Vote States
https://www.overseasvotefoundation.org/Primary-Deadlines
Overseas Vote Foundation. Wyoming State Primary August 17, Washington August 17
Arizona August 24, Vermont August 24, Florida August 24, Alaska August 24
Did you request your ballot? Did you get it? It is not too late if you act RIGHT NOW.
Statelight: Transparency in a Box, Pt. 1
http://blog.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/08/11/statelight-transparency-in-a-box-pt-1/
I’m excited to announce a new project from Public Equals Online and the Sunlight Foundation. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be developing – in large part through public blog posts such as this one – a curriculum, or guide, on how to do state level organizing and advocacy around transparency and open government.
Voting: The 233-year-old design problem
http://ballotusability.blogspot.com/2010/08/voting-233-year-old-design-problem.html
Did you know that the presidential election in 2000 was not the first - or last - time that design problems affected the outcome of an election?
International
India: “3 Idiots” determine Indian election results
http://www.indianevm.com/blogs/?p=387 The three people that I am referring to are junior programmers in the EVM manufacturing companies who have written the EVM software or source code that drive all the functions of the EVMs.
Voting News by Joyce McCloy.Archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
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Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in "Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers'ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.
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