A local project that uncovered a fatal flaw in Humboldt County’s old elections system just got some national recognition that may ultimately lead to its becoming the standard rather than the exception.
The federal Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) officially notified the Humboldt County Elections Office this week that it was receiving a $25,000 grant to fund and augment the Humboldt County Election Transparency Project so it can be replicated in… Read More
Wisconsin: Election officials wary as Walker signs Wisconsin voter ID bill into law
Election officials across Wisconsin are bracing for a difficult transition as the state rushes into place new rules for voting signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker Wednesday — including a controversial measure requiring voters to use photo IDs.
Passage of the controversial law, which has been discussed by Republicans for more than a decade, means those charged with enforcing it have just under two months to develop and implement… Read More
Republicans on the Committee on House Administration have voted to eliminate the independent commission that was established to address election problems after the contested 2000 presidential contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, has disbursed more than $3 billion in “requirements” payments to states to update voting machines and enhance election administration. But the commission… Read More
National: GOP Seeks Savings in Phasing Out Election Assistance Commission | Roll Call News
An effort by House Republicans to close the Election Assistance Commission cleared its first obstacle Wednesday. After some limited Democratic opposition, the House Administration Committee approved a bill that would remove funding from the EAC and transfer much of its responsibilities to the Federal Election Commission.
The bill, which was approved by voice vote, is expected to receive a vote on the House floor next month, and Republicans are optimistic of… Read More
Minnesota: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie: Voter ID Turns a Right into a Privilege | The UpTake
I believe that the Governor should follow-through on his promise to veto any election legislation that lacks broad bi-partisan support and should take a stand to protect the right to vote.
At a first glance, the requirement asking eligible voters to show a government-issued photo ID before being allowed to vote seems reasonable. After all, most Minnesotans have a photo ID. So what’s the big deal? The big deal is… Read More
South Carolina: Opponents of New South Carolina Voter ID Law Take Fight to the Feds | Free Times
When Republican Gov. Nikki Haley strode out to the podium as The Black Eyed Peas song “I Gotta Feeling” pumped through a PA system in the background and her entourage began a slow, rolling clap, clap, clap before she sat down to sign perhaps one of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation, it certainly raised some eyebrows in the packed State House lobby.
“They are disenfranchising voters to… Read More
Kenya: Parliament backs motion on electronic voting in Kenya | Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Parliament has Wednesday given the nod to compel the executive facilitate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission develop a modern electronic system. The system will legalize electronic voter registration in all polling stations in the country up to the national level in readiness for electronic voting come 2012.
The motion sponsored by Karachuonyo MP Eng. James Rege, unanimously received the backing of parliamentarians who termed the current manual system of collection, collation, transmission… Read More
The Election Commission (EC) is set to introduce electronic voting machines (EVM) in the coming general elections to stop malpractices during polling but the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has already rejected the plan.
Despite BNP’s rejection, the Election Commission will start a series of dialogues with registered political parties on June 7 to take their opinions on introduction of electronic voting machine and… Read More
Wisconsin: Wisconsin governor signs controversial voter ID law | Reuters
The Republican governor of Wisconsin signed a bill on Wednesday that will require voters in the state to show photo identification when they go to the polls.
The measure, which Democrats characterize as a voter suppression effort but Republicans defend as a protection against fraud at the polls, will take partial effect just as nine state senators — including six of Governor Scott Walker’s Republican allies — face recall challenges… Read More
Wisconsin: Voter ID law could cause headaches in Wisconsin | Wausau Daily Herald
Senior citizens who don’t drive and University of Wisconsin students who depend on their student IDs to vote are among those who could be turned away from the polls on election days.
Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday signed into law a bill requiring voters to show some form of photo identification — such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, military or tribal ID or passport — before they can… Read More
Wisconsin: Voter ID Law Could Bring Confusion To Wisconsin Voters | WISN Milwaukee
Wisconsin voters will be required to show identification at the polls before casting a ballot. Gov. Scott Walker signed the voter ID bill into law on Wednesday.
… The Government Accountability Board is already gearing up, preparing a $650,000 for public education campaign. “We will be working on developing billboards and television commercials and other sorts of communications to get the word out,” said Reid Magney of the Government Accountability Board.
Election… Read More
Wonder which legislator did such a pitifully poor job writing a bill to spell out how a new House member should be chosen in Nevada in case of a midterm vacancy? Look no further than former Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Las Vegas.
In 2003, he sponsored Assembly Bill 344. But Perkins, now a lobbyist, thought so little of the bill that is now causing us so much of a ruckus that… Read More
Texas: House gives final approval to changing filing deadline, runoff date | dallasnews.com
The state’s candidate filing deadline and primary election runoff date would be changed under legislation the Texas House has overwhelmingly approved.
The filing deadline would move up from January of the election year to December, and runoffs would change from April to late May.
Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, who sponsored Senate Bill 100, initially wanted to change the primary from March to April, but the House rejected that Tuesday… Read More
State and local officials in South Dakota praised new voting technology and methods used for the first time in Tuesday’s school board election in Sioux Falls.
The election was the first in the state to use electronic poll books and voting centers. The electronic poll books replace the large paper volumes of voters’ names and automate the voter check-in process, while the voting centers reduce the number of polling sites… Read More
Kenya: Stiff penalties sought for rogue poll officials in Kenya | Daily Nation
Election officials who subvert the process of free and fair polls will face tough punishment if amendments proposed by a House committee are passed.
The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee has proposed that officials found guilty of interfering with elections be sentenced to three years in jail and fined Sh1 million.
The committee has just finished reviewing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Bill, which seeks to establish the new… Read More
The Election Commission (EC) has been urged to introduce finger or thumbprint readers in all future elections in the country to prevent fraud.
Sabah DAP Kepayan branch chief Stephen Jacob Jimbangan said the EC should consider implementing the proposal in the coming general election to ensure clean and fair polls.
“If the EC is not going to adopt a fair and clean election system, then it will no longer… Read More
A ‘No’ (to the introduction of divorce) result in the upcoming referendum will put the principles of tolerance and diversity at stake, said EU and International Affairs spokesperson for Alternattiva Demokratika Arnold Cassola, yesterday. He was speaking during a press conference held outside the university gates.
AD reminded people that Malta joined the EU in 2004 and urged the Maltese people to live up to the European Union’s motto ’United… Read More
Wisconsin: Walker to sign photo ID voting bill today — $7 million price tag | JSOnline
After an eight-year quest by GOP officials, Gov. Scott Walker will sign a bill Wednesday requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls.
But the measure costing more than $7 million in new spending and lost revenue could still face a legal challenge as opponents mulled over the possibility of suing to block it from taking effect.
The legislation will require poll workers to start asking voters for… Read More