The Voting News Daily: Oklahoma to replace its optical scanners, new SoSs take office, speedy results emphasized in latest India coverage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


LA: Mock election to be held at Herod

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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