The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly May 21-27 2012

Debate Over the Voting Rights Act

Panelists at a conference in Washington DC expressed concerns about the security of internet voting. Colorlines considered the growing debate over the Voting Rights Act and the Brennan Center blogged about efforts to address the effects of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Egypt is headed for a divisive run-off election between The Muslim Brotherhood candidate and a former member of Hosni Mubarak’s government. Election officials and voting rights groups criticized Governor Rick Scott’s efforts to purge Florida’s voter rolls ahead of the November election. The Fort Worth Star Telegram examined the issues surrounding Texas’ Voter ID law. The Anchorage Assembly certified the results of an election recount while denying an opportunity for public comment and Wisconsin’s Governor Walker suggested that voter fraud could account for “2 or 3 points” in the upcoming recall election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly May 14-20 2012

Two election-related lawsuits appear destined for Supreme Court review.The DC Circuit Appeals Court upheld Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in a case brought by Shelby County Alabama and the 4th Circuit Court heard arguments over the constitutionality of a Virginia ban on corporate campaign contributions. On Thursday, Congressional Democratic leaders introduced a sweeping election reform bill, The Voter Empowerment Act. After no candidate met the threshold of support to qualify, Americans Elect suspended their online primary. At their annual meeting, Florida county election administrators expressed skepticism at the State’s recent effort to purge thousands of voters believed to be illegal immigrants from the voter rolls. In an effort to avoid a referendum that could energize political opponents this November, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill repealing controversial changes to the State’s election code that had been enacted last year. Suits and counter-suits have left the status of Texas’ Voter ID requirements in limbo and voters in Greece will return to the polls after negotiations to form a new government failed.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – May 7-13 2012

Electronic Voting in 2012

Marketplace notes that for the most part, that in 2012 Americans will vote on the same electronic voting machines that have caused problems over the past decades. With a dramatic speech in a late night Congressional session, civil rights icon John Lewis shamed his fellow Georgia Congressman into pulling a proposed amendment to defund enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The New York State and City Boards of Elections and ES&S released reports showing that a defect in the DS200 digital scanner – and not voter error – had been responsible for unusually high rates of  overvotes in the South Bronx in 2010. In an ongoing series on election issues, the Palm Beach Post examines the ineffectiveness of State oversight in ensuring the integrity of Florida’s elections. Having cancelled two internet voting caucuses for lack of interest, serious questions have emerged regarding the viability of Americans Elect. Following Stephen Colbert’s example, several watchdog groups are forming SuperPACs to fight SuperPACs. The Economist described the cynicism leading up to Algeria’s elections this week and Forbes considered the ramifications the elections held in several European countries last weekend.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – April 23-29 2012

A Bern University study concluded that Switzerland’s limited internet voting lacks transparency and is vulnerable to attack by malevolent software. In spite of similar concerns, Elections Canada continues plans to implement internet voting in 2015. In a case arising from a Nevada recount, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled that individuals have no private right of action under Section 301 on the Help America Vote Act. Three after an election marred by ballot shortages and chain of custody violations, the Anchorage Assembly has still not certified election results. A District Court has ruled that election records in Jefferson County Colorado are open to public review. Third party voter registration groups are coping with restrictions imposed by a new Florida law. Janai Nelson considers the prominence of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act in cases involving State laws restricting voting in light of a recent court decision regarding Arizona’s requirement that voters show proof of citizenship and Myrna Perez writes about the continuing importance of the Voting Rights Act.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly April 16-22 2012

In spite of pressure to abandon proportional allocation of delegates, the Republican National Committee rejected proposed changes for their 2016 nomination process. State voter ID requirements were discussed in a House Judiciary Committee hearing. In a case that is likely to be appealed to the US Supreme Court, the 9th District Court of Appeals upheld Arizona’s voter ID law but struck down the State’s requirement that residents show proof of citizenship, at least on federal registration forms. The controversy surrounding municipal elections in Anchorage AK stretched into its third week and a razor-thin State House race in Oklahoma headed to the State Supreme Court for resolution. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board ruled that six Republican “protest” candidates can run as Democrats forcing primaries in all the upcoming recall elections. The Estonian Parliament is exploring measures to address security challenges presented by internet voting and Egypt’s election commission has disqualified 10 Presidential candidates, including three considered to be front-runners.

