The Voting News Daily: ES&S sues ex employees, AZ’s SOS under investigation? Citizens United big decision coming
Tomorrow, on 9/9/09, the Supreme Court begins hearing re-arguments in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission at 10 a.m. “A bad decision in this case could open the floodgates of corporate money in our elections.” ~ Public Citizen. “We are moving toward a deregulated federal campaign finance system, where money flows freely and perhaps only disclosure laws remain.” ~ Richard Hasen, Prof of Law at Loyola Law School.
Shocking: ES&S has sued two former employees for copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Is someone investigating how states have handled all of the HAVA $millions? AZ’s SoS Jan Brewer may be under investigation for hadling of HAVA funds. (This comes on the heals of federal charges against NM’s former SOS for abusing HAVA funds.) The State of TX “volunteered”
Collin,Lubbock, Galveston and Erath Counties to be in Vote Center Pilot – Collin Co Democrats may ask DOJ to stop the plan.
Here’s a new one: Mohave Co AZ officials say voters should avoid the H1N1 virus by mailing ballots instead of going to the polls. Economy vs Elections: Towns in MA worried about special election costs – election for Sen. Edward Kennedy’s successor will cost cities and towns more than $5 million. Economy A MN city can’t get support for its old voting machines so is consolidating precincts.
“Voting Matters” has a video in honor of Diebold fire sale, “The Diebold Song” (youtube).
AZ. Sources say Brewer subject of state investigation
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer could be subject to a state investigation for dealings with other state government agencies and political players as well as the handling of federal money coming into the state for voting machines when she was secretary of state…Another source pointed to possible questions about how Brewer are her aides managed $57 million that came into Arizona under the Help America Votes Act,
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/08/31/daily93.html
AZ. Early voting touted (to avoid swine flu)
Friday, September 4, 2009 KINGMAN – Mohave County election officials are taking note of the looming dangers of the swine flu virus.
Elections Director Allen Tempert recommends that because of the H1N1 virus, voters who are going to the polls for several November elections should vote early instead. Ballots can be mailed to a home or downloaded from the county’s voter registration Web site and mailed back instead of going to the polling sites in Topock, Oatman and Yucca and risking exposure to the virus.
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2009/09/04/news/local/local4.txt
GA. Sandy Springs wants out of Voting Rights Act
Sandy Springs is considering using its history — or lack of it — to try to become the first Georgia city to bail out of the Voting Rights Act.
…Attorneys are trying to parse comments by Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote in the majority opinion that “all jurisdictions” were eligible to file suit to be exempted.
Many believe that cities will earn the exemptions, though Sandy Springs appears to be the first city to hire attorneys to try,
http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/sandy-springs-wants-out-133256.html
MA. Towns bemoan cost of special Senate election
The election to determine Sen.