Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Friday 11/04/05

[Mnemosyne]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.



2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233



3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.



4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.







If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391

Link to previous Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=399555&mesg_id=399555


All previous daily threads are available here:

http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm











Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

[Mnemosyne]

1. Rove Is Ruled Legal Voter in Texas

County Attorney Won't Prosecute

Associated Press
Friday, November 4, 2005; Page A12

KERRVILLE, Texas, Nov. 3 -- A Texas county official said Thursday he will not prosecute presidential adviser Karl Rove after investigating whether he voted illegally in the state.

Kerr County Attorney Rex Emerson said he made the decision after reviewing a report from the county sheriff, who examined documents from Texas, Washington and Florida and interviewed witnesses.

"The facts indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Rove are Texans living in Washington, D.C., during Mr. Rove's service to the federal government," Emerson said.

Emerson said in a statement there was no evidence of dual voting or falsified applications involving Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, and his wife, Darby.

more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302591.html

[Mnemosyne]

2. Campaign finance reform plan draws opposition

From CNet News.com, November 2, 2005
By Anne Broache and Declan McCullagh

A few months ago, a proposal in Congress to exempt the Internet from a weighty volume of campaign finance regulations seemed to enjoy near-unanimous support among politicians in Washington.

The reform plan counted as backers everyone from arch-conservatives to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat whose district includes part of Silicon Valley, even claimed that the legislation could pass in one afternoon.

Now that prediction will be tested. After the U.S. House of Representatives scheduled a vote for Wednesday on the proposal, which would immunize bloggers and other online commentators from election-law regulations, liberal advocacy groups have mounted a last-minute lobbying effort to derail the plan.

“This bill is drafted far broader than it needs to be, with the result that it is going to allow members of Congress to use corrupt, unlimited soft money to pay for ads on the Internet to support their campaigns,” said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, which presses for greater regulation of election-related spending and speech.

more:
http://www.freepress.net/news/12138

[Mnemosyne]

3. Election Reform Ohio

Bob Fitrakis


November 3, 2005

Amidst the chaos and confusion of Ohio’s 2004 presidential election, with so many irregularities, that for the first time in the United States history an entire electoral slate was challenged by the U.S. Congress, an Ohio election reform movement was born.

Last April, a centrist coalition of election reform forces announced a bold plan to amend Ohio’s Constitution in the November 2005 election. Three key figures supporting the election reform amendments are Herb Asher, professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University; Andy Douglas, former Republican Ohio Supreme Court justice; and Paul Tipps, former Ohio Democratic Party Chair and now a high-powered lobbyist in the state capital.

Asher is one of the nation’s leading authorities on polling and his text is used widely in college political science classes. Last November, with exit polls showing Kerry winning, Bush pulled off a statistically impossible victory, as an estimated 3% of the vote went uncounted due to election foul-ups.

With Ohio’s election system being ridiculed at home and abroad, the Republicans control every state office as well as the Ohio State House 60-39 and the State Senate 22-11. Moreover, in response to the corrupt election and illegal corporate money being laundered into Ohio politics, the legislature voted to make the illegal money legal, by allowing corporate funds to be directly donated to political parties for the first time in more than a century.

more:
http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2005/1248

[Mnemosyne]

4. Voter registration issues, delays reported at DMV

Problems for many Beaufort County voters in the 2004 presidential election were so bad that the Department of Motor Vehicles had to set up a hotline to validate voter registrations.

Promises were made that those problems would be fixed.

But a year later, some county residents are still running into a brick wall when it comes to getting their voter registrations from the DMV and are unsure if they'll be able to vote this month.

Though there are no hard numbers on how many residents never received registration cards after completing paperwork at the local department branches, residents and election officials said the Motor Voter program has been almost a constant concern since it began in 1996.

more:
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/5303495p-4808577c.html

[Mnemosyne]

5. Electronic voting on display here

By Amy A. Thompson, Clarion News writer


CLARION -- The Help America Vote Act is changing the way Pennsylvanians vote and the new technology is coming to Clarion County.

