The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 1-6 2013

The Obama Administration faces political challenges in fixing problems encountered in the November election. Internet voting problems forced an extension of the deadline for Academy Award votes. Electoral College votes from November’s election were officially accepted as the 113th Congress opened. The Washington Post considered the ineffectiveness of the Federal Election Commission. Proposed voter registration rules faced criticism in Iowa. Republican lawmakers publicly acknowledge that election law changes made in 2011 need to be revised. Voters in the Czech Republic prepare for their first direct Presidential election and Vladimir Putin made significant changes to Russia’s system for electing members of Parliament in a bid to solidify his party’s power.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly December 24-20, 2012

User interface issues have led to complaints about the internet voting experiment for this year’s Oscars. The Supreme Court will consider one of the key provisions of the Voting Rights Act early next year. A Senate committee hearing on election reform revealed familiar partisan divisions, while lawmakers in Florida expressed bipartisan support for efforts to reduce long lines at polling places. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has agreed to streamline for process for the restoration of voting rights for ex-felons. Republican legislatures in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are considering proposals to alter the allocation of electoral college votes and protests continued over Eqypt’s constitutional referendum.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly December 17-23 2012

As the Electoral College met in State Capitols to affirm the re-election of Barack Obama, Republican lawmakers in some State’s propose changes in how electoral votes are allocated. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the November elections in which former Florida Governor Charlie Crist sharply criticized his successor Governor Rick Scott, who has admitted some problems caused by recent changes in the State’s election code. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation restricting recall elections. Philadelphia City Commissioner Stephanie Singer released a report on provisional balloting in last month’s election. The Edmonton Journal raised concerns about an internet voting proposal. Egypt’s top election official resigned as voting on a controversial referendum continued and Park Geun-hye, daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, was elected the first female President of South Korea.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly December 10-16 2012

In a wide ranging speech in Boston, Attorney General Eric Holder recommended that the US should consider automatically registering eligible voters and extending voting hours in response to problems encountered in the November election. A Republican consultant admitted that Voter ID laws and long lines at the polls help Republicans win elections. Over a thousand absentee ballots were rejected in Florida because signatures didn’t match those on file. A New Jersey State Senator describes the State’s experiment with email voting “a complete mess.” Ohio Secretary of State would like the Federal government to fund voting machine replacements. The fate of Pennsylvania’s voter ID legislation may not be settled until next Fall. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has reconsidered his suggestion that the State eliminate same day registration and opposition parties accused the government of rigging Ghana’s presidential election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly December 3-9 2012

Election specialists and computer security experts have written a letter to the President advocating election reform and warning against the adoption of internet voting. Computerworld also wrote about the security concerns surrounding the electronic submission of voted ballots. The New Yorker considered the political obstacles to election reform and NPR wrote about the future of the Voting Rights Act. An Cronkite News Service analysis showed a higher rate of provisional ballots in high minority precincts in Arizona. Florida will investigate election problems in five counties. Software errors in the ES&S Model 650 central count scanner has prompted a statewide recount in Montana. Opposition is growing to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s suggestion of ending same day registration and protests grew in Egypt over a referendum to adopt a new constitution.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly November 26 – December 2 2012

Two bills have been introduced in Congress to address long lines and other problems experienced in the November elections. The security challenges of Internet voting have become an early issue in the 2014 race for California Secretary of State. Former Florida GOP leaders have said that voter suppression was the motivation for changes made to the states election code in 2011. Rutgers Law School has requested information on the processing of email votes in New Jersey. In North Carolina a recount was completed in the last unresolved Congressional election. Democrats have raised concerns about the processing of provisional ballots by the Ohio Secretary of State. Rumors about inflated turnout in Philadelphia precincts are unfounded. In the November Puerto ricans voted in favor of statehood in a non-binding referendum, marking the first time such an initiative garnered a majority. Technical problems interfered with Likud Party primaries in Israel and separatist parties gained a majority of seats in Catalan parliamentary elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly November 19-25 2012

