National: Ballot Secrecy Keeps Voting Technology at Bay | Scientific American

Republicans during Tuesday's New Hampshire primary will use a technology recognizable to Washington and Lincoln to make their choices Posted at Scientific American: Voters in the recent Iowa caucuses and Tuesday's New Hampshire primary will rely on paper ballots as they have for generations. In the very next primary on January 21, South Carolinians will vote with backlit touch-screen computers. In an age of electronic banking and online college degrees, why hasn't the rest of the nation gone the way of the Palmetto State? The reason is simple and resonates with the contentious debate that has yet to be resolved after at least 15 years of wrangling over the issue of electronic voting. No one has yet figured out a straightforward method of ensuring that one of the most revered democratic institutions—in this case, electing a U.S. president—can be double checked for fraud, particularly when paperless e-voting systems are used. Voters can cast their ballot in a variety of ways, depending upon the method adopted by their election district. This includes paper ballots, punch cards, two different types of touch-screen electronic voting system (one that prints out a receipt verifying your vote and one that does not), optical scanners used to digitize paper ballots, or some combination of these. New Hampshire, like nearly two-thirds of the country, has a paper ballot system that voters mark up and turn in to election officials who count the ballots either by electrical scanners or by hand. With the optical-scan approach, if the ballot is not filled out properly or is unreadable, the scanner will not accept the vote and the voter can fix his or her ballot before leaving the polling place, Dill says.

Verified Voting Blog: Roadmap for Future California Elections

When it comes to elections, what does California do well? What could California do better? How have we led, and how have we perhaps lagged behind? These are questions that a diverse group of individuals and organizations asked themselves and one another over the course of three months, with an aim to envision the future of California's elections. It turned out to be an extraordinary conversation and a process which could very well serve as a model for other states as well. One driving force in the process was the convening organization, the James Irvine Foundation, which has long worked on issues of importance to Californians. The participants included a diverse range of representatives with a concern for voters and not-yet voters, for elections and how they function, and for California's democracy.

Download the Roadmap for Future California Elections (pdf)

Verified Voting Blog: Developing Standards for Election Data

 

One of the challenges faced by advocates of election audits and transparency is that current voting systems each record and store election file data in unique ways. This is no surprise given that vendors have long claimed that their systems are proprietary. But the current model of storing election data in ways that prevent easy sharing and analysis is proving difficult for election officials, statisticians, election integrity advocates, and even voting systems vendors. Because of these problems, serious discussion is taking place about what can be done about standardizing election data.

Often, within a single state there are many different voting systems from multiple vendors. At the same time, many elections, including most federal and statewide races, cross election jurisdictions so that votes for the same race are reported in different ways, depending on the system type used in each district. Even a single polling place may have different types of equipment - an optical scanner and a touch screen device for accessible voting for example - which report results in incompatible ways but which must be combined after the polls close.

Verified Voting Blog: Dismissed Venango County Pennsylvania Election Board Files Appeal

Attorney Charles A. Pascal, Jr., has filed a Motion For Reconsideration on behalf of members of the specially appointed Venango County Election Board. The filing was made this afternoon in response to President Judge Oliver J. Lobaugh's order dismissing the Board yesterday. Citing ongoing investigations into serious voting machine problems reported during the May 17 primary election, the specially appointed Election Board requested that they be allowed to continue their work until 11:59 PM on December 31, 2011.

"The members of the specially appointed Board of Elections believes that it is necessary to continue their work in order to assure the voters of the County of Venango of the integrity of the election process in the county," the Motion states, "and to assure that any possible violations of policy, protocol, best practices, or the law, or any directive of the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, are not repeated in future elections."

Verified Voting Blog: If I can shop and bank online, why can’t I vote online?

There is widespread pressure around the country today for the introduction of some form of Internet voting in public elections that would allow people to vote online, all electronically, from their own personal computers or mobile devices. Proponents argue that Internet voting would offer greater speed and convenience, particularly for overseas and military voters and, in fact, any voters allowed to vote that way.

However, computer and network security experts are virtually unanimous in pointing out that online voting is an exceedingly dangerous threat to the integrity of U.S. elections. There is no way with current technology to guarantee that the security, privacy, and transparency requirements for elections can all be met with any security technology in the foreseeable future. Anyone from a disaffected misfit individual to a national intelligence agency can remotely attack an online election, modifying or filtering ballots in ways that are undetectable and uncorrectable of just disrupting the election and creating havoc. There are a host of such attacks that can be used singly or in combination. In the cyber security world today almost all of the advantages are with attackers, and any of these attacks can result in the wrong persons being elected, or initiatives wrongly passed or rejected.

Nonetheless, the proponents point to the fact that millions of people regularly bank and shop online every day without apparent problems,. They note that an online voting transaction resembles an ecommerce transaction, at least superficially. You connect your browser to the appropriate site, authenticate yourself, make your choices with the mouse, click on a final confirmation button, and you are done! All of the potential attacks alluded above apply equally to shopping and banking services, so what is the difference? People ask, quite naturally, “If it is safe to do my banking and shopping online, why can’t I vote online?”

This is a very fair question, and it deserves a careful, thorough answer because the reasons are not obvious. Unfortunately it requires substantial development to explain fully. But in brief, our answer is in two-parts:

1. It is not actually “safe” to conduct ecommerce transactions online. It is in fact very risky, more so every day, and essentially all those risks apply equally to online voting transactions.

2. The technical security, privacy, and transparency requirements for voting are structurally different from, and much more stringent than, those for ecommerce transactions. Even if ecommerce transactions were safe, the security technology underpinning them would not suffice for voting. In particular, the security and privacy requirements for voting are unique and in tension in a way that has no analog in the ecommerce world.

Verified Voting Blog: Report on the Estonian Internet Voting System

I visited Estonia in mid-July of this year at the invitation of Edgar Savisaar, the country's first prime minister and current mayor of Tallinn. Mr. Savisaar is the leader of the Centre Party, which placed second in recent national elections. The Centre Party and Mr. Savisaar have been questioning the outcome of the Internet voting portion of those elections. They invited me to Estonia because of a presentation I made at a European Parliament panel on the risks of Internet voting.

I told my hosts that I was happy to discuss the risks of Internet voting, but I would not comment on internal Estonian politics. When asked whether or not I thought the national election was rigged, I refused to comment, aside from saying that no one could prove that it was or was not rigged, because there is no way to conduct a recount of an Internet election.

The Internet portion of the 2011 election lasted from February 24 to March 2, with paper balloting conducted on March 6. The Internet vote was counted the evening of March 6. Estonian law allows complaints to be submitted only during the 3 days immediately following the procedure being challenged. Since Internet voting is considered separate from paper voting, the final day for submitting complaints about Internet voting was March 5. Graduate student Paavo Pihelgas was the only person who submitted a complaint by the deadline. (The Centre Party and independent candidates tried to file complaints, but they did not do so within the required 72 hour time frame).

