The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly July 29 – August 4 2013

zimbabwe2The rush to enact restrictive voting laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act decision and the Justice Department’s decision to challenge those laws reflect fundamental divisions in American society. Attorney General Holder’s move, made under the Voting Rights Act’s “bail in” provision, is risky, both politically and legally but one of the few alternatives to protect minority voters remaining. McCutcheon v. FEC presents another Supreme Court decision on campaign finance. Cash-strapped Colorado counties will not be reimbursed by the state for the expense of unanticipated recall elections. Sweeping changes to North Carolina’s election law have generated criticism nationwide. The fate of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law is in the hands of a Commonwealth Court judge after closing arguments in the landmark voting-rights case Thursday. Bob Delaney, member of the Ontario Parliament, discussed the security concerns involved with internet voting while Zumbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai rejected Wednesday’s presidential election as a sham, warning that the country was headed for a crisis.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – July 22-28 2013

holderIn an aggressive response to last month’s Supreme Court ruling that effectively eliminated the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department announced in intention to challenge election laws in Texas and other States based on other sections of the law. In a rare unanimous decision, the Federal Election Commission ruled that legally married gay couples must be treated in the same manner as opposite-sex couples under election law. Florida’s controversial voter purge will resume in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act. The North Carolina legislature sent a bill to the Governor’s desk that would require voters to present certain types of identification to vote, cut the number of early voting days in half, eliminate same-day registration during early voting and along with many other changes. There was a second week of testimony in the trial challenging Pennsylvania’s voter ID law. A group of IT experts announced their intention to attempt a test attack on Estonia’s e-voting software following the release of the source code two weeks ago and Togo’s long-delayed legislative election were marred by technical issues.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – July 15-21 2013

voterIDHearings on the future of the Voting Rights Act were held in both the Senate and House, while Democratic Congressional leaders called for the revival of the Election Assistance Commission. A student at Cal State San Marcos was sentenced in federal court to a year in prison for hacking an internet election for president of the school’s student council. At least one New Jersey county has indicated that they will force the state to take the county to court over funding of the State’s special election for US Senate. North Carolina Republican introduced a stricter version of their Voter ID proposal that would exclude the use of university-issued IDs. A federal judge has made permanent his earlier order that Ohio must count provisional ballots cast in the right polling place but wrong precinct — so-called right church, wrong pew ballots. Pennsylvania’s voter ID law was back in court last week and Estonia’s release of their internet voting software was the topic of heated debate among IT specialists.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – July 8-14 2013

estoniaThe Boston Globe reported on the ineffectiveness of the Federal Election Commission. With the pre-clearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act rendered moot by last month’s Supreme Court decision, several Southern States have rushed to enact voter id requirements, and to restrict early voting and voter registration, while the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin holding hearings next week on the VRA’s future. In a memo attached to legislation allowing the one-time use of mechanical lever machines in New York City municipal elections, Gov. Andrew Cuomo expressed his misgivings stating he believed “the use of lever voting machines is a poor solution to the Board’s concerns.” A three judge panel in North Carolina approved new voting district boundaries over the objections of voting rights advocates. With one Democrat joining with all Republicans, the Oregon Senate rejected a proposal for universal voter registration in the State by one vote. The Estonian government has published what it claims is the source code used for internet voting elections and a controversial recount is underway in the Mexican State of Baja California.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – July 1-7 2013

egyptThe Supreme Ruling effectively invalidating Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act will force voting rights advocates to rely on Section 2 to challenge election procedures which might impede voters. Section 3 is also being used to challenge redistricting maps in Texas. A bi-partisan pair of Senators are working to eliminate waivers in the MOVE Act of 2009 for states that that fail to mail ballots to military and overseas 45 days before elections. The New Jersey legislature has passed a bill that would consolidate the general election and the special election to replace US Senator Frank Lautenberg. Freed from Federal pre-clearance requirements by the Supreme Court, North Carolina’s GOP-led legislature is poised to establish a voter ID requirement and eliminate in-person early voting. Attorney Steve Hamm presented a report explaining the election meltdown in Richland County South Carolina last November. The Egyptian military removed the country’s first democratically-elected President and vowed to hold new elections later this year, while the Russia government has begun arresting popular opposition leaders ahead of scheduled elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – June 24-30 2013