Salon wrote about the curious fact that Election Assistance Commission has no commissioners. The New York Times and The Washington Post called for reforms to make the process of voting easier. The fate of the 1965 Voting Rights Act lies with the Supreme Court. Allen West conceded defeat after a partial recount in his Florida Congressional race and David Rouzer called for a recount in his contest with incumbent North Carolina Rep. Mike McIntyre. Email ballots present difficulties for New Jersey election officials and a citizen jury will determine whether Edmonton Alberta pursues an internet voting system.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly November 12-18 2012

Legislation has been introduced in both Houses of Congress to address problems experienced in the General Election. The Cleveland Plain Dealer surveyed the problems in Ohio. The Supreme Court will take up a challenge to the Voting Rights Act. After completing their initial vote count days after the election, Florida considers changes to their election code. Electronic pollbooks failures were a significant contributor to delays at the polls. A Federal judge criticized the Ohio Secretary of State’s directive on provisional ballots. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania consider changes to address problems experience by voters. Concerns have been raised about the security of internet voting in Canada and Ghana prepares for the potential of violence in the run up to their election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly November 5-11 2012

In his acceptance speech after Tuesday’s election, President Obama acknowledged the difficulties faced by voters in casting their votes. The New York Times and ABC News considered the role that voting machines played in creating those long lines. Indeed, there were again widespread reports of voting machine failures across the nation. The Supreme Court will consider a challenge to a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The Department of Defense pushed for the electronic transmission of voted ballots in spite of recognized security concerns. Some polling places were kept open til after midnight to accomodate all the voters in line. Minnesota voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have required voters to show a photo id at the polling place. New Jersey’s last minute experiment with email voting faced criticism and opposition candidates demanded a recount in Ukraine’s parliamentary elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly October 29 – November 4 2012

Verified Voting Board President Barbara Simons and Mark Halvorson of Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota considered the potential of electoral meltdown is Tuesday’s election forces a recount in States with no software independent record of the vote. TechHive and CNN surveyed the use of electronic voting in the week’s election. Superstorm Sandy presented serious challenges to…

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly Oct. 22-28 2012

The Atlantic Magazine considered the impact of unverifiable electronic voting machines should a razor-thin election like Florida 2000 recur next month. Ars Technica wrote about the nationwide move away from direct recording electronic voting systems and Computerworld stressed the necessity of post election audits of software-generated election results. The Christian Science Monitor identified four battleground States, where electronic voting could put election results at risk. The New Yorker published a profile of Hans von Spakovsky. The Supreme Court will consider an Arizona voter ID requirement that could have implications nationwide. “I Voted” stickers include along with absentee ballots in envelopes mailed to over 230,000 voters in Arapahoe County Colorado could cause optical scanners to incorrectly read valid votes as overvotes and a ballot printing error in Palm Beach County has created a recount-like situation before Election Day. Financial ties connecting Mitt Romney with Hart Intercivic have caused concern. Millions of votes will be cast in Virginia on the WINvote, a touchscreen voting machine manufactured by AVS, a company that went out of business five years ago and Ukrainians head to the polls today in a controversial election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly October 15-21 2012

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly October 8-14 2012

The Verge examined the security concerns surrounding internet voting. The potential for disruptive crowds of observers at some precincts has sparked fears that voters may be intimidated or harassed or have their eligibility to vote challenged directly. Federal courts have blocked voter ID laws in several States but legal battles are likely to continue after the November election. CBS Miami investigated the programming errors that marred a local Palm Beach election that raise fears of another meltdown next month. Security issues were uncovered in online registration systems in Maryland and Washington. Montana’s campaign donation restrictions were reinstated by a Federal appeals court. The dispute over early voting in Ohio has reached the Supreme Court and South Carolina’s Voter ID law has been put on hold until 2013.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly October 1-7 2012

Statistics show that votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth. Mashable considered the security concerns associated with internet voting and CBS Miami investigated the state of electronic voting in next month’s election. Alleged voter registration fraud in several States have again focused attention on GOP operative Nathan Sproul. Iowa Secretary of State Schultz was criticized for using Federal funding in his voter fraud investigation. A Federal Court has ruled that a citizenship checkbox must be removed from Michigan ballots, while a court in Ohio has ordered that in person early voting be available to all voters during the weekend before the election. Pennsylvania’s voter ID requirement was put on hold. A decision on a similar law in South Carolina is expected this week and the incumbent suffered an upset defeat in Georgia’s presidential election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly September 24-30 2012