Verified Voting Blog: Let the MOVE Act have a chance to work before considering electronic return of ballots

Military and overseas voters saw improvements in their ability to vote in 2010, thanks to the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) passed in late 2009, according to a report to Congress last month by the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). The report indicates that MOVE will improve things further as its provisions become better known and implemented.

The MOVE Act required states to send ballots to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before election-day in federal elections so they have time to return their voted ballot. MPSA must pick up ballots for return to election offices no later than 7 days before election day. MOVE also sped up the process by requiring states to offer electronic transmission (website, email, fax) of blank ballots and registration materials. The law stopped short of establishing electronic return of voted ballots because ballots cannot be secured against undetected interception and manipulation over the internet. New procedures were implemented for 2010, coordinating MPSA with USPS, including the use of Express Military Mail Service (EMMS) for uniformed overseas service members and their families.

Verified Voting Blog: Voting machine problems in Mississippi primary highlight national concern

In the August 3 primary in Mississippi voters experienced voting machine problems: candidates’ names and entire contests missing from the voting machine screens and equipment failing to booting up properly. Problems were reported in Hinds County, which uses the Advanced Voting Systems Winvote and in several counties that use the Premier  (Diebold) TSx equipped with a voter-verifiable paper audit trail printer.

Advanced Voting Systems has been out of business for several years after they failed to meet requirements for certification to Federal voting systems standards but their machines are still used in Hinds County and in several jurisdictions in Virginia.  The same type of AVS machine produced still-unexplained anomalies in Fairfax County, Virginia in 2009. The majority of Mississippi counties use the Premier TSx and most are equipped with voter verified paper audit trail printers, though the printers are not required by state law or regulation.

The Voting News Daily: House to vote on repealing Election Assistance Commission set up after Bush-Gore, White Again Denied Immunity for Recount Commission Testimony

The House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to repeal an election commission set up after the controversial 2000 presidential election. Members plan to vote on H.R. 672, which would repeal the Election Assistance Commission. That commission was established in 2002 after confusion and controversy over ballots in Florida for presidential election between then-Vice President Al Gore and then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

The commission was set up under the Help America Vote Act approved in 2002. That law created the commission, which set voting guidelines for states, and to distribute funds to states that could be used to update voting equipment.

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), the sponsor of H.R. 672, says repealing the commission would save $14 million a year and that it can safely be repealed because the commission’s work has been completed. He said that in 2010, the National Association of Secretaries of State renewed their request to repeal the EAC, which has “served its purpose.”

Read More

Secretary of State Charlie White has lost another preliminary round ahead of a Tuesday hearing on whether he can stay in office. Marion Circuit Judge Louis Rosenberg has rejected White’s request for immunity for his testimony at a Recount Commission hearing.

White’s facing a criminal trial in August on related charges, accusing him of voting from an address he’d already moved away from. Attorney Jim Bopp says allowing prosecutors to scour his testimony before the commission leaves him with “an unconscionable choice” between mounting his best defense in the criminal case or the election case.

Read More

Verified Voting Blog: Email Voting: A National Security Threat in Government Elections

I am very concerned about the widespread push toward Internet voting in the U.S., of which email voting is just one kind.  Neither the Internet itself, nor voters’ computers, nor the email vote collection servers are secure against any of a hundred different cyber attacks that might be launched by anyone in the world from a self-aggrandizing loner to a foreign intelligence agency. Such an attack might allow automated and undetectable modification or loss of any or all of the votes transmitted.

While all Internet voting systems are vulnerable to such attacks and thus should be unacceptable to anyone, email voting is by far the worst Internet voting choice from a national security point of view since it is the easiest to attack in the largest number of different ways.

The technical points I am about to state are not my opinions alone. The computer security research community in the U.S. is essentially unanimous in its condemnation of any currently feasible form of Internet voting, but most especially of email voting. I strongly urge legislators in states considering e-mail voting to request testimony from other independent computer network security experts who are not affiliated with or paid by any voting system vendor.  Email voting is extremely dangerous in ways that people without strong technical background are not likely to anticipate.

Verified Voting Blog: Report on second risk-limiting audit under AB 2023 in Monterey County California

The second risk-limiting audit under California AB 2023 was conducted on May 6 in Monterey County. The contest was a Special all-mail election for Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Director, Division 1.  Monterey uses Sequoia equipment. There were two candidates: Brenda Lewis and Thomas M. Mancini, and write-ins. 2111 ballots were cast in all.  The reported totals were 1353 reported for Lewis, 742 for Mancini, and 13 write-ins. The remaining 3 ballots were recorded as undervotes and overvotes.  Lewis was reported to have 64.18% of the valid votes.

Two members of the public observed the entire audit process, which took roughly 90 minutes including some preliminary explanation of the procedure. They confirmed that their interpretation of the ballots agreed with mine and the elections officials', and they helped roll the dice used to select ballots at random.  In conversations afterward, they seemed quite satisfied with the transparency of the procedure (although perhaps not utterly convinced by the mathematics that justified the details).

The audit was performed as follows. After the ballots had been tabulated officially, elections officials Bates-stamped each with a unique serial number (1962 ballots that were scanned had been stamped prior to audit day; the remaining 149 were stamped as part of the audit). It is my understanding that stamping the ballots took about 5 person-hours in all.

Verified Voting Blog: Online voting is risky and expensive

Online voting is an appealing option to speed voting for military and overseas voters. Yet it is actually "Democracy Theater", providing an expensive, risky illusion of supporting our troops. Technologists warn of the unsolved technical challenges, while experience shows that the risks are tangible and pervasive. There are safer, less expensive solutions available. This year, the Government Administration and Elections Committee held hearings on a bill for online voting for military voters. Later they approved a "technical bill", S.B. 939. Tucked at the end was a paragraph requiring that the Secretary of the State "shall, within available appropriations, establish a method to allow for on-line voting by military personnel stationed out of state."

In 2008, over thirty computer scientists, security experts and technicians signed the "Computer Technologists' Statement on Internet Voting," listing five unsolved technical challenges and concluding: "[W]e believe it is necessary to warn policymakers and the public that secure internet voting is a very hard technical problem, and that we should proceed with internet voting schemes only after thorough consideration of the technical and non-technical issues in doing so." The prevailing attitude seems to be, if voters and election officials like it and see no obvious problems then it must be safe.