US-JUSTICE-SUPREME COURT-FILESThe week was dominated by the announcement of several Supreme Court decisions, one of which invalidated Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, effectively eliminating the ‘pre-clearance’ provisions of Section 5. Response to the decisions was swift, with several States announcing decisions to implement voter ID requirements within hours of the ruling. While lawmakers began considering steps to be take to revive Section 5 protections, the prospect for Congressional action is bleak. In addition to voter ID, the release from pre-clearance made the use of lever machines in New York City municipal elections this Fall almost certain and set the stage for a new redistricting battle in Texas. President Obama nominated two new commissioners for the Federal Election Commission and his commission on election reform held its first public hearing in Miami. Testimony presented at the hearing is available here. Protests against the Malaysian Election Commission continued as it was revealed that food coloring had been used instead of indelible ink in the May elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – June 17-23 2013

albania2In a 7-2 decision the US Supreme Court struck down Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship requirement for federal voter registration forms. In an Atlantic editorial Garret Epps considered several of the opinions published by election law experts following the decision. The Court is expected to announce a ruling next week on the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. At an event honoring Frederick Douglas, Vice President Biden advocated full voting rights for citizens of the District of Columbia. Investigation into fraudulent online absentee ballot requests in Florida show how computer programmers are supplementing old-school, block-walking ballot-brokers known as boleteras. Republican county officials are now joining with their Democratic counterparts to question the cost of New Jersey’s special U.S. Senate election. Without a functioning election commission to certify the vote, there are fears of yet another disputed election in Albania after the commission tasked with certifying the vote remained defunct a day before the Balkan country goes to the polls while a reformist-backed cleric won just over 50% of the vote in Iran’s presidential election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly June 10-16 2013

iran2The election commission established by President Obama to address problems encountered during the 2012 election will hold its first public hearing later this month in Miami. A self-described conservative Republican old congressional investigators that he and a local colleague decided to give conservative groups the extra scrutiny that has prompted weeks of political controversy. While voting advocates await a landmark Supreme Court decision in a case challenging the constitutionality of Section of the Voting Rights Act, another decision in a case from Arizona could have broad implications in the debate over voter identification requirements. The Iowa State auditor will investigate Secretary of State Matt Schultz’s use of Federal funds to investigate alleged voter fraud. The New Jersey Supreme Court has fast tracked a case challenging Governor’s Chris Christie’s decision to schedule a special election for US Senate three weeks before the November general election. The New York Times questioned plans to use mechanical lever machines in this Fall’s municipal elections. Estonia’s ruling Reform Party has ejected MEP Kristiina Ojuland for vote rigging in an internet voting election in May and voters in Iran went to the polls to elect a new President.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly for June 3-9 2013

ChristieIn a party-line vote, the Committee on House Administration approved legislation that would eliminate the Election Assistance Commission. The Chief of Staff for Rep. Joe Garcia has been implicated in an absentee ballot fraud scheme in last year’s election. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie faces criticism and at least one lawsuit over his decision to schedule a special election for US Senate on a Wednesday three weeks before the General Election this November. Faced with a tight schedule and the potential of a run-off election, the New York Assembly is considering a bill that would allow the use of State’s mechanical lever voting machines in elections later this year. Ohio Democrats questioned a report from Secretary of State Jon Husted suggesting that there were no incidences of voter suppression in the 2012 election. Wisconsin Republicans have indicated their intention to fast track legislation to require photo identification for polling place voting. The Estonian Prime Minister has drawn a connection in the country’s internet voting fraud scandal with EU Parliament member Kristiina Ojuland and a French news website reported that it was able to cast “fake” votes in France’s first internet election by registering under different names.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly for May 27 – June 2 2013

