Author Archives: Warren Stewart

The Voting News Daily: Voting software makes dagdag-bawas easy, WA SOS certifies R71, Why Citizens United matters pt 2

OpenSecrets.org to have live web chat on landmark campaign finance case “Citizens United vs FEC” on Thurs. Public Citizen youtubes the issue in “Don’t get rolled.”
Wired News finds 2 members of Fed committee (TGDC) that sets standards for voting vendors have conflicts of interests. Statewide voter rolls vs local voter rolls: an Alabama city may appeal judges ruling that says city must use SOS voter list not the local voter list. CT Registrars say optical scanners provide opportunity for savings. Minneapolis voters will not have a primary but instead have IRV and make choices in one election. Washington’s SOS Reed certifies R-71 to fall ballot and King Co Judge Julie Spector will not overturn that. Warning to Philippines Election Commission: voting software makes dagdag–bawas (wholesale cheating)easy…Germany’s constitution prohibits e-voting and we have the document in English to prove it.

AL. Evergreen city attorney advises appeal of judge’s ruling in mayoral election challenge September 02, 2009 EVERGREEN — City attorney Terry Davis recommended the city appeal part of a judge’s decision in the ongoing challenge of last October’s mayoral vote, a move one councilman called “bull crap.”…”It said that instead of using the voting list we have used and the process we have used for a number of years, we should have been using the secretary of state’s voter list,”
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1251882946175260.xml&coll=3

AR. Pope County upgrades early-voting system ahead of school board elections
Sept. 2, 2009 County clerk says new system ‘will be faster and more efficient’
With school board elections on the horizon, the Pope County Election Commission is anticipating a test run of a new system intended to expedite the early-voting process. Through the iPower Profile program provided by Election Systems & Software…
http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=22455

CA. Voting extended for CA elections, delaying results
… The governor issued an executive order that will allow emergency workers to cast votes from their command centers until 10 p.m. Tuesday, two hours after the close of polls. ..Of the 125,000 vote-by-mail ballots sent by Contra Costa voting officials, a little more than 56,000 have been returned, Weir said. Of those mailed in, about 3,000 ballots were turned in Tuesday morning.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/politics/ap/56681882.html

CA. Special election will decide California House seat
09/02/09 http://www.sfexaminer.com/politics/ap/56578492.html

CT. Registrars Say, Optical Scanners Provide Opportunity for Savings
September 2, 2009 Glastonbury, CT will save by consolidating polling places
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2339

IN. Funds Compromise for Early Voting Centers
Wednesday, Sep 2, 2009 … early voting centers in Vanderburgh County are safe for the 2010 election, or at least most of them are…Early voting centers will either be eliminated or scaled back for the primary but there should be five centers at libraries for the general election
http://tristatehomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=92771

MN. No primary in Minneapolis as Ranked Choice Voting debuts
September 01. In this year’s municipal elections in Minneapolis, nobody is working to turn out voters for a September primary election: there will be no primary election.
Instead, voters will go to the polls just once this fall — Election Day, Tuesday, November 3 — and that day they will be asked to vote not just for the candidate of their choice, but to rank their first choice, second choice and third choice.

The Voting News Daily: 9/1 correction: Why “Citizens United” matters, Iowa Co makes own e-poll software, UTAH voters bring ID

*Our apologies. Title to yesterday’s voting news dated 9/1 title incorrectly said for Oregon voters to bring ID. It should have read “Utah voters bring ID”. We apologize for any problems this may have caused. The subject line to yesterday’s news has been corrected and can be viewed here at this link:
http://votingnews.blogspot.com/2009/09/why-citizens-united-matters-iowa-co.html

Here is incorrect headline
Why “Citizens United” matters, Iowa Co makes own e-poll software, Oregon voters bring ID

Here is the correct headline and resend of news:
Why “Citizens United” matters, Iowa Co makes own e-poll software, Utah voters bring ID

Tues Sept 1. “Five Reasons Why Citizens United Is a Truly Momentous Case”. Paper is in: “You can actually run a modern and efficient election on paper,”Hovav Shacham prof of computer science at UC San Diego. An Iowa County develops own e-poll book software
Virginia standardizes student registration. A Jackson City GA councilman charged with rigging his own election. Oregon elections to be headed by former San Bernadio Asst Registrar and elections consultant Steven Trout. Reminder to Utah voters: new law requires you to present ID to vote. A King Co WA judge will decide whether people who sign referendum petitions be registered. A Wisconsin bill would allow released felons to vote.
The Justice Department redirects focus back to civil rights. Allegations of fraud in Afghanistan’s presidential election may affect outcome. There’s no way to verify the vote on India’s paperless voting machines says Dr. S. Ramdoss.

CA. Solano County. Election today for Tauscher’s vacated seat
09/01/2009 …the ratio of vote-by-mail compared to those heading to the polls could be as high as three to one.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_13244558

CO. Attorney claims ballots may be identifiable
September 1. A local citizen claims he has identified which anonymous “string” is his in digital records released by the city of Aspen after the May election
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136372

FL. St. Pete voting canvass begins with relative ease
LARGO — No serious voting glitches turned up in the mail ballots before St. Petersburg’s primary election Tuesday, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark said today…The St. Petersburg canvassing board waded through about 54 questionable mail ballots this afternoon, rejecting about 40 for questionable or missing signatures. That’s after rejecting 120 of 196 questionable envelopes for similar reasons last week.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/baybuzz/2009/08/st-pete-voting-canvass-begins-with-ease.html

GA. Voter fraud admissions rock Jackson city council
August 30. 2009
Admission to some 40 counts of voting irregularities by one councilman have rocked the Jackson city council, resulted in huge fines and could lead to criminal prosecutions. WKEU radio is reporting councilman Tommy Rainey admitted to rigging the election which he won. He has been fined $158,000.
http://www.barnesville.com/archives/1194-Voter-fraud-admissions-rock-Jackson-city-council.html

GA. The Georgia State Election Board at its August 27 Meeting
took the folloiwng actions against a Jackson Georgia City Councilmember, and other Butts County Residents.
http://www.wkeuradio.com/news/seb.htm

IA. Computerized system cuts down on voter errors
August 29, 2009 BURLINGTON, Iowa A computer program designed in Cerro Gordo County is expected to speed up voting by helping poll workers cut time spent processing voters.

The Voting News Daily: Why “Citizens United” matters, Iowa Co makes own e-poll software, Utah voters bring ID

Tues Sept 1. “Five Reasons Why Citizens United Is a Truly Momentous Case”. Paper is in: “You can actually run a modern and efficient election on paper,”Hovav Shacham prof of computer science at UC San Diego. An Iowa County develops own e-poll book software
Virginia standardizes student registration. A Jackson City GA councilman charged with rigging his own election. Oregon elections to be headed by former San Bernadio Asst Registrar and elections consultant Steven Trout. Reminder to Utah voters: new law requires you to present ID to vote. A King Co WA judge will decide whether people who sign referendum petitions be registered. A Wisconsin bill would allow released felons to vote.
The Justice Department redirects focus back to civil rights. Allegations of fraud in Afghanistan’s presidential election may affect outcome. There’s no way to verify the vote on India’s paperless voting machines says Dr. S. Ramdoss.

CA. Solano County. Election today for Tauscher’s vacated seat
09/01/2009 …the ratio of vote-by-mail compared to those heading to the polls could be as high as three to one.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_13244558

CO. Attorney claims ballots may be identifiable
September 1. A local citizen claims he has identified which anonymous “string” is his in digital records released by the city of Aspen after the May election
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136372

FL. St. Pete voting canvass begins with relative ease
LARGO — No serious voting glitches turned up in the mail ballots before St. Petersburg’s primary election Tuesday, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark said today…The St. Petersburg canvassing board waded through about 54 questionable mail ballots this afternoon, rejecting about 40 for questionable or missing signatures. That’s after rejecting 120 of 196 questionable envelopes for similar reasons last week.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/baybuzz/2009/08/st-pete-voting-canvass-begins-with-ease.html

GA. Voter fraud admissions rock Jackson city council
August 30. 2009
Admission to some 40 counts of voting irregularities by one councilman have rocked the Jackson city council, resulted in huge fines and could lead to criminal prosecutions. WKEU radio is reporting councilman Tommy Rainey admitted to rigging the election which he won. He has been fined $158,000.
http://www.barnesville.com/archives/1194-Voter-fraud-admissions-rock-Jackson-city-council.html

GA. The Georgia State Election Board at its August 27 Meeting
took the folloiwng actions against a Jackson Georgia City Councilmember, and other Butts County Residents.
http://www.wkeuradio.com/news/seb.htm

IA. Computerized system cuts down on voter errors
August 29, 2009 BURLINGTON, Iowa A computer program designed in Cerro Gordo County is expected to speed up voting by helping poll workers cut time spent processing voters. The program, Precinct Atlas, has already been tested in special
elections in Butler, Johnson, Appanoose, Buena Vista and Monona
counties, and a mock election was held modeled after Election Day in
2008.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-iowacomputerizedp,0,6272224.story

IA. New Polling Software Reaching Half of Iowa
8/31 Mason City, IA- New computer software developed in North Iowa will help poll workers in more than half the state next week…Thanks to the endorsement of Iowa’s Secretary of State the program is getting use in more than 50 Iowa counties for next weeks school elections.
http://www.kimt.com/content/localnews/story/New-Polling-Software-Reaching-Half-of-Iowa/BSVelHObckOkgeKn56-h9g.cspx

IN. Satellite voting centers proposed for next year
Whitehead says she prefers Vote Centers, needs time to decide
9/1/09 Delaware County Clerk Steve Craycraft, a Democrat, proposed establishing two satellite voting sites for the 2010 election at last week’s meeting of the Delaware County Board of Elections.

The Voting News Daily: Smartmatic demo glitch, Was Aspen election secret ballot or not? Lamone blocks campaign finance bill

Aspen voter complaint asks if election was held by secret ballot or not. Virginia’s new registration rules would allow students to list dorm as residence. Maryland Election Director Linda Lamone helps block local campaign finance bill. Asheville NC spends $60K on additional early voting sites hoping to increase turnout. Should Voter Registration Be Automatic? – the new bipartisan “Committee to Modernize Voter Registration” will study the issue. “‘Citizens United v. FEC’ has sparked what may be an unprecedented lobbying and public advocacy war.” The “Citizens United vs FEC” case challenges campaign finance rules that limit corpporations influence on elections. A “glitch” spoils Smartmatic’s public demo in the Phillipines. A special election for Senator Ted Kennedy’s seat will be held on Jan 19.