Clarion County commissioners announced last month the county is expected to receive $420,000 for new voting machines and training through the act and that money is likely to change how residents cast their vote at the polls.

The county is trying to narrow down the best type of machine for Clarion County voters. All of the machines the county has reviewed are touch-screen electronic systems, which are expected to reduce the likelihood of human error.

"It helps to ensure that every properly cast vote is recorded, counted and most importantly, it allows every voter, regardless of handicap, to have the opportunity to cast their ballot in privacy," said Clarion County Director of Elections Ronald Kuzmovich.

The WinVote machine is presently on display in the Clarion County Office of Elections. The public can view the machine until Nov. 11.

more:
http://www2.theclarionnews.com/General_News/46677.shtml

[Mnemosyne]

6. Danaher Certification Hearing

WITH ELECTION DAY NOW LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY, THE VOTING MACHINES USED IN BERKS COUNTY'S *LAST* ELECTION GO UNDER THE MICROSCOPE IN HARRISBURG.
THE INSPECTION IS THE RESULT OF A PETITION FILED BY BERKS VOTERS AFTER THOSE MACHINES LOST HUNDREDS OF VOTES IN THE MAY PRIMARIES.
WFMZ'S EVE TANNERY HAS THE STORY.



TANNERY: MANY BERKS COUNTY VOTERS WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY *HOPING* THEIR VOTE WILL COUNT.

DURING LAST MAY'S PRIMARIES, DANAHER CONTROLS -THE VOTING MACHINE MANUFACTURER - ACCIDENTALLY USED TRAINING CARTRIDGES, INSTEAD OF ACTUAL CARTRIDGES, IN THE MACHINES.

BECAUSE OF THAT...WHEN POLL WORKERS RESET THE MACHINES, SOME VOTES WERE LOST.

more:
http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=viewstory&storyid=10261

[Mnemosyne]

7. EARLY VOTING NUMBERS SUGGEST RECORD TURNOUT

By ROY MAYNARD, Staff Writer
11/02/2005


Thursday and Friday are the last days to vote early in the Nov. 8 constitutional election, with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days, Smith County Elections Administrator Paula Patterson reports.

Gauging from the turnout so far, early voting numbers could break previous records, she said.

"So far, the vote totals are well above the constitutional election in 2003," she said. "It will probably at least come close to an early voting record for this kind of election."

In 2003, 2,976 early votes were cast. With two of the heaviest days remaining in this early voting cycle, Mrs. Patterson reports that 2,957 have been cast.

more:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15505292&BRD=1994&PAG=461&dept_id=227937&rfi=6

[Mnemosyne]

8. Battle of the ballot boxes rages on:

Representatives, political activists continue to study voting options

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

By ERICA ZARRA
of The Montclair Times

There appears to be a split ballot on voting machines.

With their self-imposed September deadline long gone, Essex County officials still have not chosen a new electronic election machine, as the frontrunner machines’ eligibility and credentials continue to be debated.

A new state law mandates that by 2008, all ballot boxes must include voter-verifiable printed receipts, which enable citizens to double-check their selections before officially casting them. This aims to reduce questions should a recount be needed.

Ballot boxes must abide by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which mandates that all electronic models have a paper recount, disability access, and multiple-language capabilities. A machine lacking these functions could be disqualified from consideration.

However, the bidding process has raised queries of its own, as both Essex County officials and political activists deduce which model is best — or even compliant with the evolving law.

more:
http://www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=10706

[Mnemosyne]

9. Juanita Millender-McDonald Announces Dual Bills

to Protect Voting Rights of Hurricane Survivors
Friday, November 4, 2005
By California Political Desk

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald announced today two pieces of legislation she is introducing that would protect the voting rights of the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

H.R. 4140, the “Ensuring the Vote for Survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Act of 2005,” would provide $50 million in funding to states directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to replace damaged election administration supplies, materials and equipment.

This bill is needed because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will only provide funds for the replacement of election machines. FEMA will do nothing to assist in the creation or rebuilding of local election commission offices, election administration supplies, or other equipment outside the realm of voting machines.

“I am disappointed in FEMA and the improper way this Administration has handled assisting the people who resided in the affected hurricane areas in putting their lives back together,” said Congresswoman Millender-McDonald. “As the Ranking Member of the Committee that has oversight of federal elections, I will fight to ensure that the voting rights of the hurricane survivors are not trampled upon,” added Congresswoman Millender-McDonald.

more:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3454

[Mnemosyne]

10. Ehrlich panel will weigh voting changes

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has appointed an election reform commission to review and make recommendations on several voting standards, including adding a paper receipt to Maryland touch-screen voting machines.

The commission follows Ehrlich’s vetoes of several voting-related bills passed this year by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.

Ehrlich, a Republican, said the nine-member commission is bipartisan and made up of non-legislators to consider several changes to Maryland’s election system. The panel will study absentee voting requirements, whether voters can cast their ballots before Election Day and adding a paper receipt to Maryland’s electronic voting machines.

‘‘This eminently qualified, bipartisan commission can help strike an important balance between voter access and voter integrity in Maryland elections,” Ehrlich said in a statement Monday.

more:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/110205/montsta184439_31930.shtml

[Mnemosyne]

11. Workers scurry to ready for vote

Counties prepare for election, unexpected costs that come with it.

By John Ellis / The Fresno Bee

(Updated Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 6:55 AM)

In most odd-numbered years like 2005, the Fresno County Elections Office would be shuttered and empty on the first Saturday in November.

The off-year November election normally means a few small contests in Fresno County, so there's no need for county workers to scurry about on a weekend in a frenzy of final preparations.

On Tuesday, however, voters across California will decide eight statewide ballot initiatives in a special election called by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Because of that, the elections office will be busy this Saturday, including being open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who want to cast ballots ahead of time.

The overtime generated by this is just one of many reasons the special election will cost Fresno County an estimated $1.5 million.

more:
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/11428364p-12172048c.html

[MelissaB]

12. (Brad Friedman) MSM to American Democracy: Drop Dead

It's been a full two weeks now since the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO came out with their 107-page report confirming what so many of us have been trying to ring the bell about for so long: The Electronic Voting Machines which are proliferating counties and states across America even as I type, are not secure, not accountable, not recountable, not transparent, not accurate and not adequately monitored or certified by anybody.

To quote from the alarming landmark report:

Concerns about electronic voting machines have been realized and have caused problems with recent elections, resulting in the loss and miscount of votes.
The Mainstream Corporate Media couldn't care less.

The report was requested by several high-ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives. It culminated a year-long investigation into the secret Voting Machines and Software now being deployed to the tune of millions of tax-payer dollars to privatize our American Democracy.

The release of the report was accompanied by a bi-partisan News Release which lauded its findings.

That's right. Six high-ranking U.S. Congressmen (3 Dems and 3 Reps) issued the incredibly rare joint News Release together. Two of those Congressmen were Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman and ranking minority member, respectively, of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee respectively. You do understand how rare it is that those two can agree on anything much less issue a joint press release, right?!

And yet, none of the above has been carried by even one wire service or one major American Newspaper. Not one.

News of the landmark non-partisan report and bi-partisan news release was carried on a few Internet sites (here here, and here) in a few tech journals (here , here and here ) and a couple of tiny independent newspapers (here and here ). But there has not been a single wire-service (not AP, not UPI, not Reuters, not AFP etc.) nor a single mainstream American print newspaper (not NYTimes, not Washington Post, not any of them) to run even a paragraph on any of it. Not one.