Researchers at Princeton have released a report surveying the potential for election equipment failure in swing States. Voter registration fraud has been linked to Strategic Allied Consulting, which the RNC and state parties have hired in at least five States. With the wave of new Voter ID laws, there is concern that provisional ballots could create legal battles in close elections. The New York Times reported on the potential for voter harrasment in polling places this November and The Los Angeles Times considered the role that voter suppression has played in American history. A software error cancelled the registrations of hundreds of voters in Colorado. During hearings on Pennsylvania’s voter ID, the judge indicated that much of the controversial law will stand. The AVS WINVote voting machine, used only in Virginia, presents unique security issues because of it’s use of wi-fi. A decision to use electronic voting machines in Belgium has re-kindled controversy and tensions have flared on the eve of Gerogia’s parliamentary elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly September 17-23 2012

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="260"] New York’s Fine Print Ballots[/caption]

USAToday reported on the continuing concern over the accuracy and reliability of America’s aging electronic voting equipment. Early Voting began in several States, while court challenges over controversial voting laws are still pending. Voting rights advocates expressed concern over organized polling place challengers. Secretary of State Scott Gessler is undaunted by the lack of evidence of voter fraud in his quest to purge Colorado’s voter rolls. Similarly Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schulz continues to defend controversial changes in his State’s eligibility rules. New York City voters complained about ballots that are difficult to read. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent a challenge to the State’s Voter ID law back to a lower court. Opposition parties called for a boycott of Belarus parliamentary elections, while Georgia once again experiences cyber attacks in advance of elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly September 10-16 2012

The Wall Street Journal examined concerns about the accuracy and reliability of electronic voting systems to be used this November while Roll Call considered the impact of election law challenges on  the election. Beyond the impact of new voting laws, organized efforts to challenge voters at the polls threaten could effect close contests. The Justice Department approved early voting plans for five Florida counties covered by the Voting Rights Act. Controversial voter registration rules in Iowa could have a chilling effect on new American citizens. Some county clerks in Michigan are resisting the Secretary of State’s demand that voting applications ask voters to affirm their U.S. citizenship. A judge denied the Ohio Secretary of State’s request to block a ruling that all counties must provide in-person early on the weekend before the election. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments in a challenge to the State’s Voter ID law and the Indian Supreme Court heard arguments over voter verified paper audit trail printers.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly September 3-9 2012

While the debate over voter ID requirements in many states continued this week, the Defense Department Inspector General found that many military installations lack offices where soldiers can register to vote. Two and half months before the November election, outside spending has already exceeded the record total from 2008. The Department of Justice accepted Florida’s early voting plan for five counties covered by the Voting Rights Act. A Federal Court has reinstated Nevada’s “none of the above” option and Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has rescinded a directive that had blocked county boards from setting in-person early voting hours on the weekend prior to Election Day. The Fifth Circuit Court granted a stay of a decision that had barred enforcement of a Texas that placed restrictions on voter registration drives and today’s election in Hong Kong marks a step toward universal suffrage in the former British colony.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly Aug. 13-19 2012

Ukraine's Election Web Cameras

The Wall Street Journal reported on security problems associated with online voting. Research resulting in a comprehensive database of incidents of voter fraud found only 10 cases of in-person voter impersonation fraud, the target of sweeping voter id legislation since 2000, a rate of one per 15 million registered voters. Lawrence Norden questions the focus on this rare type of fraud and the lack of concern for voting system security. After a Federal court required expanded early voting the five Florida counties covered by the Voting Rights Act, the State now must come up with an alternate plan that will not face equal protection charges. Early Voting is also an issue in a federal court case in Ohio and a Pennsylvania judge’s decision to leave the State’s voter ID law in tact was immediately appealed to the State Supreme Court. The Vancouver Sun questioned the latest push for internet voting and Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych signed a $125 million bill into law that will install two web cameras in each of Ukraine’s 34,000 polling stations.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly August 6-12 2012

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="260"] Election Protection App Released[/caption]