bhutanA Salon article discussed how the 2010 Citizens United decision created the perception that the rules for 501(c)(3) non-profits had changed. The New York Times editorialized against using mechanical lever machines in municipal elections. On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the National Voter Registration Act, Ohio has made moves to comply with the law’s requirements. Texas Governor called a special legislative session to consider court-ordered boundaries for congressional and legislative districts. Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell announced that he will automatically restore the voting rights of nonviolent felons who have completed their sentences. An appeals court in Wisconsin ruled that a 2012 Voter ID law does not violate the State constitution, though further legal challenges to the law are pending. Bhutan voted in the country’s second ever elections and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has challenged the integrity of last month’s election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – May 20-26 2013

lernerAfter invoking the Fifth Amendment at a Congressional hearing investigating the targeting of conservative groups, Lois Lerner, the head of the IIRS division on tax-exempt organizations, was put on administrative leave. President Obama announced the appointment of the remaining members of his commission on voting. Democratic legislatures in several States have passed laws aimed at expanding voting access. Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill reversing many of the election law changes made in a bill he signed in 2011. A report released by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted showed that out of about 5.63 million votes cast in the 2012 presidential election in his State, there were 135 possible voter-fraud cases, or 0.002397% of the votes cast. Charleston County is considering moving a paper ballot voting system, possibly anticipating a move statewide. Miles Rapoport considered the National Voter Registration Act after 20 years and former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and an ally of current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were barred from running in Iran’s election next month.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly May 13-19 2013

miami_notebooksCongressmen Keith Ellison and Marc Pocan have proposed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote.  The New York Times considered the  campaign finance issues that underlie the actions of the IRS Determination Board that have dominated the news this week. Details of absentee ballot fraud were revealed in the notes of an alleged ballot broker in Miami-Dade County. Takoma Park, Maryland will allow 16 and 17 year old residents to vote in municipal elections. Doug Chapin at Election Academy considered some of the election administration issues involved should a proposal to allow non-citizens to vote in New York City be adopted. Ohio Republicans have proposed that academic institutions that provide identification necessary for students to vote also grant such students in-state tuition. Canada’s Liberal Party held a online primary in spite of criticism from computer security experts and observers reported evidence of voter intimidation and vote rigging in Pakistan’s election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly May 6-12 2013

irs-300x198Lois Lerner, the director of the Internal Revenue Service division that oversees tax-exempt groups apologized to Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations on Friday for what it now says were overzealous audits of their applications for tax-exempt status. Stateline surveyed Democratic legislative efforts across the country to expand early voting, allow same day registration and easing absentee voting restrictions. Some California legislators are promoting internet voting pilots in spite of concerns with integrity and transparency. A contentious election reform bill was signed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed an early voting bill, while election legislation in Ohio drew Democratic opposition. Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has modified her proposal for universal voter registration in an effort to gain bi-partisan support. The Egyptian Administrative Court for the State Council rejected a lawsuit demanding electronic voting and the abandonment of fingerprint registration and thousands rallied in protest of Malaysia’s recent Presidential election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly April 29 – May 3 2013

pol_fec1913__01__630x420With the expiration of Federal Election Commissioner Caroline Hunter’s term on April 30, all the members of the agency that enforces the nation’s campaign laws are now serving expired terms. Michael McDonald considered the demographics of online voter registration. The California Assembly adopted a measure that would allow for an internet voting pilot project. After a raucous floor debate extending beyond midnight, the Colorado Senate sent a contentious election reform package to the Governor, while in Florida a bill rolling back many of the changes made in 2011 passed in the last hours of the legislative session. A Pennsylvania judge has ordered the state to turn over information from its databases of voters and drivers in a case challenging the State’s Voter ID law. A report released by Elections Canada found that more than 165,000 people appear to have voted improperly in the last election and the Malaysian Election Commission denied rumors that the indelible ink used to combat voter fraud was in fact ‘delible.’

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – April 22-28 2013

Electionline reviewed several jurisdictions that are considering voting equipment purchases, this time without the benefit of Federal funding. Legislation calling for all-mail-ballot voting and same day registration advanced in Colorado in spite of Republican opposition, while Voter ID legislation advanced in North Carolina in spite of Democratic opposition. In Ohio, a proposal to require educational institutions to offer in-state tuition to students to whom they provide identification documents for voter registration has met with opposition from universities and voting rights groups. Proposed restrictions on absentee voting led to a tense debate in the Texas House. Russia has levied fines against election watchdog organization Golos and the Venezuelan opposition candidate criticized plans for an audit of this month’s Presidential election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – April 15-21 2013

Spencer Overton considered recent remarks by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia concerning the Voting Rights Act. Partisan disagreements flared over a sweeping election reform bill in Colorado. Culminating a two-year process requiring passage in two consecutive General Assemblies, the Delaware legislature has voted to restore voting rights to non-violent offenders who have completed their sentences. A proposal to require witness signatures on absentee ballots is opposed by county election supervisors who fear it would disenfranchise voters — especially military personnel. Maryland lawmakers and voter advocacy groups were alarmed by State Board of Elections plans to spend up to $1.2 million to hire just five contractors working for nine months as part of the state’s transition from touch-screen voting to paper ballots. Election officials in North Carolina say a proposed Voter ID requirement would cost the State $3.6 Million to implement. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple is expected to sign voter ID legislation sent to him this week. Amid violent protests, Venezuela agreed to an audit of last week’s election, but only after Chavez heir Nicholas Maduro is sworn in as President.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly – April 8-14 2013

A new study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that while long lines weren’t a big issue for most voters, they were a huge issue for some – and those people tended to be African-American or Hispanic and live in urban areas. The Federal Election Commission will soon have a dubious distinction: as of April 30, all five of its remaining commissioners will be serving expired terms. Colorado Democrats introduced sweeping election reform legislation that met with sharp criticism from Republicans. Proposed rules for absentee ballot witnesses in Florida were met with disapproval from election officials. The use of State funds in a voting rights lawsuit has raised questions in Montana. Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has proposed automatic voter registration and concern about costs and security have slowed efforts to introduce inter voting in New Zealand and Pakistan.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly April 1-7 2013

Voter ID requirements were signed into law in Arkansas and Virginia and bills passed legislatures in North Carolina and North Dakota. The Supreme declined to hear a challenge to the practice of counting non-citizens for purposes of re-districting. Politico surveyed the adoption of online voter registration in States across the country. After a bipartisan honeymoon, political tensions came to a head as election laws changes are considered in the Florida legislature. Hinds County MS will switch to an optical scan voting system, leaving Virginia as the only State still using the AVS WINVote DRE. The ongoing costs of maintaining electronic voting systems were highlighted in Lawrence County PA. Malaysia’s Prime Minister dissolved the parliament setting up a contentious election that could end the National Front’s 57 year rule and Venezuela’s approaches an election under the shadow of Hugo Chavez.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly March 25-31 2013

Following up on a pledge in his State of the Union address, President Obama established a commission to address voting issues arising from last November’s election. The New American observed that the cyberattack on Florida’s primary was not the first documented attempt to hack an American election. The Canvass called for more accurate election data. The Arkansas Senate voted to override Governor Mike Beebe’s veto of the State’s Voter ID law. In Iowa, new regulations allowing election officials to remove people from voter registration lists if their citizenship is questioned that took effect this week have been challenged by voting rights advocates. A bill aimed at easing voting for military and overseas voters was passed without specific provisions for allowing the electronic transmission of voted ballots, but the provision will be considered by a legislative task force. Governor McDonnell signed a law restricting the forms of ID allowed for voting in Virginia and the incumbent Kenyan President charged that technology failures led to fraud in elections earlier this month.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly March 18-24 2013

