The Voting News Daily: Election Transparency Project nabs federal grant, Election officials wary as Walker signs Wisconsin voter ID bill into law

California, National: Transparency Project nabs federal grant; money to be used to augment post-election audit project, allow for duplication elsewhere | Times-Standard Online

A local project that uncovered a fatal flaw in Humboldt County’s old elections system just got some national recognition that may ultimately lead to its becoming the standard rather than the exception.

The federal Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) officially notified the Humboldt County Elections Office this week that it was receiving a $25,000 grant to fund and augment the Humboldt County Election Transparency Project so it can be replicated in… Read More

Wisconsin: Election officials wary as Walker signs Wisconsin voter ID bill into law

Election officials across Wisconsin are bracing for a difficult transition as the state rushes into place new rules for voting signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday — including a controversial measure requiring voters to use photo IDs.

Passage of the controversial law, which has been discussed by Republicans for more than a decade, means those charged with enforcing it have just under two months to develop and implement… Read More

California: Transparency Project nabs federal grant; money to be used to augment post-election audit project, allow for duplication elsewhere | Times-Standard Online

A local project that uncovered a fatal flaw in Humboldt County’s old elections system just got some national recognition that may ultimately lead to its becoming the standard rather than the exception.

The federal Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) officially notified the Humboldt County Elections Office this week that it was receiving a $25,000 grant to fund and augment the Humboldt County Election Transparency Project so it can be replicated in other places. While the grant is relatively small in comparison to the $1.5 million the EAC doled out in this round of grants, its impact could be huge, according to Humboldt County Registrar of Voters Carolyn Crnich.

Wisconsin: Election officials wary as Walker signs Wisconsin voter ID bill into law

Election officials across Wisconsin are bracing for a difficult transition as the state rushes into place new rules for voting signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday — including a controversial measure requiring voters to use photo IDs. Passage of the controversial law, which has been discussed by Republicans for more than a decade, means those charged with enforcing it have just under two months to develop and implement the training needed to handle polls in the coming recall elections.

“This will be a huge undertaking, to get everything and everybody ready,” said Diane Hermann-Brown, Sun Prairie city clerk and president of the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association. “We still have questions about how this will work.”

National: Republicans vote to end Election Assistance Commission, set up after Bush v. Gore – TheHill.com

Republicans on the Committee on House Administration have voted to eliminate the independent commission that was established to address election problems after the contested 2000 presidential contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, has disbursed more than $3 billion in “requirements” payments to states to update voting machines and enhance election administration. But the commission has seen that funding significantly decline in recent years.

National: GOP Seeks Savings in Phasing Out Election Assistance Commission | Roll Call News

An effort by House Republicans to close the Election Assistance Commission cleared its first obstacle Wednesday. After some limited Democratic opposition, the House Administration Committee approved a bill that would remove funding from the EAC and transfer much of its responsibilities to the Federal Election Commission.

The bill, which was approved by voice vote, is expected to receive a vote on the House floor next month, and Republicans are optimistic of its passage. “Now is simply the time to end the EAC and to save the American taxpayers $14 million a year,” said Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), the bill’s sponsor. “It doesn’t get any easier to find an example of wasteful spending.”

Minnesota: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie: Voter ID Turns a Right into a Privilege | The UpTake

I believe that the Governor should follow-through on his promise to veto any election legislation that lacks broad bi-partisan support and should take a stand to protect the right to vote.

At a first glance, the requirement asking eligible voters to show a government-issued photo ID before being allowed to vote seems reasonable. After all, most Minnesotans have a photo ID. So what’s the big deal? The big deal is that in our Constitution voting is a right not a privilege. Many Minnesotans may be surprised to learn that over 10% of seniors do not have a government-issued photo ID and many more have one, but with the wrong address. This is especially true of those who no longer drive.

South Carolina: Opponents of New South Carolina Voter ID Law Take Fight to the Feds | Free Times

When Republican Gov. Nikki Haley strode out to the podium as The Black Eyed Peas song “I Gotta Feeling” pumped through a PA system in the background and her entourage began a slow, rolling clap, clap, clap before she sat down to sign perhaps one of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation, it certainly raised some eyebrows in the packed State House lobby.

“They are disenfranchising voters to The Black Eyed Peas?” asked Orangeburg Democratic Rep. Bakari Sellers as he looked on. “Who does that?”

Sumter Democratic Rep. David Weeks had a more direct reaction.

