The Voting News for 05/22/2011
National: States Toughen ID Rules for Voters | Wall Street Journal
More states will require voters to show photo identification at the polls next year, as part of a wave of laws that will increase scrutiny of voters in next year’s elections.
Stricter voter-ID measures are moving forward in at least half a dozen states after Republicans gained control of many statehouses and governors’ mansions in November. The push is part of a long-running debate between those who argue U.S. voting… Read More
Last week, former GOP House Speaker and current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich suggested that American citizens should have to pass a test in American history before they could earn the right to vote. Despite rampant criticism from both sides of the aisle, Gingrich reiterated his support for poll tests yesterday at a town hall meeting in Marshalltown, IA.
Speaking in front of a crowd made up largely of senior citizens,… Read More
Takoma Park voters will have the option of casting their ballots over the Internet for the November 2011 election, and a test of the system is going to be conducted June 9 at the Takoma Park Community Center.
Poorvi Vora, an associate professor at George Washington University made a presentation of the online voting system to Takoma Park’s Board of Elections (BOE) at the board’s meeting May 18.
The opportunity… Read More
For weeks, we’ve been reporting on the mess seen in the statewide “recount” of Wisconsin’s very close and very contentious April 5th Supreme Court election between Republican incumbent Justice David Prosser and his challenger, Asst. Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg.
As The BRAD BLOG obtained evidence of new irregularities this week — to add to previously reported revelations of, among other irregularities, ballot bags discovered “wide open” with mismatched or missing… Read More
It’s been a busy couple of weeks on the election front — specifically, the voting front — down in Raleigh and at other points on the compass.
The NC House, in a 60–58 vote, OK’d a bill to shorten the early voting period in the state. Bad, no good, horrible call, in my view. It’s pitched as a cost-saving move, but it just looks like a formula for creating bottlenecks,… Read More
North Carolina: Election Bills give 2012 edge to GOP in North Carolina | NewsObserver.com
North Carolina had the closest governor’s race in the country in 2008, and only Missouri had a closer presidential contest. Both went the Democrats’ way, in large part because of the unprecedented effort in the state by the campaign of presidential candidate Barack Obama. The Obama campaign had a paid staff of 400 with 47 storefront offices.
The effort included a major push to sign up voters early and get them… Read More
Boss Tweed likely would have had a good chuckle over proposals in Pennsylvania to require every person casting an election ballot to present photo identification. The legendary New York City political boss knew a thing or two about fraud and political smokescreens: two things at play in regard to the legislation being considered in the state House.
Reducing voter fraud at the ballot box is supposedly the main concept behind this… Read More
Nevada: Strong early voter turnout in Las Vegas attributed to mayor race — KTNV ABC,Channel 13
Early voting kicked off Saturday for city elections, and turnout appears to be strong. The big draw, of course, is the Las Vegas mayor’s race, which is pitting two women against each other for the city’s top job.
It represents a turning point for Las Vegas, ending Oscar Goodman’s twelve year reign as mayor.Voter turnout is the key for candidates, Carolyn Goodman and Chris Giunchigliani, who are wrangling their way… Read More
Ohio: Election reform bill heads to Ohio Senate after House debate | Fallsnewspress.com
Legislation that would shorten the state’s early voting period and change requirements for casting provisional ballots passed the Ohio House May 18 following more than two hours of contentious debate. The final vote on House Bill 194 was a party-line 53–39, with Democrats opposing. The legislation next heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
Rep. Robert Mecklenborg, R-Cincinnati, said the law changes are needed to establish consistent rules and procedures… Read More
Wisconsin: College students could be affected by Wisconsin Voter ID Bill | weau.com
A few college students we talked to at UW-Eau Claire say they haven’t heard much about the Voter ID Bill, but they say at face value, it sounds like a good idea.
“I think it’s probably a good thing, to at least show that you are who you say you are instead of having someone representing you or falsifying you and stealing your vote,” says new UW-Eau Claire transfer student… Read More
Minnesota: Minnesota House sends Voter ID bill to Governor | StarTribune.com
The Minnesota House gave final approval to a bill requiring voters to show photo IDs at the polls Saturday afternoon, sending it to Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. The bill passed 74–58 on a largely party line vote over the objections of DFL lawmakers, who said the bill will hinder some groups from voting. The vote was originally slated for Friday, but it was delayed amid transparency complaints.
In addition to requiring… Read More
South Carolina: Governor Nikki Haley signs South Carolina Voter ID bill into law | TheState.com
With music pumping, Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law Wednesday a bill requiring S.C. voters to show a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to cast a ballot. Currently, voters only must show a voter registration card, which does not have a photo.
“If you can show a picture to buy Sudafed, if you can show a picture to get on an airplane, you should be able to show a… Read More
Florida: Miami Mayoral Candidates sprint on last day of early voting | MiamiHerald.com
Perfect beach weather may have kept crowds from the polls Saturday — but not so political candidates, who made their final pitches to voters across Miami-Dade County before Tuesday’s special election.
…With early voting canceled Sunday, the contenders for Miami-Dade mayor, two county commission posts and a Florida House seat on Saturday tried to fit in back-to-back phone calls to supporters, campaign rallies and visits early voting sites to create… Read More
Florida: Judge: No early voting Sunday in Miami-Dade election | MiamiHerald.com
A Miami-Dade judge on Friday backed the county elections department’s decision to cancel a day of early voting for Tuesday’s special election. Circuit Judge Barbara Areces dismissed a lawsuit filed by county mayoral candidate Marcelo Llorente, who argued the elections department acted unconstitutionally when it did away with early voting scheduled for Sunday.
Lester Sola, the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections, changed the schedule earlier this week to comply with a new… Read More
Kentucky: Recanvass scheduled in Kentucky GOP Secretary of State race | Kentucky.com
A recanvass of votes cast in Tuesday’s Republican primary election for secretary of state between Bill Johnson and Hilda Legg will be held May 26.
Legg, a consultant former executive director of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, requested the recanvass by county boards of election in the closest race of Tuesday’s primary. Johnson, a Todd County businessman and teacher, defeated Legg by 1,097 votes with 100 percent of… Read More
Taiwan: Legislators mull lowering voting age in Taiwan | Taipei Times
As presidential candidates increase their efforts to canvass support from first-time voters, lawmakers from across party lines are mulling whether to amend the law to lower the legal voting age to 18 years.
However, some academics cast doubt on the idea, saying that lowering the legal voting age would require a constitutional amendment.
According to Article 130 of the Constitution, citizens of the Republic of China (ROC) have the… Read More