Verified Voting Blog: Oak Ridge, spear phishing, and i-voting

Oak Ridge National Labs (one of the US national energy labs, along with Sandia, Livermore, Los Alamos, etc) had a bunch of people fall for a spear phishing attack (see articles in Computerworld and many other descriptions). For those not familiar with the term, spear phishing is sending targeted emails at specific recipients, designed to have them do an action (e.g., click on a link) that will install some form of software (e.g., to allow stealing information from their computers). This is distinct from spam, where the goal is primarily to get you to purchase pharmaceuticals, or maybe install software, but in any case is widespread and not targeted at particular victims. Spear phishing is the same technique used in the Google Aurora (and related) cases last year, the RSA case earlier this year, Epsilon a few weeks ago, and doubtless many others that we haven’t heard about. Targets of spear phishing might be particular people within an organization (e.g., executives, or people on a particular project).

In this posting, I’m going to connect this attack to Internet voting (i-voting), by which I mean casting a ballot from the comfort of your home using your personal computer (i.e., not a dedicated machine in a precinct or government office). My contention is that in addition to all the other risks of i-voting, one of the problems is that people will click links targeted at them by political parties, and will try to cast their vote on fake web sites. The scenario is that operatives of the Orange party send messages to voters who belong to the Purple party claiming to be from the Purple party’s candidate for president and giving a link to a look-alike web site for i-voting, encouraging voters to cast their votes early. The goal of the Orange party is to either prevent Purple voters from voting at all, or to convince them that their vote has been cast and then use their credentials (i.e., username and password) to have software cast their vote for Orange candidates, without the voter ever knowing.

Verified Voting Blog: Flawed Wisconsin Race Proves Need for Transparency, Accountability in Election Procedures

When Wisconsin voters flocked to the polls on April 5, one of the factors driving the high turnout was the State Supreme Court contest between incumbent Justice David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg. Prosser, whose term ends July 31, often casts the deciding vote on the seven-member court. He is a conservative Republican former Speaker of the Assembly seen as closely allied to Wisconsin's controversial Gov. Scott Walker. Kloppenburg, a virtual unknown who was given little chance of success when she entered the race several months ago, was buoyed by the high passions stirred by Walker's actions to strip government employees of their collective bargaining rights. Though the race is officially nonpartisan, it was seen as both a referendum on Walker and a chance to affect the Supreme Court's ruling on Walker's actions, which are likely to be reviewed by the Court in its next term. Election night results were considered too close to call, but the next day when seemingly all the votes had been tallied, Kloppenburg claimed victory with a margin of 204 votes of the more than 1.4 million total votes cast. A recount seemed inevitable.

[pullquote align="left"][media url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldCVBB-ruKY" width="360" height="240" jwplayer="controlbar=bottom"][/pullquote]Then one day later, County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus of Republican stronghold Waukesha County suddenly announced in a dramatic press conference that she had forgotten to include the votes of the county’s second-largest city, Brookfield, in her tabulation. The more than 14,000 votes she added now gave Prosser a lead of almost 7,316 votes of the 1,498,880 votes cast, or 0.488%. Wisconsin picks up the tab for recounts where the margin of victory is less than 0.5%, so this falls just barely within the margin of a state-funded recount.

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.

Verified Voting Blog: Disappointing Reversal on Transparency and Security for Washington Elections

A bill aimed at reducing restriction to voting for military and other overseas voters passed the Washington State Senate by a 47-1 vote on Friday.  Senate Bill 5171 contains many provisions that will certainly make voting easier for Washington citizens living overseas including moving the primary election date two weeks earlier and meeting requirements of the Federal MOVE Act for mailing of absentee ballots 45 days prior to the election. We strongly support those provisions.

However, the bill also will allow for the acceptance of absentee ballots returned by email and fax. In addition to requiring, by affidavit, that voters returning their ballots electronically forego the secrecy of their ballot, it also makes the state’s elections vulnerable to tampering and error.

It is deeply disappointing that Secretary of State Sam Reed has actively supported this legislation. No one experienced the 2004 Gregoire/Rossi gubernatorial recount process more directly than Secretary Reed. That race, ultimately decided by 133 votes, stretched the issue of voter confidence to its absolute limits, and Secretary Reed, to his credit, did what he could to be available through and transparent about every step of the recount process. But the involved parties could not review voters’ intent for over 113,000 ballots, because at that time, Washington State used paperless electronic voting machines in two of the larger counties. The only votes that could be truly recounted were the paper ballots.

The Voting News Daily: Oklahoma chooses Hart Intercivic, Kentucky SoS to depart, Connecticut panel advocates reforms

“In many cases, we see security devices or electronic voting machines where we really have to wonder, ‘Did anybody spend 60 seconds figuring out the security issues?” That question was posed by an Argonne National Laboratories security expert in an interview published today.

There is a good deal of news to share today: Oklahoma has chosen Hart Intercivic to supply its next generation of optical scan ballot tabulators (the state currently uses the IVS Vote by Phone system for accessibility); Washington State considers moving up the deadline for mail ballot receipt to Election Day; Kentucky’s Secretary of State Trey Grayson announced plans to leave office for a position at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government; and Connecticut considers state takeover of ballot procurement.

All this and more in today’s Voting News below. Enjoy your weekend!

AR: Ex-Globetrotter allowed to join Ark. House | TheCabin.net

Smith was one of two incoming House members who were cleared by fellow lawmakers to be sworn in next week. The House also voted to recommend seating an incoming Democratic representative who won after her Republican rival was declared ineligible to serve in the House because of a bribery conviction. Read More

CO: Saguache County election debacle still unresolved even as officials set to be sworn in | Colorado Independent

[Jan. 6] A disputed election in a sleepy county in south-central Colorado has erupted into a cacophony of bipartisan complaints that the clerk and recorder is improperly certifying its results for her own benefit.

So far, six citizens have filed grievances with both the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office alleging official misconduct and multiple criminal offenses in sparsely populated Saguache County, where the census shows just two residents per square mile. Read More

CT: Recipe For Voting Reform Offered In Connecticut – Courant.com

Early voting, automatic registration, “no-excuse” absentee ballots, and better training for poll workers.

Connecticut should consider these and other measures to improve the voting process, according to a panel organized by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. Read More

CT: Merrill: Changes needed to avoid another Election Day fiasco | The Connecticut Mirror

The state’s new chief elections officer says she plans to promote changes to ensure that the Election Day fiasco of 2010, when polling place in Bridgeport and a half dozen other communities ran out of ballots on Election Day, doesn’t happen again. Read More

CT: After Bridgeport fiasco, ballot fix proposed – Connecticut Post

Merrill, speaking after a two-and-a-half-hour hearing Friday on Election Day problems, said she will also submit legislation to the General Assembly requiring the state to take over the purchase of ballots, so towns and cities can take advantage of bulk-buying power and save money. Read More

FL: Secretary of State Browning is Scott’s first double-dipper hire – St. Petersburg Times

Retirement was going as former Secretary of State Kurt Browning figured it would: a lot of working in the yard, loving on his grandbaby, padding around the barn at his Dade City home.