A cyberattack on absentee voting in Miami Dade County offers a glimpse of vulnerabilities posed by the use of the internet in elections. The Supreme Court hears arguments in another voting rights case. Verified Voting President Pamela Smith considered security issues around internet voting and safer options for easing the burdens faced by military and overseas voters as lawmakers in Kentucky consider the wisdom of allowing the electronic submission of voted ballots. The widespread use of electronic pollbooks also presents security concerns. The Oregon Secretary of State’s proposal for universal voter registration meets with opposition in the state legislature. The Fairfax County Election Commission recommended a transition to a paper ballot voting system and a report from the state-run Governance and Problem Analysis Center claims that last year’s elections were rigged in favor of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly March 11-17 2013

A study by researchers at the University of Chicago and Washington University finds that young people – and especially young minorities – are disproportionately affected by voter ID laws. The Inspector General report found the Justice Department’s voting rights section mired in deep ideological polarization and distrust, in some cases harming its ability to function over the past two administrations. The New York Times advocated universal voter registration. While more attention has been paid to the recent Supreme Court oral arguments in the case challenging Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, a case from Arizona, to be heard Monday, also could have significant ramifications for voting rights and election administration. The debate over voter ID heats up in North Carolina. Quartz notes that electronic voting technology has been adopted in the developing world with mixed results while the US and Europe have returned to paper ballot systems. Alberta has abandoned plans for internet voting in municipal elections and the incumbent Kenyan President has challenged the results of last week’s election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly for March 3-10 2013

The Election Assistance Commission and NIST held a conference on the future of voting technology that included a presentation of California’s proposed development of public voting equipment. Facing South surveyed the renewed efforts in State legislatures to pass voter ID requirements. The New Yorker reviewed the history of the Voting Rights Act after contentious oral arguments in the Supreme Court last week. The Florida House passed sweeping election law changes, many of which reverse changes made prior to the 2012 election. The Maryland Board of Elections has proposed new ways of delaying the implementation of the State’s 2010 deadline to abandon touchscreen voting equipment, while New Jersey’s even older direct recording electronic equipment was the subject of a continuing lawsuit. Italy remains without a government two weeks after an inconclusive election and Kenya’s elections were marred by tabulation software errors.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 25 – March 3 2013

The Voting News was dominated this week by the oral arguments in the Supreme Court in Shelby County Alabama’s challenge to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Comments from conservative members of the court, particularly those of Justice Scalia prompted several editorial responses. All the articles related to the Voting Rights Act can be read here. Lawmakers in California and Kentucky grappled with security concerns surrounding internet voting. A different sort of cyber attack resulted in phantom absentee ballots in Florida and Maryland’s proposed online ballot marking system was demonstrated to be vulnerable. Ohio’s Secretary of State Jon Husted promoted online registration while making clear that the concept of internet voting was “far off in the future.” Italy’s inconclusive election left the country deadlocked with ramifications felt throughout Europe and tension is building ahead of Kenya’s elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 18-24 2013

The Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in cases challenging the Voting Rights Act and limits on campaign donations. Andrew Cohen reviewed the legacy of the Voting Rights Act since it’s passage in 1965. Congressman Rush Holt observed in an op/ed piece that the security issues with Internet voting are inherently in tension with the other requirements we have for good elections. Such security concerns led a Kentucky State Senate committee to de-rail plans to allow overseas military voters to cast ballots through the internet. Virginia lawmakers passed a bill limiting the forms of identification voters can use at the polls. The New York Times wrote about political amnesia in Kenya and computer security expert Bruce Schneier considered the upcoming papal election.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 11-17 2013