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

Disputed Vote Tally in Oklahoma

Former FEC commissioner Trevor Potter explained misunderstandings about SuperPACS in a Washington Post editorial. Ballot shortages in a local election in Alaska have led to protests and an investigation, while the importance of every vote was highlighted in a razor-thin special election for the Oklahoma House. Rick Hasen commented on the marathon of elections in Wisconsin that will culminate in the June 5 recall election for Governor. Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell angered some in his own party by offering a series of amendments that rendered the State’s new voter id legislation moot. A recent District Court decision and the anticipated inaction by a deadlocked FEC have left political players uncertain about disclosure requirements. TechPinions considered the security concerns that stand in the way of a trustworthy internet voting system and Janai Nelson surveyed the many significant elections taking place in Africa in 2012.

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

Democracy in Berma

The Australian publication The Age and Reuters provided international perspectives on two key issues affecting the 2012 US elections: spending by SuperPACS and Voter ID requirements. The New York Times considered a recent ruling that will result in more disclosure of campaign spending by nonprofits. A constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID at the polling place will be on the ballot this November in Minnesota. Computerworld looked at the miscounted votes in a recent local election in Palm Beach County. A DHS official warned that Internet voting is not ready for live elections – a reality reinforced by the recent NDP leadership contest in Canada – and Burma celebrated the electoral victory of former political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi.

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

Internet Voting Would Put Soldier’s Votes at Risk

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

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

Internet voting for the leadership on Canada’s New Democratic Party and mock elections Hong Kong’s chief executive fell victim to cyber-attacks. Dominion voting Systems acknowledged that known errors in their tabulation software caused the wrong winners in a city council race in Palm Beach County. In a straight party-line vote, the Minnesota Senate passed an amendment that would require voters to show a photo ID in order to vote. The amendment will appear on the November ballot if it withstands promised court challenges. The Illinois primary was marred by printing errors that left ballots too wide to be processed by optical scanners. Malian soldiers have overthrown the government of President Amadou Toumani Toure just two weeks before scheduled elections. New research from Pew suggests that HAVA’s approach to accommodating voters with disabilities has been unsuccessful and a former IMF chief economist warns of the threat of SuperPACS to US economic stability.

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

With more confusion at the latest round of caucuses in Missouri, 2012 continues to be the year of the caucus meltdown. Andrew Cohen surveyed the raft of new voter ID laws and Doug Chapin considered the dilemma faced by St. charles County MO is upgrading their voting systems. Voter ID laws were blocked in Texas, by the Department of Justice and in Wisconsin by two courts even as Pennsylvania Governor Corbett signed a law creating similar restrictions on voting. Rick Hasen suggests that the Texas decision could be headed to the Supreme Court. And while initial reported results appeared to give the right wing ARENA party a narrow victory over the currently ruling FMLN, a lack of transparency in vote counting procedures has cast doubts on the integrity of the outcome.

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

Questions remain about the use of computers to count votes in the United States even as Minnesota Secretary of State proposed a technological solution to concerns about voter fraud. The US Postal Service announced that it would suspend planned closure of facilities in response to concerns about the processing of absentee ballots. Techdirt provided details of the hack of DC’s proposed internet voting system. A judge in Wisconsin granted a temporary injunction of Wisconsin’s voter ID requirement. The Canadian election authority has widened its probe of deceptive robo-calls in the 2011 election. El Salvador goes to the polls in a test of the former guerrilla organization FMLN’s legislative program and allegations of election fraud abound in Russia following the election of Vladimir Putin.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 27 – March 4 2012

Computerworld reported on discussions of internet voting at the RSA computer security conference. Doug Chapin observed that while the latest felony voter fraud stunt (this time in New Mexico) was possible in was nevertheless still wrong. PolitiFact Florida determined that Stephen Colbert’s observation that shark attacks are more common than voter fraud was “mostly true.” Advocates for Latino voting rights criticized redistricting maps drawn by a Federal court. The majority Tory Party in Canada was implicated in robocall scheme aimed at suppressing voter turnout in Ontario. With all genuine opposition to the Supreme Council banished, different conservative factions vied in Iran’s Presidential election, while Valdimir Putin is expected to win re-election in an election widely perceived by many Russians and outside observers as unfair and Senegal is headed for a run-off after no candidates received a majority of the vote in their Presidential election.

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

Deal or No Deal in Texas?

