Happy New Year! The first few days of 2011 have been busy news days (despite apparent quiet regarding Internet voting). Tonight’s edition covers articles published since our December 31 edition, unless otherwise noted.
Among the news highlights: Oklahoma election officials are looking to replace their 18-year-old optical scanners with new precinct scanners for the 2012 elections; new Secretaries of State take office around the nation; and internationally, coverage of the first-time use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Indian local elections emphasizes the desirability of speedy results.
All this and more in today’s Voting News below.
AZ: State officers sworn in at capitol
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_7b92621e-179b-11e0-9d6a-001cc4c03286.html
AZ: Editorial: Election process should include basic review of nominating petitions
http://campverdebugleonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=29091
CA: November election dispute lingers
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/01/dispute-about-election-results-in-ojai-and/
CT: Bridgeport’s Response to a Potential Election Disaster
http://www.afampointofview.com/POV%20Archives/2011/January2011/Bridgeports%20Response.htm
CT: Why We Need Audits and Recounts: AccuVote Missed 0.4% of Ballots in Aspen Elections [Dec. 28]
http://www.ctvoterscount.org/why-we-need-audits-and-recounts-accuvote-missed-0-4-of-ballots-in-aspen-elections/
IN: Voting machine maintenance on county’s agenda
http://www.jconline.com/article/20110102/NEWS02/101020333/Voting-machine-maintenance-on-county-s-agenda
Tippecanoe County commissioners are set to choose a company to maintain the county’s voting machines. At the commissioners’ Monday meeting, they will choose between Nebraska-based ES&S and Ohio-based GBS, both of which are licensed to service voting machines in Indiana.
IN: Indiana secretary of state challenge to be filed in court
http://www.wndu.com/indiana/headlines/Indiana_secretary_of_state_challenge_filed_in_court_112728604.html
IA: Schultz sworn in as Secretary of State
http://www.kgan.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.ia/24da4822-www.kgan.com.shtml
IA: Four statewide elected officials, including rookie, sworn in today http://www.radioiowa.com/2011/01/03/four-statewide-elected-officials-including-rookie-sworn-in-today/
LA: Mock election to be held at Herod
MI: Republicans take the reins in Michigan
http://michiganmessenger.com/45296/republicans-take-the-reins-in-michigan
MN: With new ballots, curbing confusion, costs is challenging
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16996117?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1
MN: Save money and improve election integrity
http://www.reviewmessenger.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8717:save-money-and-improve-election-integrity&catid=19:guest-opinion
MN: Another recount yields more evidence that Minnesota’s system is sound [Dec. 30]
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_16967744?source=rss
MN: New Kansas secretary of state critical of Minnesota’s Mark Ritchie
http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/01/03/24512/new_kansas_secretary_of_state_critical_of_minnesotas_mark_ritchie
MN: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will lead National Association of Secretaries of State
http://www.jordannews.com/node/15707
NM: Duran sworn in as first GOP Sec. of State in 80 years
http://newmexicoindependent.com/68469/other-state-officials-sworn-in-as-well
NJ: Reorganized township council takes power
http://www.northjersey.com/news/112749794_Bloomfield_council_sworn_in.html
The mood at the reorganization was especially upbeat for the Democrats, as Bloomfield Republicans only recently withdrew a challenge of the November election results. Republican mayoral candidate John Lazar previously alleged illegal electioneering tactics, equipment difficulty involving one voting machine and denial of voter access.
NY: Experts shouldn’t be needed to call outcome of election
Ziriax said bids are now being sought for a new system to be used statewide. He said officials have specified that they want a new system that’s similar to the one now being used, with optical scanners to read ballots marked by voters.
OK: Oklahoma State Officials Looking for Voting Machine Upgrade
http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=13771500
OK: Oklahoma’s voting machines: Out with the old
http://newsok.com/state-to-replace-voting-machines/article/3528762
OK: Voter fraud law takes effect today
http://newsok.com/voter-fraud-law-takes-effect/article/3528459
PA: City may pay for fill-in election commissioners
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20110103_City_may_pay_for_fill-in_election_commissioners_-_again.html
TX: South Texas voter fraud is rampant, seldom prosecuted
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/rio-45868-seldom-south.html
VA: Charlottesville Council Redistricting
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=13770824
As for the budgetary impact, the biggest expense would be voting machines for any new precincts, which could cost up to $40,000. Before anything is finalized, the city plans to hold public hearings on the matter this spring.
WV: Morgantown Looking to Use ‘Vote by Mail’ for Council Elections
http://www.wdtv.com/index.php/home/local-news/4355-morgantown-looking-to-use-vote-by-mail-for-citycouncil-elections
National
Secretaries of state up the political ante
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=538319
International
India: Poll results to be out by Tuesday noon
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Poll-results-to-be-out-by-Tuesday-noon/articleshow/7212533.cms
India: Local body poll results to decide state’s political course http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/local-body-poll-results-decide-state%E2%80%99s-political-course-148
India: Mangalore ZP, TP – EVMs to Unravel Fate of Candidates Tomorrow
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=92881&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+ZP%2C+TP+-+EVMs+to+Unravel+Fate+of+Candidates+Tomorrow+
Unlike the previous elections in which ballot boxes were used, electronic voting machines have been put to use for the first time for zilla and taluk panchayat elections in the state. In the past, counting of votes used to take a full day. Compared to that, the counting this time is expected to take only a couple of hours, as the EVMs give out candidate-wise voting pattern at the push of a button. For the electoral staff too, the tedious workload, request for recounting etc., witnessed in previous elections, will be a thing of the past.
Philippines: Is the Comelec that gullible?
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=23801
Philippines: Think-tank doesn’t think much of Comelec claims
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20110103-312241/Think-tank-doesnt-think-much-of-Comelec-claim
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=============================================The Voting News is a free service made possible by the Verified Voting Foundation. You can help support the Voting News by sending a check to Verified Voting Foundation, PO Box 4104, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.Donate online at this link: http://tinyurl.com/donate-vnDisclaimer: Articles and commentary included in “Voting News” do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Voting News,or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers’ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news,research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections.