The Voting News Daily: Struggling States May Cancel Or Delay Primaries, Paper Ballots Still the Gold Standard
CO: Denver City Council endorses pay raise for elected officials – The Denver Post
After spirited debate Monday, Denver’s City Council voted 10-3 to tentatively approve a 6.6 percent raise for the next sitting council and every other elected official — an increase to be delayed for half of their four-year terms. The city is facing a $100 million budget shortfall for the 2012 budget and has a structural budget problem that, if not addressed, could balloon into a $500 million deficit by 2030. Many council members think the meager increase would not affect that problem and that denying a raise would be symbolic rather than practical. “The substance of passing this has virtually zero impact on the budget,” said council president Chris Nevitt. “I was sent here to do a job to get things done. I much more prefer substance over symbolism.” All 13 council positions, along with the mayor, auditor and clerk and recorder, are up for election May 3. Read More
FL: Disenfranchised West Palm Beach voters file lawsuit for new mayoral election – Palm Beach Post
Mayor Lois Frankel, Mayor-Elect Jeri Muoio and Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher were among defendants named in a lawsuit Monday by an attorney seeking a new mayoral race. Attorney Nikasha Wells, who was paid as a consultant by candidate Paula Ryan during the election to help reach black voters, filed the lawsuit on behalf of Carmen Van Buskirk and Tiffany Green after 224 voters in a precinct off Haverhill Road were never told they lived in the city and could vote. Bucher said it was the city’s responsibility to inform the county that the land was annexed years ago by West Palm Beach and the voters lived in the city, not unincorporated county. Read More
IN: Daniels urges fast end to secretary of state’s voter-fraud case – The Indianapolis Star
As another key staffer fled the Indiana secretary of state’s office, Gov. Mitch Daniels called for a swift resolution to Charlie White’s voter-fraud case — and others called for White to quit. White’s spokesman, Jason Thomas, said in an e-mail that he resigned to “pursue other career opportunities.” Thomas, a former Indianapolis Star reporter who left in December to take the position of communications director with the incoming secretary of state, didn’t respond to follow-up questions. Read More
IN: 2nd resignation for beleaguered secretary of state; new deputy appointed – The Indianapolis Star
The secretary of state’s office lost another staffer today, as Charlie White’s chief spokesman quit. Jason Thomas quit to “pursue other career opportunities,” he said in an e-mail. Thomas, a former Indianapolis Star reporter who resigned in December to take the position with the secretary of state’s office, didn’t respond to several follow-up questions. Thomas’ resignation came after another top White staffer, deputy secretary of state and chief of staff Sean Keefer, abruptly quit Friday. Read More
ME: Portland won’t be counting on voting machines – The Portland Press Herald
Officials are looking at ways to handle Portland’s first mayoral election with ranked-choice voting, which the city’s voting machines aren’t equipped to handle.