The Voting News Daily: Montana’s vote by mail legislation expected to move, New Jersey election dispute rekindles

Montana’s Legislature will once again consider vote by mail legislation, Missouri’s will consider early voting, and unopened ballots may change a recount result in New Jersey.

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AR: Martin names top aids for secretary of state’s office

Martin announced his leadership team Thursday, including Family Council lawyer Martha Adcock as elections director and Alice Stewart as deputy director of public affairs. Read More

CO: Saguache County clerk complaint sent to AG – Colorado Springs Conservative | Examiner.com

In answer to objections that she should “butt out” of the election controversy in Saguache County, Marks pointed out that according to state statue, any person may file a complaint with the appropriate district attorney. The fact that she resides in Pitkin, not Saguache County, Marks said, has no effect on her strong conviction that elections must be fair and uniform throughout Colorado.

“As a Coloradan, I’m not only interested in competency and fairness in the Saguache clerk’s office for the conduct of future elections, but given the big questions on water, energy and the environment facing the BOCC, I know that decisions of Saguache BOCC impact the entire region,” she explained. “The election of those officials should truly reflect the will of the Saguache voters.” Read More

CT: Journal Inquirer Politics & Government Forum on ballot shortage

The forum, at 10 a.m. Friday in the Capitol Old Appropriations Room, will allow policy experts and members of the public to offer ideas on preventing such problems. Registrars of voters, town clerks, and voting rights advocates are expected to weigh in on the issue. Among those in attendance will be Manchester Town Clerk Joseph Camposeo, president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association. Read More

FL: Browning Returns as Secretary of State

Kurt Browning, a former local official who was widely respected for his knowledge of running elections, will return to lead the Department of State, which oversees the Division of Elections, from which he recently retired, Gov. Rick Scott announced late Wednesday. Read More

IN: [SoS] White sworn in despite controversy

White is still answering the charges that his victory came despite listing his ex-wife’s address on voter registration forms for the May 2010 primary. Two special prosecutors are looking into the allegations that White acted intentionally to mislead voters but White said he hasn’t spoken to investigators.

“We’re just waiting on them and we’ll cooperate when it’s time,” White said. Read More

IN: Charlie White sworn in as Indiana secretary of state

Charlie White was sworn in today as Indiana’s newest secretary of state, but a cloud hung over the Statehouse ceremony as special prosecutors in Hamilton County continue to investigate whether White committed voter fraud. Read More

IN: Embattled White says investigation won’t affect Secretary of State’s office

The Republican said he believes the investigation “will work itself out” and won’t interfere with his ability to administer an office that regulates elections, business charters and the securities industry. Read More.

MA: Recount loser says he’ll stay in house until court fight ends – Sharon, MA – Sharon Advocate

Citing provisions in the state Constitution, Rep.

The Voting News Daily: International Observers Report on Mid-Terms, MN SoS Ritchie to Lead NASS

AK: Miller Will Not Appeal Federal Ruling; Concedes Alaska’s U.S. Senate Race to Murkowski – The BRAD BLOG (Dec. 31)

In a press conference held this afternoon in Juneau, Alaska’s GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, Joe Miller, finally conceded the election to write-in candidate and incumbent Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski. He has decided not to appeal his federal case as dismissed by a U.S. circuit court judge on Tuesday. See AP’s coverage for more on today’s announcement. Read More

CA: Low-income voters struggled with ranked-choice voting | California Watch

Voters from low-income neighborhoods had a tougher time with the complexities of the ranked-choice voting system in November’s election.That’s the bottom line of a California Watch analysis of voting data from the electoral district that arguably faced the most complicated ballot in California: San Francisco’s Supervisorial District 10. Read More

IA: Activists to Branstad: Keep current voting rights rule | The Des Moines Register

A coalition of about 20 activist groups asked Gov.-elect Terry Branstad on Monday not to follow through on a pledge to rescind an executive order that automatically restores voting rights to ex-convicts. The groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, sent a letter to Branstad expressing support for a statewide policy adopted in 2005. That’s when Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack issued a blanket order restoring voting rights to about 50,000 Iowa felons who had completed their criminal sentences. Read More

MO: St. Clair County Clerk explains military ballot snafu – STLToday.com

Bob Delaney said today he acted with diligence when he mailed 1,207 military ballots on Oct. 4, 16 days after a federal election law deadline and 31 days late by Illinois election standards. Testifying before an Illinois House Elections and Campaign Reform committee, Delaney said he was trying to avoid reprinting costs, in case pending litigation threw candidates off the ballot. Read More

MT: Vote-by-mail bill has bipartisan support

Montana lawmakers will be asked to approve a bill with bipartisan support that would set up vote-by-mail elections for all federal, state and local elections in Montana in 2012, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch said Wednesday. “Vote-by-mail elections increase voter participation, enhance voter protection and save taxpayer money,” said McCulloch, a Democrat and the state’s chief election officer. House Bill 130 is the product of a working group commissioned by McCulloch that represented a variety of organizations and county governments. Rep. Pat Ingraham, R-Thompson Falls, a former county clerk and election administrator, is sponsoring the bill. Read More

NY: Troy vote probe gambit rejected by judge – Times Union

An acting state Supreme Court justice has dismissed questions raised about the status of a Rensselaer County grand jury investigating ballot fraud and a judge overseeing it. Attorneys for City Councilman Michael LoPorto and county Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough attempted in December “to intervene regarding the proceedings” of the grand jury probing allegations of absentee ballot fraud in the 2009 Working Families Party primary in Troy, according to a court document.

The Voting News Daily: ES&S ‘Glitch’ in Champaign Co. IL Explained, NY State Assembly Contest May Go to Court, No voting Rights for Puerto Rico

CA: Secetrary of State Bowen unveils four-year strategic plan – Kim Alexander’s Weblog

http://kimalex.blogspot.com/2011/01/sos-bowen-unveils-four-year-strategic.html

At her inauguration ceremony today, Secretary of State Debra Bowen

 announced that her office was implementing a four-year strategic plan focused on three priorities: ensuring fair and secure elections, doing business, and protecting rights and state treasures. She also listed six values that will guide the work of the office of Secretary of State: service; integrity; teamwork; openness; innovation; and consistency. She concluded by saying that standing up for the workers in her office is the most important thing she can do to make sure they deliver excellent public service, so “let’s get back to work.”

CT: State senator resigns, pleads guilty to election violations | Local Politics | The State Column

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/local-politics/connecticut-state-senator-resigns-pleads-guilty-to-election-violations/

Sen. Tom Gaffey, D-13th, announced Monday he will not take the oath of office on Wednesday. Mr. Gaffey was re-elected to office in November. Mr. Gaffey is charged with double-billing his political action committee, a charge that amounts to larceny. He says he plans to plead guilty on Wednesday and that he has taken steps to repay the money. The state senator said in a press release that he apologizes to family and constituents, saying “I apologize to my family, friends, colleagues and the voters of my district for any embarrassment my mistakes may have caused.”