...snip

I'd encourage you to do so as well by dropping a polite request to E&P that they inquire and report on the matter. Perhaps that'll help get some action. And some coverage. Their address is: [e-mail]

I hope you'll help. This democracy ain't gonna save itself, ya know. I hope you realize that.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-friedman/mainstream-media-to-ameri_b_10094.html

Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5262282

[Mnemosyne]

13. City primary votes yield clues about general election

Results offer insight into candidates, but upcoming vote tough to call
by John Boyle, SENIOR WRITER
published November 3, 2005 6:00 am

ASHEVILLE — Numbers, numbers, numbers.

Politicians, professors and activists love to analyze them, especially from a primary election. But can you really extract a pattern from the Oct. 11 Asheville primary — in which just 17 percent of registered voters cast a ballot — and expect it to hold true in the general election?

That depends on how you did in the primary. Councilwoman Terry Bellamy, who won 19 of 37 precincts in the race for mayor, had widespread support and extremely strong tallies in the center of town and the Shiloh area.

“I think it shows my message resonates with different parts of the community and in different sectors,” said Bellamy, the top finisher with 4,383 votes, or 45 percent. “I feel pretty safe. I feel my message has crossed party lines.”

Fellow councilman Joe Dunn won 16 of 37 precincts and garnered 2,905 votes overall, with a good showing in some north precincts and the south side of town where he lives. He takes solace in the poor turnout — overall, just 9,825 of 54,270 registered voters in Asheville actually voted — and thinks more conservative voters who sat out the primary will turn out for the general election.

more:
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051103/NEWS01/51102045/1001

[Mnemosyne]

14. Not Just a Bunch of Little Old Ladies:

The Importance of Becoming a Pollworker


By Marybeth Kuznik, VotePA
October 31, 2005
If you ever voted at a polling place you probably met and talked to at least one pollworker when you signed in to vote. You may have wondered, who are these people? How do they get chosen for the job? What it is that these folks really do while sitting around the voting room? You may have even had a passing thought about what it would be like to become one of these officials.

Pollworkers are found everywhere. Even in Oregon, where they vote by mail, citizens still assist on election boards and help process ballots as they come in. Different states may call them Judge of Elections, Inspector of Elections, Clerk, Machine Operator, even Deputy in some areas, but all these workers are sworn officials who are in our polling places to operate and control our elections on the local level. Pollworkers have incredible access to the entire voting process, and they are an important component of our electoral system.

One official definition of the pollworker position reads, “Precinct level election official who facilitates the voting process at a polling location on the day of an election.” Indeed, pollworkers are the people who open and close polls, receive election supplies from the county and return election results to the county, set up voting machines, handle ballots and poll books, and help voters understand the process of voting.

Some people confuse pollworkers with pollwatchers (people who observe the electoral process in and around the poll, often representing a candidate or party), and sometimes even with pollsters (people who take polls, such as exit polls.) These are all important positions, and all contribute greatly to our voting process, but in most jurisdictions only the pollworker is a true public election official.

more:
http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=235&Itemid=27

[Mnemosyne]

15. Need for Bilingual Poll Workers Never Ends

# As the special election nears, counties seek volunteers who speak voters' languages. 'It's our biggest issue,' L.A. County's registrar says.

By Wendy Thermos, Times Staff Writer

Kookhi Bae Kim learned the importance of voting the hard way — by getting a scolding from her mother.

"I came home from school, and it was election day. My mom asked me if I had voted," recalled the 62-year-old La Cañada Flintridge resident, who was a college student in Seoul at the time.

When Kim, whose father had fought for Korean independence from Japan, sheepishly admitted she hadn't, her mother delivered some advice she never forgot.

"You need to go and vote. If you don't vote, you don't have the right to criticize," her mother had said.

more:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-pollworker1nov01,0,252093.story?coll=la-home-politics

[Mnemosyne]

16. OHIO: Vote YES on Issues 2, 3, 4, & 5

Ohio has always been a great state, but times are tough. Ohio leads the country in job losses, and young people are leaving in droves. Our capitol is racked by numerous scandals, and elected officials still pander to big donors and ignore working people.