A series of lawsuits have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the pre-clearance provisions of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Jonathan Brater offered a defense of Section 5 in the Boston Review. With a primary scheduled for April, a judicial panel in Texas rushed to find a settlement on redistricting maps. Ohio Republicans plan to repeal changes to the election code they passed last year. A Wisconsin judge declined to block the State’s Voter Id ;aw but set a trial debate to hear arguments. After Charlie White’s removal from office as a result of his conviction for voter fraud, the battle over his replacement moves to the State supreme Court. Senegal’s President began his controversial bid for a third term and Yemen prepares for an election to choose Ali Abdullah Saleh’s successor.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 30 – February 5 2012

The UK Guardian asked computer security experts for their opinion on the Motion Picture Academy’s plans for online voting. Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White was convicted of voter fraud, perjury and other counts. Iowa GOP chair Matt Strawn resigned as part of the fallout from the Iowa caucus meltdown that has brought fresh scrutiny on the caucus process. Negotiations to resolve Texas redistricting maps threatens another delay in the State’s primary. The suspension of the Election Assistance Commission’s Standards and Advisory Boards has met with resistance from election officials. A study by the Wesleyan Media Group shows that over half the ads run thus far in the 2012 Presidential election campaign have been funded by Super PACs and Foreign Policy posted an essay on the turmoil surrounding Senegal’s upcoming election.

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

Elizabeth Drew’s essay in the New York Review of Books considers the impact of Citizens United and new laws restricting registration and voting on the 2012 elections. At the Overseas Voter Foundation’s annual summit, Pew released a report on improvements for overseas and military voters. The New York Times examined Shelby County Alabama’s challenge to the Voting Rights Act and Samuel Issacharoff wrote about the Supreme Court’s Texas redistricting decision. In an election dominated by issues of transparency and public oversight of election administration, voters in Saguache County Colorado voted overwhelmingly to recall the county’s election chief. Election administration failures in Iowa may threaten the first-in-the-nation status of the State’s caucuses. In a referendum, Croatian voters chose to proceed with membership in the European Union and Ireland seeks to put an end to an expensive experiment with electronic voting.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 16-22 2012

On the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, Steven Rosenfeld considers the legal hurdles faced by opponents of the ruling. The Supreme Court rejected Texas redistricting maps that had been drawn by a State court and also heard arguments in an Alabama challenge to the Voting Rights Act. After a recount marred by incomplete returns from 8 counties, the Iowa Republican party announced that Rick Santorum had won the non-binding caucus earlier this month. Opponents of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker submitted over one million petition signatures – almost twice the amount required – to force a recall election for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and four Republican State Senators. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged to protect voting rights at an event commemorating Martin Luther King Day. Social media played a large role in informing Chinese citizens about the democratic process in Taiwan’s elections over the weekend and Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections were denounced as undemocratic by observers.

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

Faux news anchor Stephen Colbert handed over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart, in his ongoing campaign to highlight the impact of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Rick Perry and four other other candidates who failed to meet ballot access requirements for the Virginia primary lost their appeal in court. Doug Chapin blogged about risk-limiting audits. Facing South reviewed the impact of challenges to Voter ID laws on the Voting Rights Act. Controversy heated up over the Indian Election Commission’s decision to drape statues of elephants, the symbol for Chief Minister Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. Finance Minister’s off-hand comment in announcing the government’s decision to finally dispose of NEDAP voting machines provoked a spirited reaction in Ireland’s pubs. Americans Elect wants to trust the Internet to choose Presidential candidates. Scientific American compared voting technology in the first two primaries and the Supreme Court upheld the ban on Foreign contributions to Federal candidates and heard arguments in a challenge to Texas redistricting.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly January 2-8 2012

Computerworld examined the recent report from the Election Assistance Commission that uncovered multiple faults with the ES&S DS200 digital scan voting system. Texas’s redistricting will be addressed by the US Supreme Court. Thanks to the transparency of precinct hand-counting of paper ballots, a Iowa caucus-goer revealed what may be a outcome-changing typo in the tallies from one precinct. The South Carolina GOP is still a $500,000 short of the funds necessary to administer this month’s Presidential primary. The Montana Supreme Court has defied the US Supreme Court decision in FEC vs. Citizens United by upholding the State’s ban on corporate campaign contributions. Edward Foley posted a preview of the election year that has just begun. American Prospect posted a profile of lawyer James Bopp and his career of crusading against limitations on campaign funding. Cuyahoga County’s use of risk-limiting audits and other security measures was praised by the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Virginia Attorney General has decided not to intervene in the case surrounding ballot access for the State’s primary next month.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly December 26 2011 – January 1 2012