IL: our objections for St. Charles elections denied by board – Downers Grove, IL – MySuburbanLife.com

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/news/x1599389713/Four-objections-for-St-Charles-elections-denied-by-board

While four candidates challenged their opponents’ petition for nomination early Monday evening, all four candidates were upheld in the end. The St. Charles election board, which consisted of Mayor Donald DeWitte, 4th Ward Alderman James Martin and Clerk Nancy Garrison, decided in all cases that even though certain points were valid, nothing made any of the challenged candidates ineligible for the election.

IL: ES&S Glitch Explained | Blog – Champaign County Clerk, IL – Mark Shelden

http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2011/01/04/glitch-explained/

ES&S used a “Graphic Dump” on the M100 to show exactly what was being read in each oval on the ballot. What that graphic dump showed was that for the ballots in question, when placed in the machine top first, the M100 read not the area within the oval, but rather the area to the left. That area to the left corresponds to the place on the top of the ballot where the judge’s initials go within the area that contains the column timing bars. Essentially what appears to have happened is that when the judge’s initials cross into the timing area within a very limited range and at a very limited angle (that is, very horizontal), that extra line is being read as one of the column timing bars. No one at ES&S had seen this before, and it is odd enough that it is unlikely that its cropped up many times before. At the same time, I’d be surprised if we were the first people to witness this.

IA: Former Morningside student sentenced for voter fraud – KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA

http://www.ktiv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13777266

The Voting News Daily: Oklahoma to replace its optical scanners, new SoSs take office, speedy results emphasized in latest India coverage

Happy New Year! The first few days of 2011 have been busy news days (despite apparent quiet regarding Internet voting). Tonight’s edition covers articles published since our December 31 edition, unless otherwise noted.

Among the news highlights: Oklahoma election officials are looking to replace their 18-year-old optical scanners with new precinct scanners for the 2012 elections; new Secretaries of State take office around the nation; and internationally, coverage of the first-time use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Indian local elections emphasizes the desirability of speedy results.

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AZ: State officers sworn in at capitol
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_7b92621e-179b-11e0-9d6a-001cc4c03286.html

AZ: Editorial: Election process should include basic review of nominating petitions
http://campverdebugleonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=29091

CA: November election dispute lingers
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/01/dispute-about-election-results-in-ojai-and/

CT: Bridgeport’s Response to a Potential Election Disaster
http://www.afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2011/January2011/Bridgeports%20Response.htm

CT: Why We Need Audits and Recounts: AccuVote Missed 0.4% of Ballots in Aspen Elections [Dec. 28]
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/why-we-need-audits-and-recounts-accuvote-missed-0-4-of-ballots-in-aspen-elections/

IN: Voting machine maintenance on county’s agenda
http://www.jconline.com/article/20110102/NEWS02/101020333/Voting-machine-maintenance-on-county-s-agenda
Tippecanoe County commissioners are set to choose a company to maintain the county’s voting machines. At the commissioners’ Monday meeting, they will choose between Nebraska-based ES&S and Ohio-based GBS, both of which are licensed to service voting machines in Indiana.

IN: Indiana secretary of state challenge to be filed in court
http://www.wndu.com/indiana/headlines/Indiana_secretary_of_state_challenge_filed_in_court_112728604.html

IA: Schultz sworn in as Secretary of State
http://www.kgan.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.ia/24da4822-www.kgan.com.shtml

IA: Four statewide elected officials, including rookie, sworn in today http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/01/03/four-statewide-elected-officials-including-rookie-sworn-in-today/


LA: Mock election to be held at Herod

http://www.abbevillenow.com/view/full_story/10855772/article-Mock-election-to-be-held-at-Herod-?instance=home_news_lead

MI: Republicans take the reins in Michigan
http://michiganmessenger.com/45296/republicans-take-the-reins-in-michigan

MN: With new ballots, curbing confusion, costs is challenging
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16996117?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1

MN: Save money and improve election integrity
http://www.reviewmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8717:save-money-and-improve-election-integrity&catid=19:guest-opinion

MN: Another recount yields more evidence that Minnesota’s system is sound [Dec. 30]
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_16967744?source=rss

MN: New Kansas secretary of state critical of Minnesota’s Mark Ritchie
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/01/03/24512/new_kansas_secretary_of_state_critical_of_minnesotas_mark_ritchie

MN: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will lead National Association of Secretaries of State
http://www.jordannews.com/node/15707

NM: Duran sworn in as first GOP Sec. of State in 80 years
http://newmexicoindependent.com/68469/other-state-officials-sworn-in-as-well

NJ: Reorganized township council takes power
http://www.northjersey.com/news/112749794_Bloomfield_council_sworn_in.html
The mood at the reorganization was especially upbeat for the Democrats, as Bloomfield Republicans only recently withdrew a challenge of the November election results. Republican mayoral candidate John Lazar previously alleged illegal electioneering tactics, equipment difficulty involving one voting machine and denial of voter access.

NY: Experts shouldn’t be needed to call outcome of election

http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Experts-shouldn-t-be-needed-to-call-outcome-of-930928.php

NY: Albany Times-Union Asks Legislature to Fix Recall [sic] Statute
http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/01/02/albany-times-union-asks-legislature-to-fix-recall-statute/

NY: New York Voting Must Be Improved, Says League of Women Voters
http://nyconvergence.com/2011/01/new-york-voting-must-be-improved-says-league-of-women-voters.html

NY: Watching and Waiting For a Return to Innocence
http://e-voter.blogspot.com/2010/12/watching-and-waiting-for-return-to.html

NY: Your vote counts: The Help America Vote Act – Help or hindrance?
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/component/content/article/35-letters/1731-by-virginia-martin

OK: Officials seek bids for voting machines
http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x879866766/Officials-seek-bids-for-voting-machines
State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax told The Oklahoman newspaper that the Optech-III Eagle optical-scanner machines in use since 1992 have lasted much longer than their 10-year life expectancy, but their age has become a problem.

Ziriax said bids are now being sought for a new system to be used statewide. He said officials have specified that they want a new system that’s similar to the one now being used, with optical scanners to read ballots marked by voters.

The Voting News Daily: Challenge ends in Alaska US Senate race, Georgia panel to study expansion of vote centers

Alaska’s US Senate race appears to have ended as 2010 winds down. Georgia’s Secretary of State says that a new appointed election reform advisory panel will look at vote centers and ways to achieve cost savings, and New York’s new voting system, and its implementation receive ongoing scrutiny.

