The Voting News Daily: Senate panel to review Diebold sale,Florida’s $67 Mill HAVA hoard, Federal Bills moving along
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee will examine Diebold sale…California Top-2 ballot measure would shrink ballot access…Corporate ‘personhood’ must be challenged in Citizens United v FEC…Recount in West Haven CT ends lawsuit…Florida withholding $67 million 2002 HAVA funds from counties…Federal Bill to help military vote goes to conference…H.R.1719 the Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2009 to get hearing…Shouldn’t all this talk about a voting machine monopoly also include investigation into issue of election transparency? Re-post of Minneapolis MN city report on IRV counting process because of bad link yesterday.
All this and more below:
CA. California 2010 “Top-Two” Proposal Is More Restrictive for Voters than the California 2004 “Top-Two” Initiative
October 7th, 2009 In June 2010, Californians will be voting for the second time on the “top-two” election system…A detailed look at the 2010 ballot measure shows that it is significantly less respectful of voter rights than the 2004 California proposal had been…If this passes, California would be one of only 7 states in which no voter could cast a write-in vote for Congress or state office in a November election, and have that write-in counted…The termination of write-in voting is especially disappointing, given that three times, Californians have elected someone to Congress by write-in votes at the general election, in 1930, 1946, and 1982…if it becomes law, the only way a party will be able to remain on the ballot will be to have registration above 1% of the last gubernatorial vote.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/10/07/california-2010-top-two-proposal-is-more-restrictive-for-voters-than-the-california-2004-top-two-initiative/
CA. Monterey County ballots may arrive before booklets
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20091008/NEWS01/910080318/1002/NEWS01/Monterey-County-ballots-may-arrive-before-booklets
CT. Lawsuit targeting 2 West Haven officials in election recount is withdrawn
October 7, 2009… WEST HAVEN — A Superior Court lawsuit filed against two city election officials alleging mishandling of last month’s recount was withdrawn Tuesday.
The suit was filed by Democrat Stacy Riccio after a recount in the 4th District ended with her opponent, Steve Wydra, remaining victorious.
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/10/07/news/metro/b1-whlawsuit.txt
FL. Miami Dade may have to fork over $7 million next year for voting systems
…County commissioners voted Tuesday to urge the Legislature to extend its deadline to 2016 unless the state agrees to pay for the new equipment it’s requiring…commissioners lashed out at the state for not only requiring new equipment without paying for it, but also for holding on to federal money passed to the state years ago to reimburse localities for past equipment switches.
The state still has $67 million “that in our opinion belongs to the counties,” Mr. Sola said.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electionreform/message/12625 archived (original link requires subscription )
IA. Bates Claims Flaw In Voting Machines, Demands Recount
Omaha Company Touts Accuracy Of Machines
October 9, 2009 COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Ousted Council Bluffs City Councilman Darren Bates has called for a recount, citing a lack of confidence in the systems electronic voting machines.
Bates claimed the system used to count Tuesday’s primary election ballots is flawed.
…The voting machines come from Omaha-based Electronic Systems and Software.The recount will take place Monday in the Pottawattamie County Courthouse.
Porter and Bates will each have a representative present at the recount, along with an independent person.