But now there's something we can do about it.

Vote YES on Issues 2, 3, 4, & 5 on November 8 - real, common-sense reforms to take our state back from the politicians who have failed us:

* Issue 2: Makes it easier to vote by allowing all Ohioans to vote by mail
* Issue 3: Helps stop the influence of big money in elections by greatly reducing campaign contributions.
* Issue 4: Stops the politicians from drawing their own legislative districts and puts an Independent Commission in charge of this process.
* Issue 5: Places a bi-partisan Board of Supervisors in charge of Ohio's elections, instead of a partisan official who backs candidates and takes sides in elections.

Reform Ohio Now, a non-partisan group, is working with thousands of volunteers across the state to pass these reforms. The Canton Repository called us "fresh air in the stale room that has become state government." But we can't do it without your help, so get involved today.

http://www.reformohionow.org/

[Mnemosyne]

17. Make calls to Ohio voters about Issue 2, 3, 4 & 5!

This coming Tuesday, November 8, Ohio voters will go to the polls to decide on a historic series of election reforms. Even if you can't make it to one of our target counties, we definitely need your help getting out the vote. Be a part of our virtual phonebank!

Our opposition is spending millions on a TV smear campaign filled with misinformation, but with the help each and every volunteer like you, we can win this vote. Can you make a few calls to Ohio voters?

We're asking everyone to commit to making 25 calls between Saturday and Monday.
No experience necessary! It couldn't be simpler:

* A RON staffmember will email you your call list and call script by Friday
* You'll be calling to urge people to vote YES on Issues 2, 3, 4 & 5--your call script will tell you exactly what to say
* Each call will average less than 5 minutes
* You can make your calls anytime between Saturday morning and Monday evening

To help by calling voters:
http://www.reformohionow.org/signUp.jsp?key=775&t=action

[Mnemosyne]

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Thanks so much!

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Attend or hold a party!


http://www.party2win.com/santorum/

[Mnemosyne]

19. If your precinct uses Diebold or any E-Voting device...

I think this is a great idea! Could it work?

Thanks to OP ck4829!:

ck4829 Fri Nov-04-05 08:02 AM
Original message
If your precinct uses Diebold or any E-Voting device...


Make your own receipt.

Here's how to do it.

Take a piece of paper with you into the booth, vote for who and what you want, write down how you voted and then have an official sign and date it. You should probably fold the paper to provide confidentiality.

We should then send it to a local county office that looks at the votes and see if there is a discrepancy.

Join in a discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x399751

[MelissaB]

20. BREAKING: Kerry now believes the election was stolen. - Mark C. Miller

Mark Crispin Miller on DemocracyNow just stated that Kerry said to him personally that he, Kerry, believes the election in 2004 was stolen. He also said that Kerry is trying to talk to other senators to move the issue front and center. Sen. Dodd is among those opposing efforts.

Transcript later:

http://www.democracynow.org

On Edit: I heard the report as I was rushing out the door for work. I'm 90% sure Miller said Sen. Dodd - the rest I'm 100% sure about.


Thanks to Junkdrawer here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5262855

[Wilms]

22. Mark Crispin Miller: “Kerry Told Me He Now Thinks the Election Was Stolen”

Friday, November 4th, 2005

Mark Crispin Miller: “Kerry Told Me He Now Thinks the Election Was Stolen”

Listen to Segment || Download Show mp3
Watch 128k stream Watch 256k stream Read Transcript

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/11/04/1532222

[MelissaB]

30. Rawstory: Senator Kerry rebuffs claim he said election was stolen

Senator Kerry rebuffs claim he said election was stolen

John Byrne

A spokesman for Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) vehemently denied that the senator had told a popular liberal author and journalist that he believed the 2004 election was "stolen" in response to queries from RAW STORY.