As we open a new year, Fareed Zakaria noted the many significant elections scheduled across the world in the coming year. Hackers have threatened to disrupt this week’s Iowa Caucuses. Rick Perry files a lawsuit after he failed to submit sufficient signatures to meet ballot access requirements for the Virginia primary. The Montana Supreme Court upheld the State’s ban on corporation spending on political campaigns, while the Indiana Supreme Court upheld a ban on robo-calls. The New York Times surveyed laws passed in 2011 that could make it difficult for students to vote. Jeffrey Toobin consider Attorney General Eric Holder’s legacy after the Department of Justice blocked South Carolina’s Voter ID law and Joshua Spivak considered the causes for the many recall elections over the past year.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly – December 19-25 2011

In a decision with significant ramifications on the 2012 election and could lead to a Supreme Court challenge of Section of the Voting Rights Act, the Department of Justice blocked South Carolina’s Voter ID law. Following a 16 month investigation, The Election Assistance Commission found serious defects in the ES&S DS200 digital scanner used in 2010 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Five of the seven leading candidates for the Republican presidential nominations have failed to meet ballot access requirements for the Virginia primary. A judge in Indiana has ruled that Secretary of State Charlie White was ineligible to run for the office in 2010 due to his inaccurate voter registration and ordered him removed from office pending review by the State’s Recount Commission. Concerns have been raised by a video has circulated suggesting the possibility that results from next months Iowa caucuses could be hacked. Tens of thousands protested election fraud in Russia and accusation of vote-rigging and ballot abuse fueled opposition in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Egypt.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly – December 13-18 2011

Opposition supporters demonstrate in Kinshasa

The Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case challenging redistricting plans in Texas has brought preparations for the State’s March primary on hold. A hearing will be held to settle a dispute over custody of voting machines under investigation in Horry County, South Carolina. Following the conviction of an aide to former Governor Robert Ehrlich in Maryland prompted the introduction of a bill to prohibit deceptive election practices. Attorney General Eric Holder indicated in a speech that the Department of Justice would be addressing the wave of restrictive election laws passed in several State legislatures. The United Nations and the Carter Center have expressed concern over vote rigging and fraud in the Congo elections. The New York times reported on details of election fraud tactics provided by a Russian election official. An initial report from a forensic review of ES&S iVotronics used in Venango County Pennsylvania showed that the central tabulators were accessed remotely on multiple occasions and Doug Chapin discussed the future of the embattled Election Assistance Commission.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly December 5-11 2011

A week after the US House voted to eliminate the Election Assistance Commissioners the remaining two Commissioners resigned and the acting Executive Director and Counsel were reassigned leaving what Rep. Gregg Harper calls a “Zombie Agency.” The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case related to Texas redistricting. Widespread accounts of election fraud led to protests and violonce in the Congo and in Russia. The Colorado Secretary of State wants to weaken voting system security. Errors on Sequoia Edge electronic voting machines have forced a recount in New Jersey. A aide to former MAryland Governor Robert Ehrlich was convicted of election fraud and a community leader in Wisconsin won’t be able to vote for the first time in 60 years because of the state’s new id requirements.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly – Nov. 28 – Dec. 4 2011

The House voted to terminate the Election Assistance Commission though the legislation is unlikely to move in the Senate. The bi-partisan Board of Elections of Vanango County Pennsylvania were dismissed as their forensic audit of the county’s ES&S iVotronic voting machines neared completion. The debate over ballot transparency continued in Colorado. A trial into alleged election dirty tricks got under way in Maryland. The state Attorney General determined that attempts to require voter ID in some, but not al, counties was unconstitutional. Islamists appear to have won a majority in Egypt’s first post-revolution elections. The victory of anti-corruption crusader Alia Dzhioyeva was annulled by the separatist province’s government. The Vancouver Sun pointed out the inherent lack of transparency of internet voting and violence erupted heading into this weekend’s election in Congo.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly November 21-27 2011

Election were held amid protests and violence in Morocco and Egypt. An election recount for a Provo Utah city council race reveals errors that may have been caused by election management software. Opponents of a new election law in Ohio have succeeded in gathering sufficient petition signatures to place the measure on the 2012 ballot. The South Carolina Supreme Court voted to require counties to provide voting equipment, staff, and polling locations for party primaries. In the face of concerns about privacy and security British Colombia election officials continue to lobby for internet voting pilot projects. The Los Angeles Times investigated Americans Elect and supporters of the effort to recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker have received death threats.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly November 14-20 2011