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AK: Miller ends challenge in US Senate race
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/31/1484529/miller-ends-challenge-in-senate.html

CA: When 0.45% of Total Voters Can Translate to Victory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/31/us/31bcjames.html

CO: Fines against Colorado’s new elections chief reduced
http://www.kdvr.com/news/sns-ap-co–secretaryofstate-fines,0,466012.story

FL: Crist squandered potential to make a real difference
http://www.news-journalonline.com/opinion/editorials/n-j-editorials/2010/12/31/crist-squandered-potential-to-make-a-real-difference.html

GA: Getting some of the money of of (holding) elections
http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2010/12/31/getting-some-of-the-money-out-of-holding-elections/?cxntfid=blogs_kyle_wingfield

IN: Democrats file appeal challenging Secretary of State race
http://www.fox59.com/news/politics/wxin-democrats-file-appeal-challeng-123110,0,6984964.story

IA: Iowa owes nothing on audit
http://www.omaha.com/article/20101230/NEWS01/712319911/0

IA: Michael Mauro to be named state labor chief
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101231/NEWS09/12310357/-1/BUSINESS04/Insider-Michael-Mauro-to-be-named-state-labor-chief

KS: Debate likely to heat up [voter ID]
http://hutchnews.com/Todaystop/A1–Immigration-1st-Ld-Writethru–1

LA: Louisiana Voter Purge Eliminates 121, 840 People From State Rolls
http://politic365.com/2010/12/31/louisiana-voter-purge-eliminates-121840-people-from-state-rolls/

NY: New York’s new voting process is already being tweaked
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/new_yorks_new_voting_pr
ocess_i.html

NY: League of Women Voters Says Voting Improvements Needed
http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/577272/League-of-Women-Voters-Says-Voting-Improvements-Needed.html?nav=5192

ND: Resident didn’t try to vote twice
http://www.jamestownsun.com/event/article/id/126486/

TN: 2010: A year of change in politics
http://www.herald-citizen.com/view/full_story/10834924/article-2010–A-year-of-change-in-politics?instance=homesecondleft

TX: Ready to go – again [Harris County]
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7360562.html

TX: ‘Oracle of Barton Springs was poet and activist
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/oracle-of-barton-springs-was-poet-and-activist-1155025.html

National

United States: NLRB Continues March Toward Administrative Implementation of Processes to Assist Union Organizing
http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=119108
Recent General Counsel memoranda announcing enhanced enforcement efforts and greater penalties for violations of the National Labor Relations Act (the Act), implement, in principle, some of the “enhanced penalties” provisions of EFCA. The NLRB’s exploration of electronic voting and shortening of the campaigning period in a union election emulate some of the purposes of the “card check” provisions of EFCA. A recently proposed rule regarding mandatory posting of a notice of employees’ right to organize, combined with the creation of a new unfair labor practice charge for the failure to post, seems consistent with the goal of stimulating organizing activity.


International

India: Man steals EVM; 5 officials suspended
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Man-steals-EVM-5-officials-suspended/articleshow/7197965.cms

India: EVM thrown into a well in Hassan
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/125329/evm-thrown-well-hassan.html

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews

Please send suggestions for the Voting News to sean at verifiedvoting dot org

A reminder: today is your last chance to support the Voting News in 2010. The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vnDisclaimer: Articles and commentary included in “Voting News” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers’ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.

The Voting News Daily: Swiss government expresses caution on Internet voting, India looking to modify EVMs, MI county acts to improve chain of custody

The Swiss federal government expresses caution about Internet voting and limits its scope, while some local officials push for expanded Internet voting. India’s political parties reportedly agree to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) going forward and the Election Commission has appointed a technical committee to study voter-verifiable paper records. On a more local but important note, Huron County, Michigan orders new ballot containers following a recount stymied by improperly sealed ballots.

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AK: Murkowski Certified Winner of Alaska Senate Election
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/30/murkowski-certified-winner-of-alaska-senate-election/

CA: Warren Slocum aimed to break the mold
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/bay-area/2010/12/warren-slocum-aimed-break-mold

FL: Stuart Canvassing Board OK’s voting equipment
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/dec/30/stuart-canvassing-board-oks-voting-equipment/

FL: Charlie Crist’s legacy – an unfinished agenda
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/charlie-crists-legacy-8212-an-unfinished-agenda/1142655
Crist’s insistence on switching from touchscreen to optical-scan voting in 2007 largely ended the mockery of “Flori-duh” as a place with unreliable ballot counting systems.

IA: Iowa misspent vote act money, but doesn’t owe, U.S. audit says
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101230/NEWS10/12300349/Iowa-misspent-vote-act-money-but-doesn-t-owe-U.S.-audit-says

IA: Gov. Culver: Statement on EAC final management decision
http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=221797

IA: Iowa to owe nothing in election spending audit
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-electionspending-,0,3533416.story

LA: Be transparent in voter registration
http://www.dailyworld.com/article/20101230/OPINION/12300302

MO: Royster v. Rizzo Missouri House seat dispute heats up
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-kansas-city/royster-v-rizzo-missouri-house-seat-dispute-heats-up

MI: New ballot bags a go
http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2010/12/29/news/local_news/doc4d1b26d88fcda708961934.txt
During a meeting of the whole last week, Huron County Clerk Peggy Koehler requested the board purchase ballot containers for all the jurisdictions in Huron County.

“I’m not going to let this happen again,” she said in regard to the large number of precincts in Huron County that were unable to be recounted in the 84th District State Representative recount because of improperly sealed ballot containers.

NJ: Frederick and McNamara remain in office after recount
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/index.php/wildwood-mainmenu/wildwood-leader/7071-frederick-and-mcnamara-remain-in-office-after-recount-.html

NY: NY’s new voting process already questioned
http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/ny-s-new-voting-process-already-questioned-1.2577061
and
http://online.wsj.com/article/APf4596c06bcc14038b177f4dc3712c265.html

NY: AP brief: Voting Machines
http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/16909/ap-briefs-governor-s-address-voting-machines-nyc-schools-chancellor-bp-lawsuit-ny-senate-staff

NY: Wayne County election commissioners retire
http://www.waynepost.com/latestnews/x2135335919/Wayne-County-election-commissioners-retire

OH: Richland County elections board No. 2 retires
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20101230/NEWS01/12300325/1002/Richland-County-elections-board-No.-2-retires

PA: Washo, O’Brien to seek re-election
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/washo-o-brien-to-seek-re-election-1.1083886#axzz19e2Gw4Yf
Mr. Washo said that while he and Mr. O’Brien took heat for their selection of the county’s optical scan voting system, which some critics saw as a step back technologically, it is now regarded as a “wise choice” because it provides verifiable election results.

WI: Senate recount costs counties nearly $16,000
http://www.jacksoncountychronicle.com/articles/2010/12/29/news/00lead.txt

Internet Voting Watch

Switzerland: Swiss abroad question half [sic] of e-voting
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/internal_affairs/E-voting_to_advance_slowly_in_2011.html?cid=29138944
Contacted by swissinfo.ch, the federal chancellery issued a statement. “Electronic voting carries risks. In addition to irregularities, serious consideration should be given to rumours of abuses committed abroad that could undermine confidence in electronic voting.”