The author, New York University professor Mark Crispin Miller, told Democracy Now the senator had confided in him at a fundraiser Friday, saying he believed the election was stolen after Miller offered Kerry a copy of his new book. Miller said that he was invited to the event by Peggy Kerry, the senator's sister.

Kerry's campaign quickly denounced the claim.

"I know Mr. Miller is trying to sell his book and he feels passionately about his thesis but his recent statements about his conversation with Senator Kerry are simply not true," spokesperson Jenny Backus said. "The only thing true about his recollection of the conversation is that he gave Senator Kerry a copy of his book."

More: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Senator_Kerry_rebuffs_claim_he_said_1104.html

Thanks to eomer here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x399843

[Wilms]

21. ‘Electronic voting advocates don’t mean well for Nigeria’

‘Electronic voting advocates don’t mean well for Nigeria’

Friday 4th November, 2005

Critics of the proposed electronic voting (e-voting) system in the 2007 elections have added another voice to their argument in Lanre Banjo, a chieftain of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

According to the NCP chief, advocates of the system did not mean well for the country.

snip

“I have been involved in the U.S politics since 1982. I don’t know it all, but I know enough to tell you that anyone who is advocating electronic voting in Nigeria does not mean well for Nigeria,” he said.

snip

He added: “The main disadvantage in e-voting is that there is no paper to fill. Everything is computer-programmed. And with computer programme, those who are into computer programming will tell you it is garbage in, garbage out.”

snip/more

http://www.independentng.com/news/nnnov040516.htm

[Wilms]

23. VA:

Voter-application row going to wire

By MATTHEW JONES, The Virginian-Pilot

© November 4, 2005

NORFOLK — A lawyer for a civil rights group filed suit against the city’s voter registrar Thursday, demanding access to more than 6,000 denied or incomplete voter applications before Tuesday’s election.

The last-minute legal action comes in response to the city’s “unduly restrictive and unlawful registration procedures,” according to a statement from the group, the Washington-based Advancement Project.

The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard at 9 a.m. Monday in General District Courtroom 3 – a day before Virginians go to the polls to choose a new governor and a host of other leaders.

The lawsuit is the latest round in a conflict dating back to earlier this year, soon after the national voter registration group Project Vote began working in the city.

snip/more

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=94741&ran=10019

[Mnemosyne]

24. 58 voters get wrong ballots in Pinellas

Some in St. Petersburg who requested absentee ballots for Tuesday's municipal election got Belleair ballots instead.

By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published November 4, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Nearly 60 voters in the northern end of the city got a surprise in the mail after requesting absentee ballots for the upcoming municipal election.

Instead of receiving the slate of St. Petersburg candidates, they got a ballot from Belleair, the only other Pinellas County locality holding an election Tuesday.

Nancy Whitlock, a spokeswoman for Pinellas supervisor of elections Deborah Clark, said an employee simply sent the wrong ballot to voters. The mistake was detected the next day when a recipient called to complain.

The 58 voters were in Precinct 183, whose polling place is Americana Cove, 7201 First Street NE.

more:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/04/Southpinellas/58_voters_get_wrong_b.shtml

[Mnemosyne]

25. New research, analysis and commentary

Election Updates

Contributors

* Michael Alvarez
* Thad Hall


Friday, November 04, 2005

Early voting in Los Angeles County
I went to one early voting location in Los Angeles County this morning, to both observe the early voting process there and to cast my own vote in the special election.

I arrrived at the early voting location in Pasadena (at the Jackie Robinson Center), 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue, at a few minutes before 8:30am. Unless you are very familiar with this part of Pasadena, or have had other business at the Jackie Robinson Center, this can be a difficult early voting location to find. Here is a view from curbside showing the relatively small, "real estate" type signs, that are in place to help voters find the location. Once you've parked (and by the way, parking is not a problem at this voting site!), the entrances are marked, though again with very small signs. Coming down the main hallway in the Jackie Robinson Center, there is a directional sign pointing voters to the early voting site, which is tucked into a small room.