CO. “Big Brother Knows How You Voted,” Millard Zimet
August 30. Aspen citizen Millard Zimet filed the formal complaint with Aspen’s Election Commission questioning whether Aspen conducted a secret ballot election in May 2009. His complaint and related materials are linked below…
http://theredant.squarespace.com/red-ant-blog/2009/8/30/big-brother-knows-how-you-voted-millard-zimet.html

MA. Governor sets date for special Senate election, presses for interim appointment
August 31, 2009 Governor Deval Patrick continued today to press for a change to state law to allow him to appoint an interim replacement for Senator Edward M. Kennedy as he announced that a special election for the seat will be held on Jan. 19
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/08/patrick_to_make.html

MD. Maryland’s Administrator for Life, Part One
Suppose a local bill (a bill affecting only one county) gets the unanimous support of its local government, the unanimous support of its county delegation in Annapolis and is passed by the House of Delegates by 135-0. You would think it would be headed for the Governor’s desk, right?
Not if it’s a campaign finance reform bill and Linda Lamone get winds of it…

http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2009/08/marylands-administrator-for-life-part.html

NC. Early Asheville voting sites added
Officials hope to improve city’s poor turnout
…The city will spend up to $60,000 for four general election early voting sites…The city will have additional sites for one week of early voting for the Nov. 3 general election. General election early voting is Oct. 15-31. Among eight large cities, including Raleigh, Wilmington and Durham, only Greensboro and Charlotte have additional sites..
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090830/NEWS01/908300340

VA. Virginia seeks to ease student voting
August 31, 2009 The Virginia State Board of Elections moved Saturday to remove barriers that have made it hard for college students to vote and streamline inconsistent local policies for establishing residency. The proposal, which awaits a nod from the U.S. Justice Department, won unanimous approval from the three-member board after months of deliberation by the Virginia Residency Task Force. Under the new guidelines, local registrars would be barred from refusing a student’s voter registration simply because that student listed a dorm as his address
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Virginia-seeks-to-ease-student-voting-8173851-56254157.html

NY. Election Problems?
Posted on August 30, I got both my National and New York election ballots this weekend. Everything was fine with the National package, but my New York envelope was missing the instruction pamphlet with the candidates statements.
http://www.sagwatch.net/2009/08/election-problems/

WA. Judge dismisses lawsuit over Pierce County charter amendments

Aug 31.

The Voting News Daily: VoterGA legal surprise, “No Paper, No Problem”, Ted Kennedy’s contributions

“We are a better, more inclusive and democratic nation because of the contributions of Edward Moore Kennedy. Let us pay tribute to his work expanding the franchise.” -Voting Matters. Aspen’s former finance director says that “The road to Aspen’s May 2009 election is strewn with the wreckage of credibility-eroding acts”.
Connecticut’s public funding law held unconstitutional. VoterGA case reveals that the law (when Diebold machines purchased) said that new voting machines “shall have an independent audit trail of each vote cast”. Petition drives reveal more cracks in PA’s voter registration database. “No paper, no problem! Yet, also less integrity and no credibility!” – Luther Weeks, CTVoter. Pakistan to address flaws in its online voter rolls. Economy again: Talahassee FL changes charter mid-game to avoid a special election that might cost “from $342,000 to $680,000.”

CO. GUEST OPINION *The city’s waning credibility*
A35 SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2009 THE ASPENTIMES. COM •
…Maintaining election credibility is crucial to a free society. Once elections lose their credibility so does everything else, except for the use of force as a means for imposing political will.
The road to Aspen’s May 2009 election is strewn with the wreckage of credibility-eroding acts in the City Council’s drive to implement instant runoff voting (IRV). Early analysis to date has identified, among other discrepancies, the following:
http://votingnews.blogspot.com/2009/08/aspen-times-citys-waning-credibility.html

CO. Election glitches report on the way
County clerk wrapping up investigation Augu 29.(They use Hart Intercivic Optical Scanners) BOULDER — Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Hillary Hall is wrapping up her investigation into the problems that slowed the counting of county voters’ ballots cast in November’s general election…Hall said this week that she has reached some preliminary conclusions about what went wrong in 2008, when Boulder County officials delayed their announcement of preliminary vote totals until nearly three nights after the Nov. 4 polls had closed.
http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=17804

CT. Connecticut Public Funding Law Held Unconstitutional Because it Discriminates Severely Against Minor Parties & Independent Candidates
August 27th, 2009
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/27/connecticut-public-funding-law-held-unconstitutional-because-it-discriminates-severely-against-minor-parties-independent-candidates/

FL. Tallahassee City Commission retroactively disenfranchises voters at last minute
August 27. Until yesterday the city charter “called for a special election if a vacancy comes up before November in an odd-numbered, off-election year” according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
During yesterday’s city commission meeting this provision of the charter was unanimously retroactively removed …because of “economic conditions” and the fact that a special election may cost the city anywhere from $342,000 to $680,000…
http://www.examiner.com/x-16781-Tallahassee-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m8d27-Tallahassee-City-Commission-retroactively-disenfranchises-voters-at-last-minute

GA and MA. Why Vote On Paper? Tales from Georgia and Massachusetts
August 26, 2009 In Georgia they are claiming that all electronic voting is unconstitutional…Questions will always remain about the 2002 election in Georgia when Max Cleland was defeated for the Senate and Sunny Perdue was elected Governor.
…Contrast this to Massachusetts where Recounts of ballots can occur. Mistakes happen but they don’t have to result in the voters’ intent being bypassed
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2324

GA. UPDATE on 2004 E-Voting Machine Lawsuit: Voter GA Case History and Status
August 28, 2009
Here is the most recent update on the VoterGA E-Voting Machine Lawsuit from Garland Favorito:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/amanda_lang/2009/08/update-on-2004-e-voting-machin.php?ref=reccafe

The Voting News Daily: Aspen Times: The city’s waning credibility

The online version of the Aspen Times had a glitch so this was seen in print version only.

COMMENT A35 SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2009
THE ASPENTIMES. COM •

GUEST OPINION
The city’s waning credibility
Paul Menter

With the exception of how we choose to value ourselves, our friends, and our loved ones, virtually everything important is rooted in the results of elections. Think of their impact on our lives. The condition of schools where our children learn, how we protect the environment, our consideration of those who look, speak and believe differently than we do, and most fundamentally the people we wish to represent our interests as elected officials. All are decided by elections; our collective expressions of who we are as a community, a state, a nation. Maintaining election credibility is crucial to a free society. Once elections lose their credibility so does everything else, except for the use of force as a means for imposing political will. The road to Aspen’s May 2009 election is strewn with the wreckage of credibility-eroding acts in the City Council’s drive to implement instant runoff voting (IRV). Early analysis to date has identified, among other discrepancies, the following:

• The City Council, and not the voters, determined the vote counting method and interpretation rules — a method to which all seeking reelection would be subject. • Exacerbating this glaring conflict of interest, two Council members, both May election candidates, appointed themselves voting members of the IRV Task Force.
• On Election Day, TrueBallot used a different tabulation program than the one they tested. As a result, the vote tally in the mayor’s race was incorrectly counted. This fact was discovered by TrueBallot two weeks later.
• TrueBallot informed the city of this error on May 19. The city then withheld this information from the community, the Election Commission and the candidates until May 28 after the period for challenging the election had expired on May 22, stating that the error had no impact on election results.
• A mathematical anomaly inherent in IRV referred to cryptically as “non-monotonicity” created an illogical result. It appears that council candidate Michael Behrendt would have won a council seat if 75 of his supporters had ranked him second behind Jack Johnson instead of first. Council was warned of such unfair and arguably illegal IRV effects prior to the election but chose to ignore them.
• There never was a true audit of the election results, as claimed incessantly by the city. The 10 percent post-election review of ballots simply tested the ballot scanner, matching up ballot images to their comparative data strings. It did not test the accuracy of the TrueBallot vote tabulation program. Contrary to its claim, the city has to date produced no evidence of a “manual verification” of every ranking made on the ballots.

It’s not surprising that the City Council loathes release of additional information. It is, however, disappointing that the elected leaders of this self-actualized community reject the assistance of noted bipartisan election integrity experts Harvie Branscomb and Al Kolwicz, who could assist in improving the city’s election process for the future, whether the city continues to use IRV or not.

The Voting News Daily: AZ ballot case goes to court, Sequoia sells voter reg source code, Aspen ballot battle cont’d, TX paper ballot movement

Sequoia sells voter reg. source code. In Iowa, 50 counties will begin using electronic poll books. Pima county Arizona Ballot Case Back in Court Friday Aug. 28. The push for voter ID continues in Mississippi. An Aspen official says the city can’t turn ballots over for independent audit because ballots are only anonymous when locked up. (Huh?). Paper ballot movement in Texas? A Gregg County TX commissioner and local leaders of the 2 major pol. parties want a paper backup to the voting machines.
The Democracy Restoration act would restore voting rights to Americans who have served prison sentences but now live and work in the community. Would no excuse absentee voting increase turnout in Michigan? Benton County WA reported very low turnout even with all mail in voting. A WVa paper says keep state’s touchscreens but try to make them more secure. New Registration cards tell Frederick MD voters wrong place to go. Women got the right to vote 89 years ago. Roadblocks to the Ballot Box by Sen Edward Kennedy R.I.P.

