Verified Voting Blog: Losing Democracy in Cyberspace

It has been nothing short of astonishing that, within a few weeks, the brave people of Tunisia and Egypt toppled corrupt dictators who ruled for decades. One of the protesters' key demands was for democratic elections — the right to choose a government that is responsive to the people's needs. That is also what protesters in Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Jordan and Libya are demanding as they call for the dissolution of their autocratic and oppressive governments. As the protesters know all too well, voting does not mean that one's vote will be counted. In Egypt's 2005 elections, Hosni Mubarak was reelected with 88.6 percent of the vote. In 2009, Tunisia's Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was reelected with an 89.6 percent landslide victory. In both cases allegations of fraud and corruption surrounded the elections.

What nobody is talking about is how votes will be cast in emerging democracies. For elections to be legitimate in such countries, it is critical to use voting technology that counts votes accurately. In the 21st century, chances are high that computers will be used in some form in the coming elections in Egypt and Tunisia. But voting computers, like heads of state, must be held accountable to the people they serve. It is a tenet of computer science that computers can be programmed to do anything, including play "Jeopardy!" and steal votes.

The Voting News Daily: Wisconsin court election courts disaster, New Montana bill ending Election Day voter registration might hurt state GOP

WI: Opinion: Wisconsin court election courts disaster – Richard L. Hasen – POLITICO.com

With a razor-thin 204-vote lead, Democratic state assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg has declared victoryover Republican incumbent David Prosser in the race for Wisconsin state Supreme Court justice. A recount in this race, which some view as a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union policies, seems inevitable, and it is not clear who will ultimately take the seat on the Wisconsin bench. But if this expensive and nasty race ends up in protracted litigation, it could undermine public confidence in both the judiciary and Wisconsin’s electoral process, especially if, as I expect, supporters of Prosser raise ugly allegations of voter fraud. To begin with, these days any statewide election within a few hundred votes will likely be within the margin of litigation. Since the 2000 election and dispute over the razor-thin margin separating George W. Bush and Al Gore for the Florida vote, and therefore the U.S. presidency, litigating the outcome of close elections has become a regular feature of U.S. political life. Whether the 2004 governor’s race in Washington State between Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire, the 2008 Senate race in Minnesota pitching Al Franken against Norm Coleman or the 2010 Senate race in Alaska between Lisa Murkowski and Joe Miller, close elections bring out intense partisan fighting and, often from the Republican side, allegations of fraud or voting irregularities. While the fraud allegations remain stuck in the public’s mind, no proof of any systemic fraud has been unearthed. Instead, close examination of elections show, time and again, that our election systems are not perfect – but this is due to human error and not fraud. Full Article

MT: New Montana bill ending Election Day voter registration might hurt state GOP – KBZK.com

The state legislature has passed a bill ending Election Day voter registration. The last day voters could now register is the Friday before an election. The Republican sponsored House Bill 180 passed largely on party lines Monday. Long held political thought says blocking same day registration benefits the G.O.P. But new research calls that into question. The general argument put forth around the issue goes like this: Republicans say allowing voters to register on Election Day can lead to fraud; Democrats argue we should be trying to get as many citizens as possible to vote–and same day voter registration helps. This issue, though, is often seen as having a deeper partisan motive. “Anything you do to try to make it easier for people to turn out, theoretically the conventional wisdom states it should help Democrats,” said MSU Political Science Professor, Dr. David Parker. Conversely anything making the process more difficult should help Republicans. But Parker said a study released last year by the University of Wisconsin found a different conclusion. Full Article
Read the University of Wisconsin Report (pdf)

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Supreme Court Race May Hinge On ‘Undervotes’ | shorewood Patch

Hundreds, if not thousands, of Milwaukee-area voters went to the polls Tuesday but did not vote in the hotly contested state Supreme Court race, according to local voting results. And the issue of whether those people actually intended to vote for the high court could be a key factor in a looming recount that one expert says could bring back memories of Florida in the 2000 presidential election.

More than 900 people in 16 southeastern Wisconsin communities cast ballots in Tuesday’s election between Justice David Prosser and Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg, but did not register a vote in the final tally. With Kloppenburg leading Prosser by 204 votes, these “undervotes” and hundreds more in communities around the state will be an important part of the likely recount of the race’s more than 1.4 million votes.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin: Only a few provisional ballots out there | JSOnline

Some voters have questioned whether provisional ballots could change the thin lead Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg holds over Justice David Prosser in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Calls to a few of the state’s more populous voting jurisdictions indicate that’s unlikely.