International

Canada: Partial recount ordered in Kitchener’s ward nine
http://swo.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101230/kitchener-ward-nine-recount-101230/20101230/?hub=SWOHome

India: Expert committee to decide on EVMs, says Quraishi
http://www.sify.com/news/expert-committee-to-decide-on-evms-says-quraishi-news-national-km4s4cigfgd.html

India: II Phase ZP/TP polls in 17 districts of Karnataka tomorrow
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=214183
The repoll became necessary due to snag in Electronic Voting Machines and rigging during the first phase elections.

Ireland: retiring Sinn Fein TD urges radical reform of procedures
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1230/1224286488278.html

Meanwhile, in Rop-land
http://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2010/12/meanwhile-in-rop-land/

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews

Please send suggestions for the Voting News to sean at verifiedvoting dot org.

The Voting News Daily: Stuxnet variants may reach voting systems, Albany paper calls for automatic recounts in NYS, books to close on IA HAVA audit

Iowa election officials reach an agreement to close the books on the EAC audit of Iowa’s HAVA funds, the Albany Times-Union calls for an automatic recount law for New York State, and security experts predict Stuxnet-like viruses to infect electronic voting systems in the near future. [Editor’s Note: If you have suggestions for articles to include in the Voting News, please e-mail sean at verifiedvoting dot org.]

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AK: Federal Judge Dismisses Miller’s Election Suit in Alaska US Senate Contest
http://www.truth-out.org/federal-judge-dismisses-millers-election-suit-alaska-us-senate-contest66367

IA: Agreement closes book on misspent federal election funds
http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/12/29/agreement-closes-books-on-misspent-federal-election-funds/
Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro says his office has reached an agreement to close the books on federal money that was misspent by his predecessor. Federal officials said Governor Chet Culver misspent over two-million dollars in funds from the 2002 Help America Vote Act when Culver was Secretary of State.

IA: U.S. audit concludes misspent voting money, but owes nothing
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/12/29/u-s-audit-concludes-iowa-misspent-voting-money-but-owes-nothing/

LA: Polling sites lead agenda
http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20101229/NEWS01/12290317

NY: Time to fix this election law
http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/time-to-fix-this-election-law/8371/
New York chose a process that involved paper ballots when it modernized its election system for cases just like this — elections that are close enough to raise doubts about who really won. That there were errors even with these new, modern machines only underscores the need for a law that mandates recounts when the margin is so narrow.

NY: Your vote counts: This county knows who won [Dec. 17]
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/editor/1698-by-virginia-martin

PA: Operation Homefront: Military moms unite under blue stars (with video)
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/12/29/news/doc4d1ab2f94bd6b489269504.txt
The group also lobbies on a variety of issues, like electronic voting for military members and affordable airfare for soldiers on leave.


National, International

Stuxnet-like viruses to be released more broadly in 2011
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/301881Known to successfully slow down the Iranian nuclear program, the Stuxnet cyber worm is now expected to spawn variations that are predicted to disrupt non-traditional IT targets, from power grids to electronic voting stations.
Stuxnet Variants Will Wreak Havoc on More Information Systems in 2011

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Stuxnet-Variants-Will-Wreak-Havoc-on-More-Information-Systems-in-2011-373179/


Internet Voting Watch

IL: Nearly 200 laws to take effect here Jan. 1
http://www.carmitimes.com/highlight/x1808786924/Nearly-200-new-laws-take-effect-here-Jan-1[Other bills that will become law Jan. 1 include]
Military Voting (HB 6077/PA 96-1004): Permits members of the armed forces to vote by fax or email. [Editor’s Note: This legislation, which can be read here, does not specifically mention the electronic transmission of voted ballots but does give broad discretion to the Governor or the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections to modify military voting procedures in the event of an Armed Forces deployment or emergency declared by the President or the Governor.]

International

Philippines: Smartmatic offers deal on PCOS machines
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20101230-311649/Smartmatic-offers-deal-on-PCOS-machines

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews =============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note “for Voting News” in the memo line of your check!

The Voting News Daily: Alaska US Senate challenge loses in Federal court, state legislative races in Missouri, Texas still contentious

A lighter news day for electronic voting issues. Close state legislative elections in Texas and Missouri remain contentious, a Federal Court rules on the challenge to the U.S. Senate election in Alaska.

All this and more in today’s voting news below.

AK: ‘Election Integrity is Vital’: Joe Miller Makes a Federal Case Out of it in AK’s U.S. Senate Contest
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8270

AK: Judge Tosses Candidate Miller’s Lawsuit
http://www.adn.com/2010/12/28/1622554/federal-judge-overturns-miller.html

GA: Secretary of State Kemp Announces Formation of Elections Advisory Council [Dec. 14]
http://www.sos.ga.gov/pressrel/2010_releases/December/20101214Secretary%20of%20State%20Kemp%20Announces%20Formation%20of%20Elections%20Advisory%20Council%20.htm

MD: Uncertainty Remains for Funding Optical Scan Voting System
http://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2010/12/28/uncertainty-remains-for-funding-optical-scan-voting-system/

MO: Royster [MO HD-40] to contest primary election
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=560081

MO: Rizzo-Royster mudfest moves to Jefferson City [HD-40]
http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/rizzo-royster-mudfest-moves-jefferson-city/

NY: No 5. Story of the Year: Election Day turns into an election month
http://northshoresun.timesreview.com/2010/12/4725/no-5-story-of-the-year-election-day-turns-into-an-election-month/

NY: Paper ballots were not without fault
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Paper-ballots-were-not-without-fault-923342.php

NY: Vote Count Not a Factor in NY Election Outcome
http://my.firedoglake.com/jmlagain/2010/12/28/vote-count-not-a-factor-in-ny-election-outcome/

TN: Election commission needs workers for 2011
http://bartlett.wmctv.com/content/election-commission-needs-workers-2011

TX: Rep. Donna Howard makes formal response to challenge [TX HD-48]
http://impactnews.com/lake-travis-westlake/453-recent-news/11021-rep-donna-howard-makes-formal-response-to-challenge

TX: What’s a Master of Discovery [HD-48]
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/News/Blogs/index.html/objID1129796/blogID/

TX: In defense of military voters [HD-48, Dec. 21]
http://www.empowertexans.com/Issues/in_defense_of_military_voters

WI: WI Disability Community: Voter ID Bill Needs Work
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/17588-1

National

Q&A on the News: How many elections have been overturned because of a recount?
http://www.ajc.com/news/q-a-on-the-789474.html

Internet Voting Watch

Voting set to begin Wednesday for SAG Awards
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029473?refCatId=13
The official election teller, Integrity Voting Systems, announced Monday that Internet eBalloting is encouraged. Paper ballots will be made available only upon request, which must be made by Jan. 14.

