House Bill 19 by Rep. Kerry Rich, R-Albertville, which with some exceptions would require voters to show photo identification at the polls. Photo identification could include an Alabama driver’s license, a non-driver ID card issued by a state or county agency, a military ID or a U.S. passport, among other options.
Animal cruelty opponents and anti-tax activists may seem odd bedfellows, but both have thrown their support behind a San Mateo County man’s legal fight to allow California voters to sign ballot initiative petitions electronically using touch-screen devices. Read More
CO: Valley Courier Saguache County clerk must answer to Grand Jury
For the past seven weeks the State Attorney General has been investigating irregularities in Saguache County’s Nov. 2, 2010 election process, detailed in six citizen complaints sent to the AG in January 2011. The investigation following the complaints led to the grand jury referral. Read More
CT: Election panel urges reforms after Bridgeport election woes – Connecticut Post
One recommendation, which the panel noted would be controversial considering the state and federal governments’ financial woes, was for the state and federal governments — rather than municipalities — to pay for state and federal elections. Read More
A special panel that reviewed Election Day problems at Bridgeport polls has endorsed a plan to give the state’s top election official greater oversight in city and town voting preparations. Read More
IN: Indiana’s top election official faces felony charges – The Hill’s Ballot Box
The official responsible for administering elections in Indiana is facing seven felony counts, including voter fraud and perjury, according to the Indianapolis Star. Read More
“While disappointed in the grand jury’s decision, I will cooperate fully in the upcoming judicial process,” said White.
“I have confidence in the system and I believe the evidence will prove that I did not intentionally break any laws. But more importantly, I will continue to do the job I was elected to do and carry on serving the needs of Hoosier taxpayers through the Secretary of State’s office. I am humbled by the outpouring of support. The important work on behalf of Hoosiers will not be derailed by this process.” Read More
IN: 89.3 FM WFPL | Daniels Encourages White to Step Down Until Charges Are Resolved
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is calling on recently-indicted Secretary of State Charlie White to step down until the charges against him are resolved. Read More
The state’s top election official will face seven felony counts, including voter fraud, perjury and theft, a special prosecutor said today. Read More
IN; Changes ahead for voting in Howard County – Kokomo Perspective: Local News
Howard County’s voting machines are getting long in the tooth. Each year, it is more difficult to complete an election due to breakdowns or glitches, and the software is only certified through the 2012 election season. After that, taxpayers may be asked to foot the bill for a new system. Read More
IN: Rokita says indicted official should step aside – chicagotribune.com
The man who preceded Indiana’s top elections official in office says he should step aside after being indicted on voter fraud and other charges. Read More
KS: Voter issues / LJWorld.com
Senate Majority Leader Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican, indicated that the possible inconvenience of the proof-of-citizenship requirement will be a key issue. The bill calls for Kansas to issue free birth certificates to people who meet certain income guidelines, but that doesn’t help people who were born in other states. It says an out-of-state driver’s license can be used but only if the state issuing the license requires proof of citizenship for a license to be issued. How many states require that? Kansas requires “proof of identity” but not proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license. Read More
MN: Ballots recounted in Minnesota again – KIMT.com – Iowa & Minnesota Together
This marks the fourth time ballots in the city of Geneva have been counted, including the re-count in the governor’s race.
“I think I’ve done everything correct the way it’s supposed to be done, and you’ve done the training the way you want to cover everything that’s supposed to be covered, but you always have that little bit of question in your mind,” said Freeborn County Auditor Dennis Distad. Read More
MT: Senate panel tables voting bill – The Belgrade News: Legislature
The Senate State Administration Committee voted on Wednesday, March 2, to table a bill that would require voter registration forms provide an option for voting by absentee ballot in subsequent elections. Read More
NE: Voter bill faces changes – Omaha.com
State Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont has backed off the original language in his Legislative Bill 239 to avoid the bill’s potential costs.