Three provisional ballots were cast in the City of Milwaukee, according to an employee with the city’s election commission. So far, one of the three voters have provided the information needed to count the ballot. In Dane County, two voters cast provisional ballots, according to an employee in the county clerk’s office.

Tennessee: Tennessee House panel passes mandate for photo ID for voters » Knoxville News Sentinel

Democratic legislators argued Tuesday that if Republicans are going to mandate a photo identification for voting, the state should provide free identification cards to those who cannot afford them.

The argument did not work – at least for now -with the GOP majority on the House State and Local Government Committee, which proceeded to approve the “voter ID” bill, HB007, on a voice vote. The bill has already passed the Senate on a 21-11 party-line vote. Tuesday’s action effectively clears the measure for a House floor vote.

Montana: New Montana bill ending Election Day voter registration might hurt state GOP | KBZK.com

The state legislature has passed a bill ending Election Day voter registration. The last day voters could now register is the Friday before an election. The Republican sponsored House Bill 180 passed largely on party lines Monday. Long held political thought says blocking same day registration benefits the G.O.P. But new research calls that into question.

The general argument put forth around the issue goes like this: Republicans say allowing voters to register on Election Day can lead to fraud; Democrats argue we should be trying to get as many citizens as possible to vote–and same day voter registration helps. This issue, though, is often seen as having a deeper partisan motive. “

Mississippi: Harrison County Mississippi voter rolls soon will be electronic | Sun Herald

Circuit Clerk Gayle Parker plans to replace the large, bulky, polling books at each voting precinct with machines that resemble laptop computers. Parker is getting estimates from two companies. She plans to use the electronic poll books in the November elections.

“It will make the voter lines move faster, and we won’t need as many poll workers,” Parker said. “All the information will be in the poll book. It’s like a laptop.” Right now, when voters go to a precinct and give their names, a poll worker has to look up the name and address in a large book.

Michigan: Legislation introduced to allow Michigan residents to vote absentee for any reason | annarbor.com

Jeff_Irwin_on_bridge_headshot.jpg

Jeff Irwin

In a move aimed at increasing voter participation, state Rep. Jeff Irwin has announced a plan to allow any Michigan resident to vote by absentee ballot without giving a reason. “Increasing voter turnout is crucial to maintaining a healthy democracy,” Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, said in a statement.

“We should do everything we can to ensure that every voter who wants to vote has that opportunity to exercise their rights and hold lawmakers accountable. This plan has strong bipartisan support and will simply make it easier for people to vote.”

Illinois: Voting machine screens missing Hammond Illinois city council candidate’s name | Post-Tribune

A glitch inadvertently left a Hammond City Council candidate’s name from showing on the screen of a Lake County voting machine on Monday. Another candidate running against Matthew Kolanowski in the Democratic Primary for the 1st District notified election staff around 11:30 a.m. of the problem. Monday was the first day of early voting for the May 3 primary.

Election Board Attorney Jim Wieser said the glitch occurred when staff members adjusted the machine to leave a space in case Hammond Republican mayoral hopeful George Janiec makes it back on the ballot. Janiec, a School City of Hammond board member, is appealing Lake Superior Court Judge Jesse Villalpando’s decision to keep him off the ballot. Election staff didn’t know of the glitch because it only impacted what showed on the screen.

Wisconsin: Polls run out of ballots in Wisconsin | Fond du Lac Reporter

Voters headed to the polls after work could expect a wait. A larger-than-normal voter turnout locally and statewide has caused most polling places to run out of ballots. By the end of the night, turnout could run as high as 40 percent, said Fond du Lac City Clerk Sue Strands.

“By late afternoon, we were at 30 percent, and typically, it’s between 16 and 18 percent,” she said. In the city of Fond du Lac’s 40 wards, long lines are forming at many of the polling locations. “Voters will now have to use the handicapped accessible touch screen voting machine and there is only one at each location,” Strands said.

India: India: Security cameras to man counting centres post-voting| Times of India

With the counting of votes slated for May 13, a month after the state goes to poll, the district election office has decided to install web cameras in the counting centres.

The 234 strong rooms, where electronic voting machines (EVMs) are stored, will be monitored live for a month via camera till counting of votes starts. In Chennai, the strong rooms at Loyola College in Nungambakkam, Queen Mary’s College for Women off Marina and Anna University will be under video surveillance.