International

My keynote at 27C3
http://rop.gonggri.jp/?p%3D438

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews =============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note “for Voting News” in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vnDisclaimer: Articles and commentary included in “Voting News” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers’ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.

The Voting News Daily: MD report shows paper ballots cost less than DREs, IA Justices deny separate ballot for judge retention

We’re back from a short holiday break! Tonight’s edition covers news published since our last full edition on Monday December 20. State news is organized by state and then by date. State news is followed by sections for national, Internet voting, and international news. Internationally, online voting in Ahmedabad, India is provoking discussion. At home the EAC has released data on HAVA appropriations, and as we reported in our holiday note, an independent cost study ordered by the Maryland General Assembly has found that the state could save $10 million by replacing its electronic voting machines with optical scanners and paper ballots. (Note: we have included one among a great many news articles published on the Alaska US Senate race.)

All this and more in today’s Voting News below.

AK: Miller won’t back Murkowski Senate certification [Dec. 27]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101227/ap_on_re_us/us_alaska_senate

CA: 2011 Ushers In Boosts to Transparency in Election Security and Campaign Finance [Media Release, Dec. 21]
http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/press-releases/2010/db10-120.pdf

CO: Premier AccuVote Machines Missed 0.4% of Votes in Aspen Elections [Dec. 27]
http://www.fairvote.org/premier-accuvote-machines-missed-0-4-of-ballots-in-aspen-elections

CO: SOS sends mixed signals on certification [Dec. 26]
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-colorado-springs/sos-sends-mixed-signals-on-certification

IA: Justices say no to quest to block removal [Dec. 21]
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101221/NEWS/12210357/-1/caucus/Justices-say-no-to-quest-to-block-removal
University of Iowa computer science professor Doug Jones, who studies voting technology and practices, said a separate ballot for the justices runs contrary to state history.

“You create a bureaucratic monster when you double the amount of paper involved in an election,” Jones said. “If each judicial retention race is a separate piece of paper, which is the most extreme reading I can imagine, that’s an awful snow flurry of paper. County election offices are already strapped for money.”

IN: Recount commission did its job fairly and honestly [Opinion, Dec. 24]
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20101224/Opinion/101229802/-1/googleNews
“The recount commission was greatly served in its duty by current county Clerk Rita Glenn, several county voting machine technicians and Keith McGinnis from Illinois-based service contractor RBM Consulting to make the process run efficiently and smoothly. All of these individuals have my profound gratitude for their dedication to our work.”

KY: Trimble to buy new voting machines [Dec. 21]
http://madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=178&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=60332

MD: Report: Scanners cost less than touch-screen machines [Dec. 24]
http://www.gazette.net/stories/12242010/polinew172811_32537.php
The independent analysis, conducted by a North Carolina research firm for the Department of Legislative Services, appears to confirm what supporters of a voter-verified paper trail system have long argued: It costs more money to maintain the current equipment than to purchase new
machines that allow voters to print out paper receipts of their selections.

MN: St. Paul preps for voting via ranked choice [Dec. 25]
http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/112459654.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUoaK7D_V_eDc87DUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU

MS:Hinds rejects used voting machines [Dec. 21]
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101221/NEWS/12210320/Hinds+rejects+used+voting+machines
Hinds County supervisors say they want to discard the county’s 8-year-old, $1.5 million voting system and start anew.

The Board of Supervisors denied a request Monday by some election commissioners to purchase 300 used voting machines. Instead, the board wants the commission to shop for a new system, such as an optical scanning system that would allow for better auditing of records.

MO: KC legislator may be denied seat over fraud allegations [Dec.

The Voting News Daily: Happy Holidays from the Team at Voting News

We wish you all safe and happy holidays, and for those who celebrate, a Merry Christmas. The Voting News will resume regular postings on Monday December 27 after a short holiday break. (News from this week will be archived.)

Today, though, we’d like to pass on several news stories that are a gift to those working hard for accurate elections. In Mississippi, one of the largest counties – currently using paperless voting machines – is considering switching to paper ballots. Kentucky’s movement away from unverifiable DREs continues, with election officials who previously used DREs reportedly more pleased with new paper ballot scanners. And from Maryland, perhaps the most exciting news: an independent cost study commissioned by the General Assembly shows that Maryland would save nearly $10 million by switching to paper ballot optical scan voting systems – and get recountable elections in the bargain.

We know our readers, like us, can’t help saving a small space for concern about elections even on a holiday, and we hope this news adds to your enjoyment of the day. We’ll be back in touch next week, and we look forward to serving you in the new year.

KY: Trimble to buy new voting machines
http://madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=178&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=60332
The county currently uses ES&S for equipment and will switch to Harp Enterprises. The switch will mean new equipment and a new way of reading votes. Harp uses paper ballots that will be scanned into a computer to tally the numbers.

“I have talked to several counties that have switched to the paper ballot system and they all like the paper ballots over the machines,” Powell said in the letter. Paper ballots are expected to reduce
confusion by voters and be easier to tally.

MD: Report: Scanners cost less than touch-screen machines
http://www.gazette.net/stories/12242010/polinew172811_32537.php
The independent analysis, conducted by a North Carolina research firm for the Department of Legislative Services, appears to confirm what supporters of a voter-verified paper trail system have long argued: It costs more money to maintain the current equipment than to purchase new
machines that allow voters to print out paper receipts of their selections.

MS:Hinds rejects used voting machines
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101221/NEWS/12210320/Hinds+rejects+used+voting+machines
Hinds County supervisors say they want to discard the county’s 8-year-old, $1.5 million voting system and start anew.

The Board of Supervisors denied a request Monday by some election commissioners to purchase 300 used voting machines. Instead, the board wants the commission to shop for a new system, such as an optical scanning system that would allow for better auditing of records.

Voting News archives here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/Also at Twitter http://twitter.com/VotingNewsSubscribe to Voting News at this link: http://tinyurl.com/votingnews =============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Be sure to note “for Voting News” in the memo line of your check! Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vn

Disclaimer: Articles and commentary included in “Voting News” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations.

Verified Voting Blog: Paper Ballots – New York Courts Don’t Get It

New York State’s highest Court has upheld lower Court decisions to stop any further counting of ballots and declare a winner in the 7th Senate District race. The decision is unfortunate on many levels, not the least of which is that it sets legal precedent in the State for how we verify election results by auditing and recounting paper ballots. New York’s Courts have now ruled, in essence, “We do not use paper ballots to verify elections.” The Court, displaying a lever-machine mindset, believed it’s okay to trust the machine. It never was of course, but New York has never had a way to verify election results before. The Court didn’t understand why we need to compare machine reported results with a manual inspection of ballots in the audit, failing to grasp that the way we get to the real result is counting the paper, not avoiding it at all costs.