AK. Arkansas Green Party Files Lawsuit to Be Restored to the Ballot
August 27th, 2009 http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/27/arkansas-green-party-files-lawsuit-to-be-restored-to-the-ballot/

AZ. Pima county RTA Ballot Case Back in Court Friday, Aug. 28, 2:30pm
http://votingnews.blogspot.com/2009/08/pima-county-rta-ballot-case-back-in.html

CO. City responds to ballot issue (Aspen official says ballots aren’t secret if seen)
…State laws that prohibit the release of ballots seek to guarantee that no one can discern anyone else’s ballot after they have been cast. This preserves the anonymity of the ballots. The city clerk is legally bound to keep all election materials securely locked until they are destroyed or a court orders otherwise.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090827/LETTER/908269987/1020

CO. Take this poll: Release the Ballots? Non Aspen voters and Aspen voters please (link fixed)
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2kap53yfyq64eyv/a007fywibi05/questions

HI. Hawaii elections office to pay bills first, leave 4 key positions unfilled
HONOLULU — Caught in a financial squeeze by the state’s budget shortfall, the Hawaii Office of Elections has decided to pay its utility and other overhead costs for the rest of the fiscal year instead of filling four key positions as the 2010 elections approach. The positions, which include a supervisor to oversee the preparation and transportation of ballots, will go vacant until at least early next year, when the Legislature reconvenes
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090820/BREAKING01/90820013/Hawaii+elections+office+to+pay+bills+first++leave+4+key+positions+unfilled

IA. Iowa Secretary of State: New Precinct Management Software to be Utilized in Upcoming September 8 School Board Election
8/26/2009. Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro announced today that a new software program will be used in some polling places to assist precinct election officials during the Sept. 8 school board election. The program, called “The Precinct Atlas,” is an electronic poll book which will help precinct election officials effectively and consistently process voters on election day. ..More than 50 counties plan to use the program in either the Sept. 8 school election or the city elections in November.
http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=168306

MA. Massachusetts Legislature May Expedite Bill on Senate Vacancies
August 27th, 2009 …In January 2009, Massachusetts State House member Robert Koczera introduced HB 656, to permit the Governor to fill the vacancy immediately, although the state would still hold a special election approximately five months later.

The Voting News Daily: Pima county RTA Ballot Case Back in Court Friday, Aug. 28, 2:30pm

The Voting News Daily: Take this poll: Release the Ballots? Non Aspen voters and Aspen voters please

A non-partisan research team is studying Aspen’s May election for ways to improve election transparency and verifciation. For their review, they require copies of the anonymous ballot images on an existing CD. The City of Aspen has refused a Colorado Open Records Act request to make this disk available.

This survey is to learn voter sentiment on this election transparency issue.

Aspen voters and non-Aspen voters are asked to participate. Please click through below to do so. Thank you in advance!
Release the Ballots? (Link corrected, wasn’t working earlier)

Voting News Archived here at http://votingnews.blogspot.com/
Subscribe by email at:
http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=VotingNews&loc=en_US

The Voting News Daily: Tenn voting machine lawsuits Catch-22? Ohio SOS asked to investigate Lucas BOE,US Supreme Court may let Corp. money into elections

U.S. Supreme Court May Unleash Flood of Corporate Money into Elections. Georgia case challenging e-voting heads to Supreme Court for a ruling. Ohio SOS asked to investigate allegations against Lucas Co BoE including altering ballots. Former Hillsborough Co FL Elections Sup Buddy Johnson spent $401,000 in HAVA funds on his own campaign. Tennessee may see lawsuits whether paper ballot law is implemented or not. Tarrant County Democrats want a church removed as polling place due to politically oriented marquee sign. Maryland issues a RFP for voting machines a month after issuing RFP for voting services. Aspen Co voters’ new election method to be on the ballot itself this Nov. The economy again – Jefferson County can’t afford to run its elections – outsources to ES&S. Some New York Voters will vote on optical scan soon.

**Voting News will be off Wednesday Evening to attend the 4 year anniversary celebration of North Carolina’s paper ballot law, passed in August 2005. The news will be back Thursday.**

AL. Private Firm Handling Birmingham Election, County Can’t Afford To
8/24 It was just a month ago when the city resorted to Election Systems and Software to handle it’s election after learning Jefferson County couldn’t afford it.
…In fact in addition to Birmingham, the company is also doing city elections for Dothan and Tuscaloosa. “Last year during the municipal election season, we did approximately 330 municipal elections in Alabama. We do all the county elections, primary and general elections for every county in the state,”
http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Private-Firm-Handling-Birmingham-Election-County/G93vXJ-anECbRn0Bhud2AA.cspx

CO. Aspen voters to weigh in on election method
ASPEN — Aspen residents will be asked this November an advisory question on whether they want to continue using Instant Runoff Voting in municipal elections.
The Aspen City Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that will place a question on the November ballot that asks voters to weigh in on the city’s first-ever IRV election method, conducted this past May for the seats of the mayor and two council members…Some council members have said in the past that they didn’t have enough confidence in, or an understanding of, the IRV process.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090825/NEWS/908249955/1058

CO. Unusual ballot question looms for county: cost
August 24, 2009
What if an election were canceled because it cost too much?
A countywide ballot could be cancelled because none of the three open seats for the School District 51 Board of Directors election is a contested race.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2009/08/24/082509_3A_Election_costs.html

FL. Sancho’s request to purchase Circuit City building raises concern
August 25, 2009 Debate is stirring among Leon County officials over the practicality of spending an estimated $4.5 million to buy a building to house the Supervisor of Election’s Office… this would be the first time the county has had a consolidated office and warehouse space for the supervisor’s office.
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090825/NEWS01/908250316/1010

FL. Hillsborough County’s Buddy Johnson improperly spent $401,000 as supervisor of elections, audit says
August 22 …Most of the inappropriate spending was money paid to Schifino Lee, a South Tampa advertising firm that produced a public campaign last year for Johnson’s office.

The Voting News Daily: U.S. Supreme Court May Unleash Flood of Corporate Money Into Elections

The Voting News Daily: Smartmatic must reveal source code, WVA touchscreens easily hacked,Aspen ballot battle continues

“Why does U.S. seemingly insist on electronic voting machines?” asks an IT professional in Japan. Indeed. The Philippines calls for review of Smartmatic source code. Good reason not to require voters to dip fingers in ink: Afghan election observers report finger amputations. West Virginia lawmakers hear expert testimony that their ES&S ivotronic touchscreens have “serious security vulnerabilities”. A Denver Colorado attorney says Aspen’s May 5 IRV ballots are subject to open records request.
Are some candidates for California’s top offices “Too big to vote”?
Economics affect elections again: Budget crunch may eliminate early voting in Evansville IN in next GE. Should there be fewer polling places in primaries? While some US states struggle to get paper ballots, a Ghana oped proposes electronic voting and biometric id as solution to vote rigging problems. Intimidation and Fraud Observed in Afghan Election. Afghans turn to the Twitterverse.

CA. Too big to vote?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
How do you run for California’s top political offices when you often have failed to vote yourself and have no political experience? …Some big names in the GOP have rallied behind former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as she eyes a run against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman as she prepares to run for governor…But both former CEOs have a boardroom-size problem: They have shoddy voting records.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/08/22/INAQ19AI2K.DTL

CA. Proposed constitutional convention is a big con
08/22/2009 The most interesting thing about the New America Foundation think tank’s recent Sacramento seminar on replacing the California state constitution with something unknown and unpredictable was that even the foundation’s designated election law expert had to admit the “Pandora’s Box” problem
http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_13185105

CO. Links to media- discussion of ballot release and election review
The two Aspen Colorado papers and one state-wide blog have been covering the topic of the Aspen May 5 IRV election and the upcoming Aspen Election Independent Review and numerous letters to editor. Here is a perhaps not complete collection of them:
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/links-to-media-discussion-of-ballot.html

CO. More calls for release of ballots
August 24, 2009 ….Sources from across the state and the political spectrum called into question the city of Aspen’s reasoning for not making citizens’ ballots from the May election public…
…Thomas Kelley, a Denver attorney who specializes in open records law, said he has studied the issue before and concluded that ballots are subject to open records requests, as long as the ballots don’t identify the voter.
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136238

CT. Should There Be Fewer Polling Places For Primaries?
…When we think of a large cities such as Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport its easy to see how reducing polling places could reduce turn-out and locations could easily change the result
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2267

IN. Sunday Soapbox (budget dispute about early voting)
August 22, 2009
Due to a budget dispute, that service may not be available during next year’s general election. County Clerk Susan Kirk says she would need $60,000 in 2010 to pay part-time workers to man the voting centers
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/aug/22/no-headline—23a13soap/

NY. City Council campaigns use social media
August 23, 2009 ..They

The Voting News Daily: Hanging chads in Afghanistan? PA voter database flaws, Dual for Aspen ballots continues

U.S. officials eye hanging chads — in Afghanistan. “The citizens of Aspen are asking: Whose election is this anyway? Does it belong to the government — made up of the very officials who are candidates in each election? Or is it the people’s election?”. That question posed by voting activists Harvie Branscomb and Al Kolwicz, when Aspen City officials refused to allow independent review of ballots cast in Aspen’s May election. In PA, a trial over a petition drive reveals deep flaws in PA voter registration database. A Washington paper says look before leaping, learn from HAVA mistake. Afghani women find obstacles to voteing – male family members can vote their ballots by proxy.

