The Voting News Daily: OSCE recommends that Estonia regulate e-voting in more detail, Kansas Realpolitick, Kobach style

The Voting News for 05/18/2011

Estonia: OSCE recommends that Estonia regulate e-voting in more detail | The Baltic Course

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), an agency of the the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitored the March 6 2011 parliamentary elections in Estonia and published its report on the elections on Monday. The organisation recommends to supplement and specify the legislation governing e-voting. (Read the Report (PDF))

OSCE also recommends Estonia to document more thoroughly different processes involving e-voting and to increase public’s awareness of different nuances of e-voting.
According to the report, e-voting has in general received high level of confidence… Read More

Kansas: Realpolitick, Kobach style | Clay Center Dispatch

[Clay] County [KS] clerk Kayla Wang says her staff is dreading expected complaints the first election after Kansas’ new voter picture ID law takes effect. “Too many people are not going to understand what’s going on. They’re not going to be happy,” Wang said.

Why is it necessary to require all voters to present a photo ID to vote and a birth certificate to register for the first time or… Read More

Estonia: OSCE recommends that Estonia regulate e-voting in more detail | The Baltic Course

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), an agency of the the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) monitored the March 6 2011 parliamentary elections in Estonia and published its report on the elections on Monday. The organisation recommends to supplement and specify the legislation governing e-voting. (Read the Report (PDF))

OSCE also recommends Estonia to document more thoroughly different processes involving e-voting and to increase public’s awareness of different nuances of e-voting.

Kansas: Realpolitick, Kobach style | Clay Center Dispatch

[Clay] County [KS] clerk Kayla Wang says her staff is dreading expected complaints the first election after Kansas’ new voter picture ID law takes effect. “Too many people are not going to understand what’s going on. They’re not going to be happy,” Wang said.

Why is it necessary to require all voters to present a photo ID to vote and a birth certificate to register for the first time or renew a driver’s license? No one has justified the cost and inconvenience of this nuisance intrusion into our lives to our satisfaction.

We can certainly see the political advantage its author, Kris Kobach, has gained from this. He scores political points with the fringe. The rest of us pay the price in dollars and inconvenience.

North Carolina: State Senate eyes NC voter ID bill – $3.1 million estimate | Burlington Times News

A Senate panel on Tuesday took a look at a bill that would require North Carolina voters to show a photo ID when they go to the polls to cast their ballots.

“I think it does ensure integrity in our elections process,” Sen. Debbie Clary, R-Cleveland, told a Senate Judiciary Committee. “It ensures that you are who you say you are when you come to vote.” Clary said the bill mirrors a Georgia voter ID law. … Clary said she did not have complete information on how much it would cost the state to implement such a program. She said preliminary cost estimates were around $3.1 million.

Florida: Department of Justice will look into Florida elections law changes | Post on Politics

The U.S. Department of Justice will “carefully consider” changes to Florida’s elections laws under a bill Gov. Rick Scott is expected to sign into law this week.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson complained to the feds before the bill was passed that the measure would impose severe restrictions on Floridians’ voting rights. Democrats are convinced the measure is aimed at suppressing Democratic votes in next year’s presidential election in the swing state considered crucial by both parties. Nelson drew flak with his comments at the time likening the fight against the elections overhaul to the the years-long covert operation that culminated in the death of Osama bin Laden.

Ohio: Ohio Secretary of State chats up possible voting changes – ending “Golden Week” | newsnet5.com

The Ohio Secretary of State has a goal for 2012, to not be in the national spotlight. “That’s why you see us in early 2011 working through all the issues that we foresee on our doorstep in November of 2012,” said Jon Husted. “The last thing in the world that I ever want to be is the focus of any 2012 election.”

So Hosted is busy getting ready to institute changes that will likely come from two bills making their way through the state house and senate that will change the way people vote in Ohio. “For over 200 years, we voted on Tuesdays and now we’re trying to, over the last 10 years, perfect this early-voting process,” Husted said.

