New York’s highest court rejects petition for manual recount in the close State Senate District 7 race; top candidate gains votes in North Carolina’s instant-runoff judicial race; Russian officials take a close look at India’s electronic voting system…
All this and more in today’s voting news below.
CA: Cheaper, popular mail-in ballots worry critics
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/cheaper-popular-mail-ballots-worry-critics-7479
CO: Retabulation flips election results
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-colorado-springs/retabulation-flips-election-results
IN: Monroe commissioners finalizing purchase of paper ballot-scanning system
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2010/12/18/news.qp-9884661.sto
IN: McNamara’s four-vote victory in Indiana House race is certified
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/dec/18/mcnamaras-four-vote-victory-indiana-house-race-cer/
MN: County election officials: We were stiffed by GOP
http://www.startribune.com/politics/recount/112108169.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUvDEhiaE3miUsZ
NJ: Recall Recount: Nothing Changes in West Wildwood
http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/government/west+wildwood/68758-recall+recount+nothing+changes
NY: Top NY Court Nixes Sen. Recount; GOP To Take Power in Albany
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Democrats-want-NY-Court-to-Order-Senate-Recount-112196244.html
New York’s new voting machines have paper copies of every vote and the Democrats wanted all recounted in hopes there were errors and Johnson won.
However, the Court of Appeals says initial audits showed few discrepancies or “a substantial possibility” that Johnson won.
NY: Court Rejects Challenge to Republican Win of Nassau Senate Seat
http://www.law.com/jsp/nylj/PubArticleNY.jsp?id=1202476450504&Court_Rejects_Challenge_to_Republican_Win_of_Nassau_Senate_Seat&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1
NY: Paper ballots offer certainty
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/paper-ballots-offer-certainty-1.2556022
In New York’s first test case on using our new paper ballots, the state judiciary is setting an egregious precedent: nullifying audits and recounts in the interests of a quick decision.
In Nassau County’s 7th Senate District race, state courts have essentially ruled that even if New York’s audit laws require further manual counting of paper ballots, accepting machine results and declaring a winner outweigh the public’s right to know who really won the election.
NC: McCullough still ahead after NC judicial recount
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8805469/
TX: Republican challenges Democrat’s state House win
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7347985.html
WA: Nick Handy retiring as Washington elections director
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/12/20/1480762/nick-handy-retiring-as-washington.html
WV: West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office Releases Byrd Special Election Costs
http://westvirginia.watchdog.org/2318/west-virginia-secretary-of-states-office-releases-byrd-special-election-costs/
National
EAC: Notes from the Road: Ginnen Bresso-Beach [published December 15]
http://www.eac.gov/about_the_eac/notes_from_the_road_gineen_bresso_beach.aspx
I recently visited Georgia to observe early voting activities, then traveled to Florida to observe both early voting and Election Day activities. Voters in Georgia and Florida are very fortunate to have such innovative and dedicated election officials. Voters in these states have access to a lot of information and services online, and both states have made it a priority to improve services for military and overseas voters.
Internet Voting Watch
Canada: Maybe Internet will entice young voters
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/fyi/Maybe-Internet-will-entice-young-voters.html
Canada: The spectre of Internet voting turns up in Manitoba
http://nitroglycol.blogspot.com/2010/12/spectre-of-internet-voting-turns-up-in.html
International
Canada: Public Leery of Electronic Vote Count
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Public+Leery+Electronic+Vote+Experts/4002109/story.html
India: EVMS – Good Idea. But Is It Time Yet?
http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20101220/1652601.html
Russia, India: ECI: CEC of Russian Federation to sign Mou on field of elections tomorrow
http://www.indiasnews.net/story/722009
The Russian Commission has evinced keen interest in the various electoral management systems followed by Election Commission of India, especially the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
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