CO. Show us our ballots!
Letter to the Editor Friday, August 21, 2009
Editor:
Is this Iran? I implore you to assign a reporter to investigate the issue of why the city refuses to let the public see CDs of the anonymous ballot images from the May election….Ballots are anonymous, and not personal. What is the city’s real objective here after hailing their “transparency” for this election?
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/136197

CO. Whose election is this anyway? OpEd.
by BY HARVIE BRANSCOMB AND AL KOLWICZ Friday, August 21, 2009
…The city says trust: but don’t verify….The record of the collective intent of the voters is contained on ballots and on a disk which, although made for the purpose of transparency, is being withheld from the public- locked away in the “ballot box.”
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/columnist/136195
http://aspenelectionreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/gues-editorial-august-20-2009-on-aspen.html (cached version)

CO. Secret ballots: A matter of law
August 21, 2009 The city of Aspen has not released the ballots or images of the ballots for the 2009 spring election because we have a legal responsibility rooted in the state constitution, statutes and Supreme Court decisions to protect every citizen’s right to a secret ballot.
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/columnist/136196

FL. Fla elections commission inquiry prompted WellCare to disclose illegal campaign funds
…Of the company’s 142 violations, all except 32 were before June of 2007, meaning they can’t be held accountable for them because of a 2-year statute of limitation.
http://blog.taragana.com/n/fla-elections-commission-inquiry-prompted-wellcare-to-disclose-illegal-campaign-funds-145285/

MA. Dennis will recycle outdated voting machines
By Nicole Muller
Fri Aug 21, 2009, 06:00 AM EDT
DENNIS – Where do voting machines that have outlived their use go? Is there a voting-machine graveyard or a special recycling center for this equipment?
At Town Clerk Terri Bunce’s request, Dennis selectmen have declared as surplus eight 1995 Optech Eagle voting machines that were replaced earlier this year with five new AccuVote machines used for the first time at the May town election.
…The Optech machines cost $6,300 each in the mid-1990s, and six of them still function. “
http://www.wickedlocal.com/dennis/news/x2145968136/Dennis-will-recycle-outdated-voting-machines

NM. New Mexico Attorney General Responds to Libertarian-Green Ballot Access Lawsuit August 21st, 2009 On August 18, the New Mexico Attorney General filed this 37-page brief in response to the ballot access lawsuit Woodruff v Herrera, filed by the Libertarian and Green Parties on May 7.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/21/new-mexico-attorney-general-responds-to-libertarian-green-ballot-access-lawsuit/

PA. Pennsylvania Hearing Reveals Problems in Checking Petitions
August 21st, 2009
On August 20, a Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania disqualified Wieslaw Niemoczynski from the November 3, 2009 ballot as an independent candidate for Monroe County Common Pleas Judge.

The Voting News Daily: Former New Mexico SOS indicted, Obion Co TN suing to block paper ballot law, WA Mail ballots take their time, Afghanis tweet election

Bombshell: Former New Mexico SOS Vigil-Giron is accused of embezzlement, money laundering scheme, soliciting or receiving an illegal kickback and offering or paying an illegal kickback. Over $2 million can’t be accounted for. Its ok to spend millions of $$ and “test” electronic poll books in Tennessee, but its too hard to implement paper ballot law. Obion County, Tennessee plans to sue to delay paper ballot law. Weakley County officials say new voting machines need to be in place by July 2010. In Ohio, several charges dropped in ‘False Statements’ case following FBI whistleblower’s testimony. Economics again – Indiana’s SOS had to order a county to hold a special election that will cost the county $414K. In Washington, vote-by-mail ballots only have to be postmarked by election day – not delivered. Afghans tweet about voter intimidation.

AL. Caught in the Crosshairs: Gov Don Siegelman talks with OpEdNews, Part Three “We await the United States government’s response to our motion for a new trial based on their (prosecutorial) misconduct.”
http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Caught-in-the-Crosshairs–by-Joan-Brunwasser-090818-779.html

IN. Sec. of state: Follow the law
Lake County must hold transit referendum according to elections chief
August 20. That’s the simple message Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita had Wednesday for Lake County officials battling over whether to hold and how to pay for a November transit referendum…The Lake County Council has refused to pay the estimated $414,000 cost of the referendum determining whether a regional transit authority is created in Northwest Indiana.
http://nwitimes.com/news/local/article_99203566-e954-5d49-88cc-1802d26aa3bd.html

KY. Bullitt moves to paper ballots
August 19, 2009 Fiscal Court on Tuesday approved the purchase of 53 Hart Intercivic eScan voting machines, which involve voting on paper and scanning the ballots into a computer…Fiscal Court unanimously voted to purchase 44 eScan machines, using $198,000 in the state Secretary of State’s office available to Bullitt
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090819/ZONE10/908190378/Bullitt+moves+to+paper+ballots

MA Sherborn’s election invalidated
Aug 20, 2009 Sherborn – Sherborn Town officials are waiting for Governor Deval Patrick to take action on special legislation designed to salvage the town’s May 12 Annual Election, which was invalidated last month due to a posting error.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/sherborn/news/x2145965172/Sherborn-s-election-invalidated

NM. Vigil-Giron accused of embezzlement, money laundering scheme
8/19/09 The indictment lays out a scheme whereby several large deposits were made into a Wells Fargo bank account controlled by Gutierrez over several years — $2 million in 2004; $2 million in 2005; and $1.7 million and $186,500 in 2006
http://newmexicoindependent.com/34461/vigil-giron-indictment-alleges-embezzlement-and-money-laundering-scheme

NM. Prosecutors allege the theft of millions of dollars
Vigil-Giron and other defendants each face 50 counts in indictments issued today by grand jury Posted 8/19/2009 Former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and the others indicted today by a state grand jury each face 50 counts including money laundering, fraud, soliciting or receiving kickbacks and tax evasion in the alleged theft of millions of dollars.
http://haussamen.blogspot.com/2009/08/prosecutors-allege-plot-to-steal.html

NM. Rebecca Vigil-Giron targeted in probe of voter education funds
8/19/09 …Audit says more than $2 million can’t be accounted for
http://newmexicoindependent.com/34404/vigil-giron-targeted-in-probe-of-voter-education-funds

OH. Several Charges Dropped in ‘False Statements’ Case Following FBI Whistleblower’s Testimony.
Rep. Jean Schmidt drops four claims in Ohio election case, following deposition by formerly-gagged Turkish-American translator Sibel Edmonds, adds another
Preliminary panel finds ‘probable cause’ in several claims against Krikorian…
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7359

The Voting News Daily: Hacking NEDAP voting machine in 60 Seconds, San Fran voters privacy invaded, In WA a ballot box overflows

We’ve got another hack story today. Video shows NEDAP hack done in 60 seconds. In Aspen more calls to make May’s ballots available for independent audit. Voting activist Harvie Branscomb is part of the audit team. Economic downturn mean less early voting locations in an Indiana County and consolidation of voting locations in a New York Village. In Ballard, Washington a ballot box is overflowing. The Justice Department rejected non-partisan municipal elections for Kinston NC as it “would hurt black voters’ ability to “elect candidates of choice.” In Nevada, Ex-ACORN Vegas director to testify against group. San Francisco voters upset to find their private information posted at polling places. Voting machines: hackable, crackable, hijackable

CA. City considers making voter information confidential
08/18/09 Privacy and accountability are apparently clashing in San Francisco elections. Complaints have been rolling in to the Department of Elections about personal information such as phone numbers and e-mail addresses being posted publicly outside polling spots…What’s the solution? The Department of Elections wants to change its policy so voters can provide their information for “administrative use only.”
http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/City-considers-making-voter-information-confidential-53618982.html

CO. Make the ballots public
If I may quote the actor Slim Pickens from the Mel Brooks movie “Blazing Saddles,” “What in the wide wide world of sports is going on around here?”
…Marks and Branscomb should be granted their request, knowing the facts stated above and that the city issued a press release on May 28 stating that there were errors in tabulations of the mayoral race exposed by TrueBallot (the company that ran the election).
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090819/LETTER/908189974/1020

CO. Minnesota group takes aim at Aspen’s election
August 19 A Minnesota group which says instant runoff voting is unconstitutional said it plans to file a federal lawsuit challenging Aspen’s May election and the voting system it used. “This is the essence of the main argument against IRV — your vote can be changed in its value and effect by the votes cast by others,”
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136163

CT. Hartford: Wasting $ As Usual
..For a city the size of Hartford there should be no problem having three registrars and the costs should be minimal.
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=2254

IN. Library voting may end in ’10
Budget cut seen as best election fit
August 19, 2009
Early voting in libraries in Vanderburgh County will be eliminated in 2010 if a budget cut proposed Tuesday takes effect, the county’s chief elections officer said.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/aug/19/library-voting-may-end-in-10-budget-cut-seen-as/

NC. Justice Department rejects non-partisan voting
Federal officials concerned changes would hurt black voters’ ability to “elect candidates of choice.” August 18…In a letter sent to City Attorney Jim Cauley late Monday, acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King stated “the elimination of party affiliation on the ballot will likely reduce the ability of blacks to elect candidates of choice.”
http://www.enctoday.com/articles/department-57925-kfpress-justice-waiting.html

NJ. Should politicians be required to take lie detector tests?
The new electronic voting machine
August 18th.
http://whyy.org/blogs/itsourcity/2009/08/18/should-politicians-be-required-to-take-lie-detector-tests/

NV. Ex-ACORN Vegas director to testify against group August 19
Chief Deputy Nevada Attorney General Conrad Hafen said Wednesday that Christopher Edwards’ plea deal strengthens a felony case against the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now and Amy Busefink, a former regional voter registration director for ACORN.

The Voting News Daily: 8/18 Plaudits for Audits, MN’s IRV test, NY’s candidate whack-a-mole, Biometrics in Voter ID

The economy continues to impact election administration. Shrinking voter rolls for Annapolis Maryland. Plaudits for (Post-Election) Audits (video) :} The push for voter id in Mississippi continues. In Minnesota, instant runoff voting tested. In New York, one out of every five would-be candidates for local office gets knocked off the ballot. Meanwhile, the PA Supreme Court upheld the practice of charging candidates for the costs of removing them from the ballot. 2 accused of double voting in Arizona. King County has joined most Washington state in all-mail voting, Bolivia will use biometric voter ID. Japan’s Twitter-Free Election Campaign.