Louisiana: The cost of democracy – special elections in Louisiana | Baton Rouge Business Report

With state senators abandoning ship for statewide posts and new public jobs, and state representatives stepping up to become senators, and parish councilmen and mayors pushing to fill those vacancies, there has been a long string of special elections in recent months.

Over the course of the current term of the Louisiana Legislature, taxpayers have footed the bill for more than $1 million worth of special elections—basically, 32 unexpected contests—according to the Legislative Auditor’s Office, the most in the nation during that time frame.

Wisconsin: Senate vote on photo ID bill delayed until Thursday | JSOnline

Senate Republicans gave initial approval early Wednesday to a bill requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls, but Democrats blocked a final vote on the measure until Thursday.

Senators signaled their approval of the bill on a voice vote, with Republicans who control the house voting for it and Democrats opposed. That vote came at 12:30 a.m., after more than 10 hours of debate, but Democrats used Senate rules to prevent the final vote.

Pennsylvania: Machine problems plague Interboro primary elections (Delaware County) – delcotimes.com

“Until we find out the results of that one machine, I’d rather not comment,” said Kaelin, last night.

In Tuesday’s primary, a voting machine malfunction left a cliff hanger in Glenolden which may not be resolved until sometime today at the earliest, according to officials. Eight candidates were competing for four four year seats on Interboro School Board.

It is unclear if long-time incumbent John Kaelin was defeated by a newcomer.

Florida: Election sticker shock in Pembroke Pines Florida | Sun Sentinel

Pembroke Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo wants to cut the cost of elections in the city and Broward County. This is in spite of the fact that his position as a city commissioner doesn’t impart him with much authority to change the way elections are run.

The Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes runs the elections, but Pembroke Pines pays. That rankles Castillo.

Guam: Election Reform Advisory Group to help craft legislation in Guam | Pacific Daily News

The Committee on Election Reform is convening an Election Reform Advisory Group for the purpose of examining Guam’s election laws to craft legislation that will help to ensure elections are efficient, fair, and reliable.

“During the last three General Elections, and a couple of primaries, we have repeatedly seen a wide ranging list of allegations and legal challenges relative to questionable or improper conduct. Despite collective cries of outrage, the underlying issues have, tragically, left many with a resigned acquiescence that all our election results are suspect – and will continue to be,” said Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr. in a press release.

South Africa: South African local election voting goes smoothly | M&Cnews

Voting in municipal elections proceeded smoothly across South Africa on Wednesday, even in hotly contested districts, where a rising opposition party is hoping to make gains.
…
Some minor glitches occurred in parts of Johannesburg and in the far north, including several polling machines that did not function and one station that was damaged overnight in a fire.

Kosovo: Results from the 2011 Post-Election Survey in Kosovo | IFES

Post-Election Public Opinion in Kosovo 2011, IFES’ third post-election survey in the country since 2008, is now available. The poll captures the perspectives of Kosovo citizens on matters such as perceptions of democracy, opinions on the December 2010 elections, and assessments of the overall situation in the country.

These IFES surveys have provided much insight into the evolution of opinions of Kosovo citizens from immediately prior to the country’s declaration of independence in 2008 to this year. The data not only gives a pulse of the country, but is a thorough gauge of public opinion on the country’s advancing electoral process and democracy.

Australia: Commissioner rejects Hanson voting error claims | ABC News

The New South Wales electoral commissioner has rejected claims that two of his staff exchanged emails allegedly referring to errors in the count of votes for Upper House candidate Pauline Hanson. Ms Hanson is challenging the election result which saw her miss out on an Upper House seat.

She has launched action in the Court of Disputed Returns, after being told that staff at the commission had mistakenly put around 1,200 votes for her in a pile of blank ballots. Ms Hanson says she was tipped off by an Electoral Commission worker that her ballots were sabotaged.