In its place, he plans to offer an amendment that would include a non-photo ID in the list of acceptable documents. The amendment still would require voters to show identification before casting ballots. Read More
NE: Voter Fraud Probe Findings Released – Omaha News Story – KETV Omaha
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said there was no criminal intent to commit voter fraud after several voters cast more than one ballot in Omaha’s mayoral recall election. Read More
NV: Miller calls for campaign, election reform | LahontanValleyNews.com
Legislation to modernize and strengthen of Nevada’s campaign reporting and voter registration laws was proposed Tuesday by Secretary of State Ross Miller.
His proposals include mandatory electronic filing of all campaign reports, online voter registration, increases to filing fees for different offices and increased penalties for fraud and election tampering. Read More
Villages that run their own elections can continue to use mechanical-lever voting machines until the end of next year, under legislation signed this week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Read More
NY: Voters to Use Old Lever Machines March 15 – Garden City, NY Patch
Garden City’s March 15 village election in Garden City will cost almost $9,000 less than anticipated.
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation allowing local villages to use the old lever machines in upcoming trustee elections. Read More
Voter identification: 76.5 percent support a law requiring people to show a government -approved photo ID before they can vote, with 20 percent opposed.
OH: Cost Savings Win Bipartisan Support for Online Voter Registration | Progressive States Network
During a press conference on Monday, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted unveiled a wish list of election reforms, one of which was an online voter registration system. Husted, a Republican, noted that permitting Ohioans to register to vote or update their registrations online would reduce the number of provisional ballots cast at the polls, which can prove costly and time-consuming to process. Indeed, records show that voters who had moved but had not updated their addresses were responsible for about half of the 105,000 provisional ballots cast during the midterm elections. Read More
We were able to pass H. 3003, the voter ID bill, 74 votes to 45, on Jan. 26. It then went to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it was quickly reported out favorably, but with an unfavorable minority report tacked on by the Democrats. These minority reports are used as parliamentary procedure to halt consideration of the bill by the full chamber. Fortunately, the report was removed, but that did not stop delays in the Senate. Read More
As the result of recent action in the Virginia General Assembly, Alexandria is required to return to optical-scan voting technology — the same method that was used before the current technology in 2004. Read More
WV: Harrison County Considers Changing Voting Machines – WBOY-TV – WBOY.com
“At one point in time, I had wanted to go electronic, but it just doesn’t seem to be increasing, the use of them,” she said at the County Commission meeting Thursday. “A lot of people prefer the paper ballot. People have looked at me and said if I have to vote on those machines, I won’t vote.”
Now they’re considering the AutoMark machine, which marks a paper ballot for you. Read More
Commission is looking into buying new AutoMARK voting machines. Election Systems & Software, Inc. is offering to sell commission the new machines at a discounted price if it can buy back the used iVotronics units.
The new machines would use a paper ballot. County Clerk Susan Thomas says she would like the change because most voters in the county like using paper ballots as opposed to the strictly electronic machines. Read More
Internet Voting Watch
Canada: Pique newsmagazine | Whistler, CANADA : Christy Clark edges Kevin Falcon to become premier
Clark ran on a platform called “The Families First Agenda For Change” that focused on new business and job creation, balancing the budget, controlling growing health care spending, developing clean energy, reinvesting in northern and rural communities, marketing resources, reviewing municipal taxation, proceeding with the HST referendum on June 24, harmonizing the environmental appeals process, increasing transparency, shifting to online voting, partially restoring gaming grants, and bringing back a Family Day holiday in February. Read More
Estonia: AFP: Record numbers cast e-votes in Estonian election
A record number of Estonians cast Internet ballots in the Baltic state’s general election, still the only parliamentary poll in the world with an online option, data showed Thursday. Read More
UK: Lords debate Elections: Voting Arrangements
What my noble friend Lord Astor and the noble Lord, Lord Wills, said about looking at internet voting is very important but we should not diminish or forget…Read More (subcription required)
‘American Idol’ Begins Online Voting – ABC News
When “American Idol” reveals its top 12 tonight during the first live show of Season 10, “Idol” watchers will have a chance to see what effect the new online voting will have. Read More
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