AZ. 2 in court accused of double voting
If they did, it was error, lawyer says
08.14.2009 The attorney for a Green Valley couple accused of voting twice in the 2008general election says if his clients did so, it was an innocent mistake rather than a malicious act…The Marshalls are accused of voting in the general election in both Kansas — where they lived until relocating to Green Valley last year — and Arizona, court records show
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/304900

GA. First Brief Filed in Georgia Ballot Access Case
August 18th, 2009 On August 17, Faye Coffield filed her first brief in the 11th circuit, in Coffield v Handel, 09-13277, the case challenging the 5% (of the number of registered voters) petition requirement for minor party and independent candidates for U.S. House. As the brief makes abundantly clear, no one has completed this petition since 1964,
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/18/first-brief-filed-in-georgia-ballot-access-case/

IL. Without GOP Support, Quinn Signs Voter Registration Extension
August 18, 2009 …HB 267 (now Public Act 96-0441), sponsored by Rep. Will Davis and Sen. James Meeks, extends that grace period one additional week, leaving only seven days between the final deadline and the opening of the polls.
http://progressillinois.com/2009/8/17/without-gop-quinn-registration

IN. Election costs and police pay wipe out most of county’s new money as budget hearings hit crunch time
http://www.chestertontribune.com/PorterCounty/81891%20election_costs_and_police_pay_wi.htm

IN. Knox mayor says he’ll testify before grand jury
Aug 17, 2009 at 4:54 KNOX — Mayor Rick Chambers has been issued a subpoena to appear before a grand jury Wednesday to testify into alleged voter fraud and perjury, he said Monday in a news release.
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/53494297.html

KY. Bullitt Fiscal Court to discuss voting machines
August 17, 2009 Bullitt County Fiscal Court will hear an update on buying new voting machines at Tuesday’s meeting…Mooney’s office is working to redraw precinct boundaries and add new ones, which could require 24 to 30 new machines,
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090817/ZONE10/908170346/1008/NEWS01

MD. Annapolis voter rolls downsized
Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 now
08/17/09 Registered voters in Annapolis are doing two things: turning bluer and disappearing
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/08/17-30/Annapolis-voter-rolls-downsized.html

MN. Residents try hand at new voting system
Instant-runoff voting is easier to cast than count, judging by our informal test run that sampled people ranging from our office to a senior citizen residence.
http://www.startribune.com/local/53359392.html?page=1&c=y

MS. Rosamond seeks judicial review of Canton Ward 1 election
August 17, 2009 … Though Brown has been carrying out alderman duties since his swearing-in in July, Rosamond wants the election results thrown out because of alleged fraud and illegal voting in the May 19 runoff between he and Brown.

The Voting News Daily: 8/17. Hack intercepts NEDAP voting machine signal, New research database on US voting systems, NM Judge convicted of vote fraud

A new voting machine hack, intercepts NEDAP voting machine signal. Online Poll: Should Aspen’s ballots be disclosed for an independent audit? There’s a new Research Database on the U.S. Voting System and Voting Technology by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. NC Verified celebrates 4 yr anniversary of paper ballot law. A NM judge convicted of vote fraud. With all the new hacks, what are we doing about it and Brad Friedman asks – where’s the mainstream media?

CO. Do you think Aspen City Council should disclose the ballots from last May’s election? (Poll)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/poll/do-you-think-aspen-c

NC Verified Voting Meetup Aug 26 Celebrates 4 Year Anniversary of paper ballot law
http://ncvoters.blogspot.com/2009/08/nc-verified-voting-meetup-aug-26.html

NC.North Carolina Elections – Protecting The Vote
New voting hack uses machines decommissioned by a North Carolina county
http://ncvoters.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-voting-hack-uses-machines.html

NM. Former Sunland Park judge convicted of voter fraud
8/17/09 a jury convicted Favela of falsely declaring himself a resident of Sunland Park in 2008 so he could run for judge, falsifying a document that declared him a qualified voter, and voting twice in the 2004 general election — once in El Paso, Texas and once in Doña Ana County.
http://newmexicoindependent.com/34148/former-sunland-park-judge-convicted-is-another-voter-fraud-case-coming

TN. Computer Scientist Says Yes to Paper Ballots » LIBERADIO(!)
…We could have the kind of secure election the professor suggests with paper, paper ballots as ballot of record, and random audits because that’s what the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act mandates…
http://www.liberadio.com/2009/08/17/computer-scientist-says-yes-to-paper-ballots/

WA. County’s top elections official discusses the vote-by-mail process
All but one county in the state vote by mail, so the idea of going to the polls on “election day” has been replaced with a three-week period in which ballots are mailed out, received, marked, signed and returned
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/aug/17/vicky-dalton/

US. New Research Database on the U.S. Voting System and Voting Technology provided by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Research Database on the U.S. Voting System and Voting Technology provides access to empirical and analytical research about voting and elections to inform evidence-based reforms.
http://votingtech.aaas.org/default.aspx

US.Census Bureau begins printing 2010 questionnaires
…For the first time, more than 13 million questionnaires will be bilingual in English and Spanish..
http://nonprofitvote.blogspot.com/2009/08/census-bureau-begins-printing-2010.html

US. “Is Your 401(k) Used to Influence Congress?”
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/014276.html

US. The BRAD BLOG : New Hack of Sequoia Voting Machine Changes Votes …
Hacks of our electronic voting systems used to be big news. Now though, it’s been done so many times, and is apparently so simple to do, that the news hardly registers in the corporate mainstream media (if it ever did in the first place). Yet, almost nothing has been done about virtually any of it to date.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7362

AFGHANISTAN. Threat of violence looms over Afghan vote
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gH6zTk0ZvJGljIu7bpEh3P2uECEwD9A4S6AO0

Germany. Voter Machine Van Eck Radiation Intercept Demonstrated
By Marc Handelman on August 17th, 2009
News is spreading of a successful voter machine signal intercept hack. German Chaos Computer Club’s member Andreas Bogk, utilizing a Van Eck radiation detection technique has apparently intercepted European Nedap voting machines data, and has thereby entered into the hallowed halls of so-called TEMPEST intercept attacks
http://infosecurity.us/?p=10613

The Voting News Daily: 8/17 Why the “new hack” matters-video, CA SOS Bowen at OpenSource-video, Double voting in an online election

More articles on the “new hack”. 2 excellent videos: Video of Computer scientist Hovav Shacham explaining what the new hack is and why it matters. Video of California SOS Bowen at OpenSource World event. CA’s SOS used cloud computing to handle peak election night loads on the SOS website. Alabama lawmakers defend voting the machines of others. A group pushes for Vote By Mail in Idaho. Online election for a union in Wichita needs do-over after some people voted twice. Budget cuts continue to impact elections, this time in NC. A Texas county gets e-poll books. In Netherlands, the CCC demonstrates TEMPEST measurement of voting machines. Iran tries more activists in post-election turmoil. *News is light considering it came from 150 alerts for voting issues. *Try to take a minute watching one of the videos to learn why the “new hack” matters.

AL. Legislature really can be efficient
August 16, 2009 House rules allow members to vote the machines of fellow members who are not present when recorded votes are taken, as long as no one objects ahead of time. …Legislators defend voting the machines of others as simply a harmless practice that is a courtesy for the missing legislator. And if lawmakers only voted when their colleagues were away from their desks for a few minutes and asked them to so, there probably would be no harm in it… The best way to ensure integrity in the legislative voting process would be to require that no one vote ever on any machine but his or her own.
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090816/OPINION01/908150314

AZ. Good to see county address privacy concern
August 13, 2009 There is an expectation of privacy when voting, so when people found their signatures were visible on the outside of Yuma County mail-in ballots in recent elections, there was reason for concern…Something has now been done about that issue. Most of the early mail ballots sent out for the Sept. 1 Yuma primary election have an extended flap on the ballot envelope that hides the signature of the voter returning the ballot.
http://www.yumasun.com/opinion/mail-52129-ballots-concern.html

CA.Open-source voting: Secure over obscure? (has video of SOS Debra Bowen)
At the OpenSource World event in San Francisco, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen says open-source software can help improve security in voting systems. Even with built-in security measures, though, potential human error among thousands of volunteers will put them at risk.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=22684

CA. OpenSource World 2009 …She (SOS Bowen) also told a great story of how her office decided to try using cloud computing to handle the peak election night loads on the Secretary of State’s website. The result was that instead of spending $800,000 on computer upgrades, they paid a $7 bill to Amazon for EC2 usage.
http://blog.freemodelfoundry.com/2009/08/14/opensource-world-2009/

CO. Release the ballots
Aug 15. Aspen’s election process is in doubt. Denying access to the May election ballots is a barrier to truth, not a protection of voters’ rights. The integrity of Aspen’s voting system requires that they be released now.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090815/LETTER/908159995/1020

ID Idaho group will proceed with petition to put vote by mail initiative on 2012 ballot 08/14/09 A group is proceeding with a initiative petition to put a vote by mail initiative on the ballot for the 2012 election.

The Voting News Daily: 8/13. More on voting machine hack, Canada moves forward with internet voting plans, India high court orders proof EVMs can be tampered with

The new Sequoia hack triggers humor amidst alarm and renews calls for paper ballots. Argument for open source repeated in wake of the recent Diebold software patch. Florida election laws may address google ads. Illinois voters will be able to register up to 7 days before election if gov signs bill. TX two step primary to be challenged in Fed Court. A VA county moves election date to save money. Canada moves on with internet voting in spite of fresh warnings from computer scientists. In India, the Madras High Court today directs the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President G. K. Mani to demonstrate how EVMS can be hacked.

CA. California Still Willing to Give e-Voting a Try
Secretary of State discusses the flaws in the system but remains committed to electronic voting. Dell talks up cloud computing.
…Paper ballots right now, she said, mean “never having to say ‘I trust you’ to thousands of lines of code no matter how cute they may be,” she added.
http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3834386

FL. Florida Election Laws May Adapt to New Media Demands
Aug 13th, 2009 A case that penalized St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Scott Wagman for using Google ads in his campaign could lead to a new law making the practice acceptable in political races across the Sunshine State….The problem arose when a complaint was filed against Wagman who used Google click ads that do not say who paid for them, which is against election law. The Wagman campaign contended that it was impossible to provide the disclaimer because the ads contain a character limit.
http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/08/13/florida-election-laws-may-adapt-to-new-media-demands/

IL. Waiting for Governor’s signature. HB 267, which allows grace period voter registration as late as 7 days prior to an election (now, grace period registration ends 14 days prior), was sent to the governor on June 17. The governor has until Sunday, August 16 to take action.
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=267&GAID=10&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=40393&SessionID=76&GA=96

MA. City consolidates polling places to save money
SALEM — Many voters will cast their ballots at new locations this fall, as the city cuts back on the number of polling stations to save money.
…it saves you in police costs and handicap machines programming.”
The state provided the city an estimate of $1,000 per handicapped voting machine for the cost of programming each one, LaPointe said.
http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_225000631.html?keyword=secondarystory

NC. Only two candidates participating in Chapel Hill’s voter-owned elections
…It’s a simple, albeit controversial idea: The public should fund campaigns for viable candidates so everyone, not just those who can afford to bankroll their campaigns, has a fair shot at winning office.
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=399354
NCSBoE presentation on Voter Owned Elections
http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/docs/TOCHVOEP/player.html

NE. Mail-in elections a growing trend
…In what is a growing trend across Nebraska, more and more villages, cities and counties are holding “mail-only” elections when considering local issues such as sales tax proposals, school bond issues and keno measures
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090813/NEWS01/708139914

NY. Upcoming elections bring new equipment, rules
Instead of drawing a curtain, flipping levers and pulling a handle to register votes, voters will be given a paper ballot and a pen, and guided to a screened area where they will fill in boxes next to their candidates’ names…But there are other changes besides the obvious ones in store for voters, including identification for first-time voters – through a driver’s license or the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number – when they arrive at the polls.

