The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly March 26 – April 1 2012

Internet Voting Would Put Soldier’s Votes at Risk

DHS cybersecurity official Bruce McConnell told a gathering of election officials, researchers and advocates that “it’s premature to deploy Internet voting in real elections at this time.” McConnell said voting systems are vulnerable and, “when you connect them to the Internet that vulnerability increases.” A Federal judge ruled that the FEC overstepped its bounds in allowing corporations and nonprofits to shield the identities of their financiers. In Palm Beach County ballots with be hand counted to determine the results of an local election marred by software counting errors. Confusion over the legal status voter ID requirements cloud next week’s Wisconsin primary. Voter ID requirements in Missouri were struck down in court and a voter ID bill in Nebraska was stopped by a filibuster. The denial of service attack on last week’s NDP leadership contest has left many in Canada questioning the wisdom of internet voting and a peaceful transition of power took place in Senegal after Macky Sall’s resounding run-off election victory.

Vermont: Legislature Votes to Overturn Citizens United | Truthout

Progressive activists are celebrating another victory today after the Vermont Legislature became the third in the nation late Thursday to pass resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the controversial 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations and other groups to spend unlimited amounts of money influencing elections and gave rise to the now-infamous Super PACs.  The resolution passed the Vermont House by a vote of 92-40 with support from five Republicans and despite a filibuster attempt by a Republican state representative. A similar resolution passed the state Senate last week by a wide margin of 26-3. The Hawaii and New Mexico Legislatures have also passed similar resolutions. “The Vermont legislature is the third state legislature to formally call for an amendment,” said Aquene Freechild, an organizer for reform group Public Citizen’s grassroots campaign to overturn Citizens United v. FEC. “I have no doubt it will be among the first to ratify.”