The New York Times commented on a law requiring voter ID at the polls approved by voters in Mississippi. Mother Jones investigated the secrecy surrounding Americans Elect. The Department of Justice delayed a Texas voter ID law. Oregon experimented with iPads to facilitate voting for voters with disabilities despite security concerns. Demos considered difficulties faced by mobile young voters. With election day voting restored by a citizens’ veto, Maine Republicans are now pushing a voter ID law. The Kazahkstan President dissolved the parliament and called snap elections and elections in South Ossetia went to a run-off after none of the 11 candidates managed to top the 50 per cent of the vote required by law.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly November 7-13 20011

CNN featured an editorial considering voting rights controversy and security challenges of the 2012 elections. Rick Hasen raised concerns about lack of transparency and security vulnerability of Americans Elect. Voters in Maine restored election day registration while voters in Mississippi approved a proposal to require photo ID for voting. Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf prevailed in a run-off election marred by violence and claims of vote fraud. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and CNN considered the security risks of internet voting and Time Magazine reflected on changes in Florida’s election laws aimed at making voter registration drives more burdensome.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly October 31-November 6 2011

David Jefferson answered the question “If I can shop and bank online, why can’t I vote online?” Congressman John Lewis compared Voter ID laws to a poll tax while Hose Democrats called on Secretaries of State to oppose those ID laws. The UK Guardian offered an international perspective on the GOP’s efforts to change state voting laws. Student IDs cannot be used as identification for voting in Tennessee. Microsoft Research proposed a crytographic hash as a security measure as a countermeasure against “trash attack” on voting systems and Egypt prepares for the country’s first post-revolution election and vot­ers in Kyr­gyzs­tan voted Sun­day in a closely watched pres­i­den­tial elec­tion.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly October 24-30 2011

Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill hosted a panel discussion on online voting that included numerous computer security experts. Anomalies in a Democratic County Committee election have exposed the unreliability and insecurity of electronic voting systems. The South Carolina League of Women Voters is fighting to replace the state’s touchscreen voting machines. An 86-year-old World War II veteran was forced to pay for his “free” voter ID in Tennessee. The South Korean Election Commission was hit with a cyber attack during a municipal election. McCleans posted an editorial on proposed internet voting in Canada. Los Angeles County recorder/auditor Dean Logan has teamed with California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to survey more than 1,000 voters, more than 1,000 poll workers, 26 city clerks from across the county and 64 staffers in Logan’s office about the county’s voting system overhaul. Thou­sands demon­strated in Morocco call­ing for a boy­cott of early par­lia­men­tary polls next month whose out­come will be key to the future of reforms crafted by the royal palace while Tunisia held the first election resulting from the “Arab Spring.”

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly October 17-23 2011

The Colorado County Clerks Association objected to a court ruled that voted ballots are public documents. The League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s voter ID law. Slate Magazine suggested that proponents of such laws should consider the legacy of laws restricting access to the polls. Charlie White’s request for a special prosecutor to investigate former US Senator Evan Bayh for voter fraud was denied. Tunisians went to the polls this week in the first elections resulting from the “Arab Spring.” Budget woes in California have threatened funding for vote-by-mail. The Federal Voting Assistance Program released a report on military voting in the 2010 election – the first since the passage of the Military Voting Empowerment Act of 2009. The Brennan Center wrote about efforts to restrict voting in Maine. Liberia’s presidential election heads for a run-off after no candidate received the required 50% of the vote.

The Voting News Weekly: TVN Weekly October 3-9 2011

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="260" caption="Dorothy Cooper can't get a Voter ID"][/caption]

A District Court in Colorado ruled that Denver Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson may send ballots to inactive voters. The Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers sent a letter to 200 students suggesting that they need to register their vehicles in the State in order to vote. Republican legislatures in Pennsylvania and Nebraska are considering opposite changes to how’s electoral votes are allocated. The forensic exam of Vennango County Pennsylvania’s ES&S iVotronic voting machines. Though she has voted in every election but one since Roosevelt was President, 96 year old Dorothy Cooper was denied a voter ID by the DMV in Tennessee. The Supreme Court has thrown out a ruling that could have halted the use of RS&S iVotronic.