The Voting News Daily: 8/12 Diebold quietly patches flaw, TX election database down, Tenn County asks Atty Gen on voting machines, New hack costs under $100K

Diebold Quietly Patches Security Flaw in Vote Counting Software. Ballot dispute: The Aspen Colorado City Council refuses to release ballots for an independent review while the Aspen Times supports it. Texas elections databases and other parts of the SOS computer system have been down since last week. The GA SoS asks again for the U.S. Justice Department to approve a law that requires strict matching for voter registration. In Tenn, a county seeks state Atty General’s opinion on voting machine law. The NEW voting machine hack cost less than $100K. Kenya may vote without paper in 2012. Officials there believe that “It eliminates rigging claims, manual tallying and delay of results,”

CO. City sticks to position not to release ballots
August 12, 2009
…Aspen for the first time used an instant runoff voting system in the May election, which required complex software to count the ballots. Branscomb said he is interested in a full analysis of the election that could be shared with other communities who might be interested in some of Aspen’s tactics.
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136054

CO. What’s the secret behind ballots?
The city should err on the side of openness and disclosure. An honest review of the IRV process is in everyone’s best interest, regardless of political affiliation, and refusing to release the ballots makes it look like the city is either stonewalling a political opponent or trying to hide something.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090812/DAILYCOMMENT/908119977/1019/NONE&parentprofile=1061

GA. State of Georgia Submits Voter Verification Process to U.S. Department of Justice for Reconsideration (wants “no match no vote” requirement)
Atlanta (August 12, 2009) – Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today announced that the State of Georgia has asked the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider its May 2009 objection of preclearance for two critical voter verification processes utilized in the November 2008 General Election.
http://www.theweekly.com/news/2009/August/12/Voter_Verification.html

NC. Elections Board OKs Kurtz’s mayoral candidacy
Hendersonville. During the quasi-judicial hearing this morning, Kurtz presented evidence and witnesses to prove that his primary residence is 202 N. Main Street
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090812/NEWS/908129985?Title=Elections-Board-OKs-Kurtz-s-mayoral-candidacy–

TN. Sullivan County Election Officials Misinterpret New Election Law
August 12, 2009 …as a state, we can use any paper ballot counting machines we want to use. It’s our choice…kind of a states’ rights thing. Booher can use the machines he purchased in 2006 and Tre Hargett can allow the other county Election Administrators to purchase machines like the ones that have been working without incident in Hamilton, Pickett and, apparently, Sullivan counties.
http://www.liberadio.com/2009/08/12/sullivan-county-election-officials-misinterpret-new-election-law/

TN.Sullivan Officials Won’t Push For Voter Act Delay
August 12, 2009 …Dessauer further suggested the commission contact state Attorney General Robert Cooper to get a formal opinion because it is technically his job to answer such questions and give legal advice to local governments.
http://www2.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/sullivan_officials_wont_push_for_voter_act_delay/30423/

TN. Sullivan to seek attorney general’s opinion on voting machine deadline
August 11th, 2009 BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County election officials want a state attorney general’s opinion on whether or not local election commissions across the state can be held liable if they fail to meet a deadline next year for optical scan voting
http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9015956

The Voting News Daily: 8/11 Voting News. MN media sues for ballots, PA recount changes outcome, New Hack is practical, NM voter guide warning

The US Supreme Court forces issue on overturning ban on corporate campaign donations. Tennessee voting machine mess continues. Warning: New Mexico voters received a voter guide that is ridden with errors. Minnesota TV Stations are suing Ramsey County over access to 2008 absentee ballots. A recount changes outcome of an election in Pennsylvania. See what a Fusion style ballot looks like. The New Hack was used against the Sequoia AVC Advantage machine, which is used almost universally in New Jersey and in parts of Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado and Virginia… Voters should prove their citizenship according to Hans A. von Spakovsky, former member of the FEC. Iran election unrest death toll at 69.

CA. Plea deal likely in Nativo Lopez voter-fraud case, attorney says
Nativo Lopez, an immigrant-rights activist and former Santa Ana schools trustee, faces 4 felony charges…Lopez faces four felony charges of voter fraud, including allegations he used the address of an office building in Boyle Heights to register to vote in Los Angeles County last year, even though he was still living in Santa Ana.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lopez-prosecutors-county-2525199-angeles-munoz

CA. California Councilmember Retains Seat Even Though He Wasn’t Registered to Vote August 11th, 2009
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/11/california-councilmember-retains-seat-even-though-he-wasnt-registered-to-vote/

HI. Nader Ballot Access Case in Hawaii Begins to Move Forward
August 11th, 2009 On August 6, the 9th circuit issued an order setting a briefing schedule for Nader v Cronin, 08-16444. The issue in the case is whether a state may require six times as many signatures for a single independent presidential candidate as it requires for an entire ballot-qualified party.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/11/nader-ballot-access-case-in-hawaii-begins-to-move-forward/

MA. A Loss for Voting Rights
August 11th, 2009 Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, in Boston, became the latest federal court to uphold a ban on voting by convicted felons.
http://www.newsnet14.com/2009/08/a-loss-for-voting-rights/

MN. Minnesota TV Stations Sue County Over Access to 2008 Absentee Ballots
August 10th, 2009 On August 10, five television stations in Minnesota filed a lawsuit in state court, against Ramsey County election officials. Those officials refuse to let the TV stations examine last year’s general election absentee ballots.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/10/minnesota-tv-stations-sue-county-over-access-to-2008-absentee-ballots/

NC. New Voting Location In Raleigh
http://raleigh.mync.com/site/raleigh/news/story/39861/new-voting-location-in-raleigh

NM. Glitches found in N.M. election guide
Confusing information prompts Secretary of State’s Office to make changes.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Glitches-found-in-N-M–election-guide

NM. Former judge’s voter-fraud trial starts today in Doña Ana County
8/10/09 Horacio Favela, 49 and a Democrat, is accused of falsely declaring himself a resident of Sunland Park so he could vote and run for judge there while he was living in El Paso.
http://newmexicoindependent.com/33636/former-judge%E2%80%99s-voter-fraud-trial-starts-today

NJ. New Jersey Division of Elections Selects Allied Security Innovations Products to Secure Voting Machines
http://sev.prnewswire.com/homeland-security/20090811/NE5891011082009-1.html

OH. 1,500 residents to be notified of new polling places
About 1,500 Clark County residents have been affected by recent voter precinct changes, and notifications are being mailed.
http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/1500-residents-to-be-notified-of-new-polling-places-241109.html?showComments=true

OR. In closing hours, Lege passes minor-party election reform (Fusion Voting)
SB 326 …also allows candidates who are cross-nominated by multiple parties to be listed on the ballot with up to three names of political parties.
http://www.blueoregon.com/2009/06/in-closing-hours-lege-passes-minorparty-election-reform.html?cid=6a00d8341c2c3f53ef0120a4dd5774970b

PA.

The Voting News Daily: Voting News 8/9. New voting hack, Internet voting in defense bill, Tennessee lawyering up, Aspen transparency

New hack demonstrated on electronic voting machines. (video) Internet Voting whackamole as Defense Authorization bill allows pilot. Tennessee hot mess: The dispute over voting machines may head for the courts. Tenn. Secretary of State detained voting activist as a terrorist. Aspen voters still seek ballot images from May. Bad economy pushes an Ohio county to cut polling places and Santa Barbara CA muni elections to go postal. New Jersey voters now have “no excuse” absentee voting. Computers searched in NJ election fraud case. Australia approves a new party decides name not obscene. Early voting – Wisconsin doesn’t want it, while WVA wants more. Larry Norden from the Brennan Center proposes a few ideas about what the voting community should focus on. Iran admits election demonstrators were tortured.

CA. Santa Barbara Municipal Elections Go Postal
Bring Your Own Ballot If You Don’t Mail It In August 8, 2009
…City staff estimated that the change will save $50,000.
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/aug/08/santa-barbara-municipal-elections-go-postal/

CO. It’s all about transparency
August 8…Despite that on election night in May, each anonymous ballot was projected during scanning for the public to see, the city no longer considers these ballot images to be public information…The ballot images are required by a team of Colorado election quality experts undertaking an Independent Review of our May election.
…Voters request the opportunity to change the charter in November to again allow the traditional style of elections with subsequent run-offs
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090808/LETTER/908079979/1020

FL. Local legislators split on idea of making future special elections vote-by-mail or early voting only Wednesday, August 5, 2009
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/aug/05/no-headline—tc_mailvote/

OH. Board of Elections cuts polls, precincts
August 8, 2009 FREMONT — The Sandusky County Board of Elections proceeded with plans to cut down on precincts to save money and better comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act…The number of polling places was cut from 33 to 22.
Board members say the effort is expected to save $20,000 on equipment, printing costs and wages for poll workers.
http://www.thenews-messenger.com/article/20090808/NEWS01/908080305

NJ. Computers searched in NJ election fraud case
NEWARK, N.J. – There is new activity in the state’s investigation into alleged absentee ballot voter fraud in Essex County. Carmen Cassiano, Essex County’s commissioner of registration, says state investigators were at the county election office Thursday making copies of approximately 25 computer hard drives.
To date, four people have been indicted for election fraud involving absentee ballots collected on behalf of Teresa Ruiz, who won her 2007 race for a state Senate seat.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20090806_ap_computerssearchedinnjelectionfraudcase.html

NJ. State Voters Can Now Vote by Mail
TRENTON — New Jersey registered voters now have more options to vote by mail as an alternative to voting at a polling place on election days… In June, Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the “Vote by Mail” law that now allows all voters to request a mail-in ballot for an upcoming election, and receive mail-in ballots automatically for additional future elections with one application
http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/53327-state+voters+can+now+vote+mail

TN. Lawyering up on voting machines
August 10 It’s beginning to look like the dispute between the legislature’s Democratic leadership and the secretary of state’s office over voting machines is heading for the courts, as both sides get their lawyer on to explain why Tennessee must/must not purchase optical-scan machines in time for the 2010 election.