Computer experts and advocates from the Verified Voting Advisory Board issued a statement on the dangers of Internet Voting. President Obama proposed a bipartisan commission to tackle problems that arose in November’s elections. The proposal met with resistance from both sides of the political spectrum and generated several thoughtful commentaries. The Election Protection Coalition released a report detailing issues faced by voters last November and the New York Times editorialized in favor of voter registration modernization. The Florida legislature reversed some of the controversial election law changes it had passed in 2011. The incoming election official in Luzerne County Pennsylvania revealed that the county has paid $45,000 to ES&S for unused ballot design software raising the issue of single-source vendor contracts. Armenians go to the polls under the cloud of an assassination attempt on one of the Presidential candidates and Iran began to clamp down on digital media in advance of elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly February 4-10 2013

Plans to change the method of allocating electoral votes in certain swing states have stalled at least for now. A report from the Pew Charitable Trusts identified widespread flaws in the US electoral system. The Nation questioned conservative efforts to undermine the Voting Rights Act and Election Academy considered the potential impact of reduced postal service announced this week on elections, particularly in all mail ballot States Oregon and Washington. The Florida Secretary of State released a set of recommendations in response to problems encountered in November. For the second time in a week a Republican has intervened to thwart legislative efforts that would favor their own party, in this case a controversial redistricting plan. Armenia’s elections remain in limbo after an assassination attempt against one of the Presidential candidates and, based on cost and security concerns, Edmonton has decided against an internet voting proposal.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 28 – February 3 2013

Reuters has posted a series of editorials by Election Law specialists on the upcoming Supreme Court debate on the future of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and the Edmonton Journal weighed in on Internet voting proposals in Alberta. The Nation considered the voting challenges facing Native Americans. Federal efforts aimed at easing the burden on overseas and military voters have been very successful in November’s election according to the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Political roadblocks have slowed plans to alter the allocation of electoral votes in several swing States. Legislation has been introduced in Indiana to eliminate direct recording electronic voting systems after 2015. The Virginia legislature has moved several election related bills and elections in Armenia may be delayed after an assasination attempt against one of the Presidential candidates.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 21-27 2013

Plans by Republican legislators in some States to change their method of allocating electoral votes were considered in articles by The Week and Slate. In his inaugural address, President Obama reiterated his concern over electoral failures in November’s election leading to renewed calls for Federal election reform. State election officials expressed concern over the perception of widespread voter fraud. Plans to allow the electronic transfer of voted ballots in Kentucky sparked criticism from voting security experts. The Virginia Senate took advantage of the attendance of a Richmond Senator and civil rights leader at the inauguration ceremonies to pass a controversial redistricting proposal and Middle East neighbors Israel and Jordan held parliamentary elections.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 14-20 2013

Election experts discussed how poor ballot design could have created another election meltdown in 2012. Republicans consider election law changes that could tilt the 2016 election and a Salon article opined that winner-take-all single member districts contribute to gridlock and lack of representation in Congress. President Obama plans to equip his Inauguration Day limos with license plates reading “Taxation Without Representation,” a reference to the District of Columbia’s lack of a proxy in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Florida Governor Rick Scott now wants to change the election laws he championed in 2011. South Carolina spent over $3.5 million challenging the Department of Justice over the State’s controversial voter ID law. The Virginia legislature blocked efforts to expand absentee and early voting and the battle over same day registration continued in Wisconsin.

The Voting News Weekly: The Voting News Weekly January 7-13 2013

Jeffrey Toobin reviewed the impact of changes made to State election codes before the 2012 election. Reuters considered the political risks of challenges to the Voting Rights Act and Richard Hasen considered the implications should key provisions of the law be struck down. Lawmakers in Florida have introduced several bills that would reinstate longer early voting periods. The EAC Inspector General is investigating the Iowa Secretary of state’s use of Federal funds to investigate and prosecute potential illegal voters. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has called for the automatic restoration of voting rights for nonviolent felons. A government report in Australia detailed the obstacles facing proposals for internet voting and in the Czech Republic voters participated in the country’s first direct Presidential election.