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights led a coalition of voting rights organizations, including Verified Voting, in releasing an election protection smartphone app. Under pressure from the Department of Justice, Florida released the list of names on it’s ‘voter purge’ list, while everal organizations have sued to block a similar voter purge in Iowa. Four former staffers from Thad McCotter’s office were charged in connection with false nominating petitions. The Minnesota Post recaps the arguments over a Voter ID amendment in the state Supreme Court and The Nation reviews the legal challenge to Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law. USA Today fact-checked claims that the Obama campaign is trying to limit military voting and Canada’s NDP has given up on identifying the perpetrators of a denial of service attack on their online election last Spring.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 30 – August 5 2012

As we approach the November elections, The US Election Assistance Commission remains without a single commissioner. The New York Times considers the role of hyper-partisanship in delaying improvements to voting systems. Constitution Daily considers whether the conflict of Voter ID laws could lead to a constitutional Crisis. The Nation takes a Cartesian look at Voter ID. The Department of Justice has taken steps to block the resumption of Florida’s voter purge. An effort to extend early voting opportunities for all voters has been used as partisan attack in Ohio. After a week of testimony, Pennsylvania expected a decision on the fate of its new Voter ID law in mid August and Romanian President Traian Basescu has survived an impeachment referendum because turnout did not reach the required 50% threshold.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 23-29 2012

A report released this week by Common Cause, Verified Voting and Rutgers University concluded that “voters in jurisdictions without paper ballots or records for every vote cast, including military and overseas votes, do not have the same protections as states that use paper ballot systems.” The report is also critical of State’s that allow the transmission of voted ballots through fax and email. The US Postal Service’s fiscal crisis could effect States that rely largely or entirely on mail ballots. Changes in election rules proposed by Colorado Secretary of State have raised objections from voters and advocacy groups. Florida is once again in the spotlight heading into this November’s election, while Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law faced a legal challenge in the State Supreme Court. Ars Technica considered risk limiting election audits and tens of thousands protested the election results in Mexico.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 16 – 22 2012

Two cases challenging the pre-clearance provisions in Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act have reached the US Supreme Court. The Military Voters Protection Project released a report on efforts made by the States to assist overseas and military voters. GOP opposition prevented Democratic Senators from reviving the DISCLOSE Act. Former Republican Florida Attorney General and Governor and Independent Senate candidate Charlie Crist wrote an editorial on Voter ID for the Washington Post while the battle over current Governor Rick Scott’s voter purge continued. The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments over a proposed State constitutional amendment requiring Voter ID. The National Journal considered the inclusion of an option for “none of the above” on Nevada ballots. An investigation revealed claims of election fraud in the Wisconsin Senate recall and recount to be baseless and the Republic of Congo went to the polls to elect a new parliament amid accusations of fraud and vote rigging.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 9-15 2012

In a case that could undermine parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a Federal court heard arguments in a case challenging the Texas Voter ID law. Slate considered the potential for a repeat of Florida’s election meltdown this November. The sudden resignation of Michigan Congressman Thaddeus McCotter may cost taxpayers $650,000 if a primary is required for the special election to fill his seat. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie came under fire for the title given to a measure of the November ballot. The New York Daily News proposed absentee ballots as a potential for controversy in a close election this November. The recyling that recently purchased Ireland’s un-used electronic voting equipment has donated €10,000 to a children’s charity. Libyans participated in their first nationwide elections in four decades and Mexico’s elections were marred by irregularities and bribery.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 2-8 2012

After the violent overthrow of Muammar Quaddafi last year, Libya holds it’s first elections in over 40 years this weekend. In a decision praised by advocates for American voters abroad, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has agreed not to enforce a requirement for voters requesting absentee ballots to state categorically that they either intend to stay abroad indefinitely or not. Michaigan’s Republican Governor Rick Snyder vetoes three bills that would have placed restrictions on voters and voter registration drives. Rep. Charlie Rangel survived a recount in his New York primary, but his opponent has threatened legal action alleging irregularities. Returning to their previous policy, the Oklahoma Election Board has decided to do all programming in house after a software error marred a special election this Spring. The chief Pennsylvania election administrator says a comparison of registration lists and state Transportation Department records showed 758,939 people don’t have either a driver’s license or an alternative state ID. The Wisconsin recall elections came to a close with the completion of a recount that confirmed the shift in control of the State Senate and Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party was returned to power amid allegations of vote buying, election tampering and calls for a recount.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly June 25 – July 1 2012