The Voting News Daily: Prevent Election Fiascoes in Tennessee – Enact Paper Ballot Law Now

A perfect storm is brewing for Tennessee voters for the 2010 election.

Tennessee is set up for an election debacle, thanks to the states’ reliance on paperless electronic voting. Currently 93 out of 95 counties in Tennessee use these machines.

Unless the Secretary of State Hargett takes swift and certain prompt action, thousands of votes will be at risk in the 2010 election. Computer scientists agree that any electronic voting machine can fail without warning. SOS Hargett should pay attention to the lessons learned by other states.

North Carolina found out the hard way that paperless voting machines can lose thousands of votes. In the November 2004 Presidential Election, 4,400 votes were permanently lost by “state of the art” computerized voting machines. The AP described that election as “A Florida-style nightmare …with thousands of votes missing and the outcome of two statewide races still up in the air.” On top of that, the outcome of one statewide election contest was too close to call. There would have been a $3 million dollar “do-over” election if one of the candidates hadn’t voluntarily withdrawn. (See North Carolina Ballot Blues)

So why take a chance? Tennessee has time to act now and protect the 2010 election from mishaps. North Carolina adopted a paper ballot law in August 2005 and had new voting machines running an election in April 2006. Thanks to these paper ballot optical scan machines, North Carolina saw a our undervote rate for President cut in half in the 2008 election. (An undervote occurs when for some reason a ballot is cast but no vote is registered for the candidate.)

Tennessee already has the warning signs of an election meltdown to come:
In the past two years, Tennessee voting machines have flipped votes, disappeared votes, cut off candidate names, omitted candidate names; run out of memory mid-election, and one voting machine even went up in smoke and perhaps votes with it.

Tennessee’s election problems will not be that easily remedied. These disasters show that many election workers are in over their heads.

Problems with voting machines, central tabulators using outdated and secret software, registration confusion, poll worker training, provisional ballots and absentee ballots are not easily remedied.

Nov 4, 2008 Shelby County. 100 voters disenfranchised. The Barlett municipal ballot did not load onto the machines in some polling places, preventing many Barlett voters from being able to vote in the city election.

The Voting News Daily: Voting News 8/7 Voting machines for sale, Federal bills gain sponsors, Calls for TN official to implement paper ballot law

In Tennessee, State Rep Odum calls on State’s top election official to do his job – implement the paper ballot law. Microvote voting machines for sale in Indiana, Newark Ohio selling punch card machines. Some 866OURVOTE applauds Kansas’ move to allow online voter registration. New Mexico’s SOS wants people to register now to officials time to process. Some congressional election bills including the Holt bill gain sponsors.
In India, PMK founder S. Ramadoss will demonstrate that the electronic voting machines can be hacked.

IN. County has 600 voting machines for sale
Also, 2008 campaign-finance reports now available online.
They’ve helped elect everything from presidents to township trustees, and now they can be yours. But does anybody really want to buy 600 obsolete electronic voting machines?
…The board Thursday agreed to make the MicroVote General Corp. machines available for purchase on the Internet in hopes of recovering at least a little of the $4,000 spent on each machine, some of which are nearly 20 years old.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090807/NEWS/908070322

August 07, 2009 Kansas Ahead of the Pack
As of last week, Kansas voters are able to register to vote online, a huge improvement to our outdated registration system. According to a local news source, KCTV5 News, Kansas’s Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh said, “An online voter registration application is the next step in making the traditional elections process easier, faster and cheaper.
http://866ourvote.articulatedman.com/newsroom/news?id=0236

MN. Minneapolis’ instant-runoff voting gives more hopefuls more time to campaign
8/7/09 … With nearly 100 candidates having filed for city offices, IRV could theoretically trigger tallying of voters’ lower-ranked preferences in as many as 22 races….Hofstede, who garnered majority votes in both the primary and general elections in 2005, sounded nonplussed about the prospect of facing multiple opponents for 12 more weeks. Her worry about IRV was a more commonly cited concern: voter education. “There will be confusion with the election,” Hofstede said. “The information that’s coming out is not consistent.”
http://minnesotaindependent.com/40799/minneapolis-irv-rcv-no-primary

NM. New Mexico Secretary of State visits to boost voter registration
08/07/2009 In an effort to get potential voters registered now and avoid a glut of paperwork closer to election day, the secretary of state’s office has launched a new initiative to make it easier to get registered
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_13012170?source=most_emailed

OH. Newark Ohio selling Votomatic punch card machines at GovDeal right now
http://votingnews.blogspot.com/2009/08/newark-ohio-selling-votomatic-punch.html

TN. Are You Goins To Do Your Job Or No?
August 7, 2009 “I’m not going to stand by and let Mr. Goins ignore the law that was passed in a bi-partisan fashion in 2008,” Odom said.
http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2009/08/07/are-you-goins-to-do-your-job-or-no/

TN. If You Hold an Election, Cheaters Will Come
August 7, 2009 …But if Secretary of State continues to refuse to follow the law and implement the Tennessee Voter Confidence Act and we still don’t have paper ballots during the next election, then you’ll have nothing to do as citizens except sit at home and hope that the margin of victory for your candidate is so large that it overcompensates for any errors made by the secret counting software installed on each machine.

The Voting News Daily: Newark Ohio selling Votomatic punch card machines at GovDeal right now

There are several types of voting machines and election equipment for sale over at GovDeals. Click on Election Equipment to see the latest holdings. Here’s a list of what is up for auction today:

Inventory ID
Description
Asset Location
End Date/Time ET
Start/Current Bid

BOE9
Board of Election Votomatics
Newark, OH
8/15/09 5:35 PM
Current: $16.00 Bids: 2

BOE9
Board of Election Votomatics
Newark, OH
8/15/09 5:40 PM
Current: $16.00 Bids: 2

BOE8
Board of Election Votomatics
Newark, OH
8/15/09 5:45 PM
Current: $10.00 Bids: 1

BOE7
Board of Election Votomatics
Newark, OH
8/15/09 5:50 PM
Current: $8.00 Bids: 1

BOE6
Board of Election Votomatics
Newark, OH
8/15/09 5:55 PM
Current: $7.00 Bids: 2

The Voting News Daily: Voting News 8/6 TN County missing a voting machine, 3 card readers, PA group needs audit help, Voting Rights Act needed, Diebold Certified

The sour economy is impacting election administration. WVa approved early voting but provided no funding to pay for it. PA activists need volunteers to audit their paperless elections. Woodbury County, Iowa dropped plans for Vote Centers when Sioux City threatened to sue. A Tennessee County took inventory and learned they were missing 1 voting machine and 3 card readers. Knox Co TN officials not likely to approve Vote Center Pilots which would eliminate neighborhood polls. *Vote Centers are being mislabeled as “convenience voting”. Tennessee still fighting over their paper ballot law. Oregon ok’s online registration. An Arizona lawmaker who broke AZ’s powerful clean elections act sues to keep job.

The EAC certified a Diebold/Premier system. 44 Years After Landmark Act, Voting Rights Still Needed says the Brennan Center for Justice. A report analyses the US election process. As early voting spreads in the US, how does it impact GOTV efforts?
India’s struggle against electronic voting heats up: India panel to hear debate on paperless voting machines. As her party boycotts the election, India’s AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa says: “In a democracy, every voter should know whether the vote cast has gone to the candidate or party it was meant for. In the absence of such certainty, the entire democratic process would be rendered a mockery.” Jayalalithaa also quotes Rice University associate professor Dan Wallach regarding problems with voting machines.

AZ. Arizona Legislator Sues to Retain Seat
August 6th, 2009 On August 6, Arizona Representative Doug Quelland filed a lawsuit in state court to retain his seat in the legislature. The Clean Elections Commission had voted 4-1 to remove him from office, back on May 15, 2009.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/06/arizona-legislator-sues-to-retain-seat/

CA. Election delays won’t save a dime
08/05/2009 OUR VIEW: Attempts to save money on 2010 elections show some didn’t do their homework. The San Bernardino County Board of Education set things right this week when it backed away from a foolhardy proposal to postpone its 2010 election.
…But when word spread that delaying the election until November 2011 would actually cost the district more – more than $1 million more – the movement quickly lost steam. The board voted Monday against rescheduling the election.
http://www.sbsun.com/editorial/ci_13000318

CA. Proposed Legislation: Post Canvass Audit Bill Language
04 Aug 2009 A bill proposal to move the Post Election Manual Tally (PEMT) to after the canvass period and rename it the “Post Canvass Audit.”
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ccrov/pdf/2009/august/09128jb.pdf

CO. Aspen mayor campaigning for two more years
Changing the term of mayor and the timing of the election would require an amendment to the charter, and a public vote. That could occur this fall or next spring. Voters will likely be asked an advisory question this November if Aspen should continue with IRV or have city officials find an alternative.
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20090806/VALLEYNEWS/908059987/1074

FL. Whopping cost increase could end early voting
August 5, 2009 PLANT CITY – Early voting in Plant City municipal elections could become the latest victim of the economic crisis.
http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/05/pc-whopping-cost-increase-could-end-early-voting/

IA. Voter centers plan scrapped after city considers lawsuit
Aug 04, 2009 SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) – The Woodbury County Auditor has dropped plans to replace polling places with a handful voting centers…Fearing that voters would be disenfranchised in the upcoming city council election, City Attorney Andrew Mai says they considered suing the county.