Kenya: Parliament backs motion on electronic voting in Kenya | Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Parliament has Wednesday given the nod to compel the executive facilitate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission develop a modern electronic system. The system will legalize electronic voter registration in all polling stations in the country up to the national level in readiness for electronic voting come 2012.

The motion sponsored by Karachuonyo MP Eng. James Rege, unanimously received the backing of parliamentarians who termed the current manual system of collection, collation, transmission and tallying of votes as a sham prone to errors and manipulation.

Bangladesh: Election Commission set to introduce electronic polling in Bangladesh over BNP opposition | Gulf Times

The Election Commission (EC) is set to introduce electronic voting machines (EVM) in the coming general elections to stop malpractices during polling but the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has already rejected the plan.

Despite BNP’s rejection, the Election Commission will start a series of dialogues with registered political parties on June 7 to take their opinions on introduction of electronic voting machine and enactment of laws outlining criteria for appointment of Election Commissioners.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin governor signs controversial voter ID law | Reuters

The Republican governor of Wisconsin signed a bill on Wednesday that will require voters in the state to show photo identification when they go to the polls.

The measure, which Democrats characterize as a voter suppression effort but Republicans defend as a protection against fraud at the polls, will take partial effect just as nine state senators — including six of Governor Scott Walker’s Republican allies — face recall challenges in mid-July.

Wisconsin: Voter ID law could cause headaches in Wisconsin | Wausau Daily Herald

Senior citizens who don’t drive and University of Wisconsin students who depend on their student IDs to vote are among those who could be turned away from the polls on election days.

Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday signed into law a bill requiring voters to show some form of photo identification — such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, military or tribal ID or passport — before they can vote. College students can vote with a student ID that bears a signature and an expiration date within two years of the card’s issuance, but UW student IDs currently don’t fulfill that requirement.

Wisconsin: Voter ID Law Could Bring Confusion To Wisconsin Voters | WISN Milwaukee

Wisconsin voters will be required to show identification at the polls before casting a ballot. Gov. Scott Walker signed the voter ID bill into law on Wednesday.

…  The Government Accountability Board is already gearing up, preparing a $650,000 for public education campaign. “We will be working on developing billboards and television commercials and other sorts of communications to get the word out,” said Reid Magney of the Government Accountability Board.

Election officials around the state have to jump right in, especially those such as Milwaukee’s Sue Edman, who have Senate recall elections, just a little more than a month away.

Editorials: Jane Ann Morrison: Anyone could have written better rules for special elections in Nevada | ReviewJournal.com

Wonder which legislator did such a pitifully poor job writing a bill to spell out how a new House member should be chosen in Nevada in case of a midterm vacancy? Look no further than former Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Las Vegas.

In 2003, he sponsored Assembly Bill 344. But Perkins, now a lobbyist, thought so little of the bill that is now causing us so much of a ruckus that he handed the duties of carrying the bill to his intern.

Virginia: State weighs in on Montgomery County Virginia vote flap | Roanoke.com

The state board of elections wants Montgomery County election officials to have more training in using electronic poll books and provisional ballots to prevent a repeat of mishaps that occurred in November's elections.

The state board on Wednesday signed off on a letter censuring Montgomery County Registrar Randy Wertz and the three members of the county electoral board who were serving during the Nov. 2, 2010, election, when some voters were allowed to cast ballots without having their registration verified. The letter formalizes the state board's April 29 decision to issue a censure based on findings by the state attorney general's office.

South Dakota: Secretary of State says electronic poll books worked well in Sioux Falls South Dakota election | The Republic

State and local officials in South Dakota praised new voting technology and methods used for the first time in Tuesday’s school board election in Sioux Falls.

The election was the first in the state to use electronic poll books and voting centers. The electronic poll books replace the large paper volumes of voters’ names and automate the voter check-in process, while the voting centers reduce the number of polling sites that need to be staffed while giving voters more options on where to cast ballots.

Malta: A ‘No’ vote will kill tolerance and diversity in Malta – Alternattiva Demokratika | Independent online

A ‘No’ (to the introduction of divorce) result in the upcoming referendum will put the principles of tolerance and diversity at stake, said EU and International Affairs spokesperson for Alternattiva Demokratika Arnold Cassola, yesterday. He was speaking during a press conference held outside the university gates.

AD reminded people that Malta joined the EU in 2004 and urged the Maltese people to live up to the European Union’s motto ’United in diversity’ during this Saturday’s referendum. People should be tolerant to other people’s beliefs, even if they are different. Prof. Cassola said that ‘Yes’ votes are also a hope towards restoring the concept of equality among all Maltese citizens and not privileging those who can get a divorce from abroad, as is the current situation.