Bringing an end to a decade-long saga, Ireland sold it’s fleet of NEDEP voting machines to a recycling company for a mere €9.30 each. In a momentous week of decision for the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court also decided two significant election-related case, blocking Arizona’s requirement for voters to show proof of citizenship beyond what is required on the Federal voter registration card, and strengthening their 2010 Citizens United decision by reversing a decision of the Montana Supreme Court. Both decisions were by 5-4 votes. Colorado election activist Marilyn Marks prevailed in her three-year quest to establish that ballots are open to public inspection. Stating that Federal laws that prohibit systematic removal of voters from voter rolls within 90 days of an election do not refer to non-citizens, a U.S. District Court justice halted a Justice Department attempt to block Florida’s controversial voter purge. Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai asserted that the State’s new Voter ID law will help his party’s nominee to win the State’s electoral votes. The Mitchell South Dakota Daily Republic looked into the checkered history of the ES&S Model 650 central count scanner after a programming error caused problems in the State’s June 5 primary and, after a week-long delay, Egypt’s election commission announced the the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate Mohammed Morsi had won the nation’s first presidential election in over 40 years.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly June 18-24 2012

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="260"] Voting Technology: Current and Future Choices[/caption]

The NCSL Canvass surveyed the past, present and future of voting technology and Scientific American considered the challenges presented by internet voting. The Supreme Court is considering Arizona’s requirement that voter’s provide proof of citizenship. The issue of mailing absentee ballots to voters who failed to vote in recent elections is again an issue in Colorado. The control of the Wisconsin State Senate will be determined by a recount. “The Right to Vote” author Alexandar Kayssar posted an editorial on voter suppression in Harvard Magazine. Tension mounted in Egypt as the announcement of the results of last weekend’s election were delayed while challenges were reviewed and Libya will be the latest of the Arab Spring countries to hold elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly June 11-17 2012

Elections are taking place this weekend in Greece and Egypt that will have significant international impact. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy issued a temporary delay of a Ninth Circuit Court ruling that had suspended an Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship for registering to vote. In dueling litigation related to Governor Scott’s aborted purge of the State’s voter rolls, the Justice Department sued Florida while Florida sued the Department of Homeland Security. With the control of the State Senate at stake, GOP Senator Van Wanggaard has requested a recount of his recall election defeat. The Supreme Court considered whether to take up a case that would challenge their 2010 Citizens United decision and, in a rare unanimous vote, the Federal Election Commission ruled that campaigns could receive text message donations.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly June 4-10 2012

Ion Sancho Joins with Florida Election Officials in Opposing Voter Purge

Reuters considered the challenge presented to the Voting Rights Act by Shelby County v. Holder. Colorado Governor Hickenlooper chose not to veto a bill that establishes limitations on public access to ballots. While Florida Governor Scott has publicly defied the Justice Department, county elections supervisors have refused to continue a controversial purge of the State’s voter rolls. With more voters voting absentee, election officials in California struggled to process the  large numbers of ballots arriving in the mail in Tuesday’s primary election. The Washington Post attempted to explain the sharp discrepancy between exit polls release immediately after the polls closed and those those that were later adjusted to conform with the reported results. France’s online voting portal requires the use of an insecure Java plugin and Egypt and Greece head into sharply divided and consequential elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly May 28 – June 3 2012

Flame – Massive Cyber Threat Uncovered

A Federal judge struck down restrictions on third party voter registration drives that had been signed into law last year on the4 same day that the Justice Department ordered the State to end a controversial purge of the State’s voter rolls. Republican Super PACs plan to spend a record $1 billion this November. Maryland is considering the use of of online ballot marking software in spite of the fact that no such software has been tested and certified to voting system standards. Researchers have identified that highly sophisticated malware, dubbed Flame, designed for cyber espionage has been active since 1010. Two closely watched elections are scheduled for June 5: California’s primary will be the first using a “top two” system that may doom third parties in the State and Wisconsin’s recall election has attracted massive National attention – and funding. After an inconclusive first round, Egypt heads for a divisive run-off pitting an Islamist candidate against a former member of the Mubarak regime, while Lesotho elections were generally peaceful in which ex-foreign minister Tom Thabane forming a coalition government.