The Voting News Daily: 8/4 Voting News. EAC goes YouTube, NY sticker shock, Ohio law helps voters, Tenn Election Admin politicized, Bad Ideas for Elections spread

The Elections Assistance Commission gets a YouTube Channel. What next, the EAC on Twitter? New York Counties discover costs of switching to voting machines; EVoter Education Project says that for NY: “A bigger problem in our opinion is that the new ballot scanners are not ‘stand-alone’ devices at all, as many have been led to believe.” Many Detroit polling places moved due to closing of 43 public schools. The Federal Voting Assistance Program is using Twitter, Facebook and other social networking means to communicate with overseas voters. Florida officials favor vote by mail for spec. elections. Maine will now allow voters to go online to request an absentee ballot. A computer scientist shows that India’s electronic voting machines can be hacked. Brave New World? The Phillipines plans to use biometric data (fingerprint scan) to identify voters. Bad ideas for voting spread around the world: Namibia mulling electronic voting. Vote by phone in Russia? Is Smartmatic liable under Philippine laws for its misrepresentations of facts (about source code review)?

CA. Bureau of State Audits issues Prop. 11 redistricting commission regulations
When voters passed Proposition 11 last fall to establish a new, citizens redistricting commission to draw legislative district lines starting in 2011, they gave the job of implementing the measure to the Bureau of State Audits, the state’s independent, external auditor….A public hearing will take place on September 14 at the Secretary of State’s office in downtown Sacramento to gather public input on the draft regulations. The Bureau also invites the public to submit written comments.
http://calvoter.org/news/blog/2009_08_01_blogarchive.html#8294752248149806743

FL. Election supervisors favor mail-in voting for special elections
Aug 4. With few voters going to the polls Tuesday, officials overseeing the state Senate District 28 special election say they may request that similar contests in the future by held through the mail.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/aug/04/election-supervisors-favor-mail–voting-special-el/

IL. Many Detroiters will vote in new places
August 1, 2009 Thousands of Detroit voters will be voting in new polling precincts in Tuesday’s primary, but Detroit Elections Department officials say they are making sure the voters know where to go. City Elections Director Daniel Baxter said the poll changes are the result of 43 Detroit public schools’ closures.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090801/NEWS01/908010364/Many-Detroiters-will-vote-in-new-places

IL. Detroiters to encounter 235 names, double-sided ballot in primary
8/4/09 http://michiganmessenger.com/24251/detroiters-to-encounter-235-names-double-sided-ballot-in-primary (Whew!)

IL.EAC Data Collection Grant
The State of Illinois is one of five states to receive an Election Assistance Commission grant of $2 million to enhance their efforts to collect data regarding voter registration and voting.
http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2009/08/03/eac-data-collection-grant/

KS. Online registration — The biggest hurdle to voting in Kansas has just been knocked down. Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh announced that a quietly developed online system for voter registration is now in operation. Any Kansan may now register to vote or change registration online in just a few minutes.
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/story/915426.html
http://www.eldoradotimes.com/news/x804163497/Online-voter-registration-now-available

OH. Ohio elections chief, Dems offer elections changes
August 3, 2009 COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio voters would be able to vote early at more locations — but for a shorter time — and would encounter simpler voter identification requirements under legislation House Democrats plan to introduce Tuesday.

The Voting News Daily: EAC News #31 8-3-09 EAC on YouTube, Comment on 2005 Vol.Voting Sys Guidelines, VVPAT accessibility and more

U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION1225 New York Ave. NW – Suite 1100Washington, DC 20005

EAC Newsline: August 3, 2009
Public Meetings The EAC Standards Board will meet August 6-7 in Phoenix, Arizona.
For more information, click here.

EAC’s next public meeting will be Sept 2: agenda to be announced.

Visit our Web site to view the webcasts of meetings, and a tentative 2009 public meeting schedule.

EAC YouTubeEAC has launched a YouTube Channel here, and it features EAC’s new video about how voting systems are certified.

Voting Accessibility We have a new voting accessibility section on the EAC Web site, available here.

HAVA Funding To see the latest dollar amounts distributed to states, click here. See the updated funding breakdown by year for all states here.

Updated instructions for obtaining FY 2008 and 2009 HAVA requirements payments are available here.
The latest funding advisory opinions (FAO 09-006 and FAO 09-007) are posted here.
To view the advisory opinion policy, click here.

Testing & Certification The second voting system to be certified by EAC is ES&S Unity 3.2.0.0. The latest voting system manufacturer to register with EAC is Everyone Counts, Inc.

We have updated lists of registered manufacturers, certification applications, test plans, test reports and new correspondence here.

EAC’s decision on a request for interpretation of VVPAT accessibility is posted here.

EAC seeks public comments on draft revisions to the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG).
Click here to get started.
For more information about the program, go to Voting System Center.

NIST issues call for participation for two workshops in October

The National Institute of Standards and Technology seeks participation for the the End to End Voting Systems Workshop, Oct. 13-14, at George Washington University and the Common Data Format for Electronic Voting Systems Workshop, Oct. 29-30, at NIST in Maryland.

For more information and guidelines for participating, go to EAC’s calendar of events and updates. View latest election data reportsThe 2007-2008 NVRA report and the 2008 Election Data Grant Program are available here.

Reminder: EAC Voting System Reports ClearinghouseEAC urges state and local governments to contribute voting system reports and studies they have commissioned to the Voting System Reports Clearinghouse.####* If you wish to be removed from the distribution list email us at HAVAInfo@eac.gov.

The Voting News Daily: 8/3 Voting News. Dominion takes New York? USPS to push Vote By Mail, TX county ditching paper, PA wants levers

Sequoia/Dominion has succeeded in getting its machines in most New York Counties. The National Association of Letter Carriers) wants the the Postal Service to aggressively pursue “vote-by-mail” initiatives. Aspen is holding a special election by mail only, the town’s mayor worries voters will be caught unaware. A felon disenfranchisement case may head to the US Supreme Court… Galveston County Texas will ditch paper ballots, go to all paperless voting and hopes to cut polling places. The Mississipp GOP is pushing to get voter ID on the ballot.

Tennessee still fighting over paper ballot law. I just found a great video of a Tennessee lawmaker arguing the cost benefits of paper ballots vs. paperless. This is from June, but you need to see it. Sen. Herron (TN) rebutts alot of misinfo. In India, a group of NGOs sets out to prove the machines can be tampered with – a bit of déjà vu? In Afghanistan, 3,000 donkeys are transporting paper ballots to the polls. Other countries struggle.

CO. Aspen marketing officials prepare for bed tax ballot question
Friday, July 31, 2009
Pitkin County residents can only mail in their ballots, which will require a specific postage rate and a restrictive timeline for them to be received by the county clerk and recorder.That creates several issues, said Mayor Mick Ireland, adding he is not a fan of mail-in ballot elections because people who move a lot become disenfranchised and not all of them will receive their ballots at the correct addresses.Others caught unaware won’t realize that they can’t vote at their normal polling places.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090731/NEWS/907309967/1058

FL A conversation with Hillsborough’s new supervisor of elections. Aug 3. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article1024145.ece

FL & US.. For State, Local Office Seekers, Web Ads Present Potential Pitfalls
Aug 3. ..The Florida Elections Commission has decided a mayoral candidate’s ads on Google and Facebook appear to violate the state’s election law because they don’t include a disclaimer that indicates who bought them.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124925841924700351.html

IN. Counties try to stop vote
* Let the state pick up the tab or put off referendum until next year, critics say.
August 2, 2009…The combined cost for the four northern Indiana counties having a referendum on transportation this November will easily top $1 million… It’s not necessarily the ballot question they’re outraged about. Rather it’s the timing of the referendum that’s at issue.
http://www.post-trib.com/news/1696445,ropref.article

MA. Felon Disenfranchisement Issue Heading to the Supreme Court?
On Friday, a First Circuit Panel split 2-1 in Simmons v. Galvin, a case challenging the disenfranchisement of currently incarcerated Massachusetts felons under section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the ex post facto clause… The majority, in an opinion by Chief Judge Lynch, rejected the arguments… This case could well go to the Supreme Court on an issue that Judge Sotomayor knows well.
http://electionlawblog.org/archives/014188.html

MI. Michigan Law Allows Felons to Run for Local Office But Removes Them if they Win August 2nd, 2009
http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/08/02/michigan-law-allows-felons-to-run-for-local-office-but-removes-them-if-they-win/

MS. Mississippi GOP launches voter ID campaign
Aug 3. JACKSON, Miss. — The head of the Mississippi Republican Party said the group will handle an initiative to get voter identification on the ballot just as it would any other election campaign, by traveling the state to urge voters to support the issue.

The Voting News Daily: Sequoia/Dominion Voting System takes New York?

It looks like Sequoia aka Dominion Voting Systems has taken NY. There are 62 counties in the State of New York, and 54 will be or are using the Sequoia Image Cast. Here’s a list from the New York State Board of Elections website:

1. Allegany County
2. Broome County
3. Cattaraugus County
4. Cayuga County
5. Chautauqua County
6. Chemung County
7. Chenango County
8. Clinton County
9. Columbia County
10. Cortland County
11. Delaware County
12. Dutchess County
13. Essex County
14. Franklin County
15. Fulton County
16. Genesee County
17. Greene County
18. Hamilton County
19. Herkimer County
20. Jefferson County
21. Lewis County
22. Livingston County
23. Madison County
24. Monroe County
25. Montgomery County
26. Nassau County
27. Niagara County
28. Oneida County
29. Onondaga County
30. Ontario County
31. Orange County
32. Orleans County
33. Oswego County
34. Otsego County
35. Putnam County
36. Rensselaer County
37. Saratoga County
38. Schoharie County
39. Schuyler County
40. Seneca County
41. St. Lawrence County
42. Steuben County
43. Suffolk County
44. Sullivan
45. County
46. Tioga County
47. Tompkins County
48. Ulster County
49. Warren County
50. Washington County
51. Wayne County
52. Westchester County
53. Wyoming County
54. Yates County

The ImageCast combines an optical scanner with a disabled accessible device, and theoretically a disabled person could be voting on the machine at the same time that abled voters were also feeding their ballots into the machine. The disabled voter would be on one end of the machine while the other voters accessed the other end.

A gap that had allowed ballots to accidentally feed straight to the ballot box without being scanned has been fixed.

The State Board of Elections has a video of how to use the ImageCast here, if you would like to learn more about its actual operation.