A voter approaches the early voting site, and is greeted by a poll worker who directs voters to a sign-in table, where the voter provides his or her name, address, birthdate, and driver's license number on a small form. The voter signs the form and dates it, and then that form is given to a worker at a table at the entrance to the voting location. She gives voters a number, while she takes the information to a set of poll workers within the voting site who have access to the voter registration list for Los Angeles County. Provided that your name is in the list, and that you have not already voted or requested an absentee ballot, your number is called and you are given a smartcard that has the ballot style information on it. The voter is then allowed into the early voting site.

Here are three perspectives showing the early voting site ( a picture showing the device set up for accessible voting, a picture of the left side of the poll site, and the other side of the poll site.) They have managed to place a large number of voting devices into a very small space, and the only problem with this arrangement is that it is possible from some perspectives within the room to get a line-of-sight view of the screens of other voting machines, though given the number of poll workers and traffic flow in the voting site, I suspect that if anyone were trying to watch others vote it would be quickly noticed and effectively dealt with.

more:
http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/blog.html

[Wilms]

26. CO: 1,200 phantom votes haunt election in Pitkin County

1,200 phantom votes haunt election in Pitkin County

No election outcomes affected

By Allyn Harvey
November 3, 2005

Pitkin County election officials counted approximately 1,200 phantom votes Tuesday night but it did not affect any outcomes of the election.

The miscount affected just one of the county's 10 voting precincts - but it did so in a big way.

On Tuesday night, election officials posted results indicating that 1,560 people voted in Precinct 5. On Wednesday, amended election returns showed 374 people living in Precinct 5 had voted.

snip

The problem does not appear to be related to the electronic voting machines, according to Pitkin County Commissioner Mick Ireland. He said county election officials were looking at formulas used to set up the spreadsheet that tallied the votes from each precinct. Ireland said the spreadsheet formula apparently added votes cast by early and absentee voters to the votes from Precinct 5.

snip/more

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20051103/NEWS/111030027

[Wilms]

27. 2005 Election Administration Previews Signal Issues for 2006

electionline Weekly – November 3, 2005

electionline.org’s 2005 Election Administration Previews Signal Issues for 2006

Once again, Ohio is Center of Attention

By electionline.org staff

Next Tuesday’s elections highlight several key election reform issues that are likely to stay in the spotlight in 2006, electionline.org finds in a series of Election Administration Previews (EAPs) released today.

The previews reveal that Ohio continues to be the center of attention one year after its pivotal role in the 2004 presidential election. Two ballot measures could change the face of the state’s election system. The first would take election oversight away from the Secretary of State and entrust it to a statewide election board. The second would permit no-excuse absentee voting in the Buckeye State without an identification requirement – unlike a similar change recently made in the legislature (which includes the ID requirement).

More significantly, Ohio voters in 41 counties will now have the opportunity to cast their votes on touch-screen voting machines equipped with voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPAT).

In other states:

*
In California, some advocates are urging voters to vote absentee in order to have paper copies of their ballots in the last statewide election to feature paperless touch-screen machines in that state;

*
In New Jersey, the state’s new no-excuse absentee voting law has generated tremendous activity from both parties as they seek to influence the governor’s race;

*
In Washington state, King County’s election apparatus will be under scrutiny by a turnaround team hired by the County Executive to address criticisms raised during the recent gubernatorial recount; and

*
In New York and Virginia, there are high-profile races on the ballot (New York City mayor and governor, respectively) but little new in terms of election administration in 2005. This is largely attributable to the timing of reform – namely, Virginia has already implemented most of its changes and New York has yet to do so.

snip/more/links

http://www.electionline.org/Newsletters/tabid/87/ctl/Detail/mid/643/xmid/161/xmfid/3/Default.aspx

[Wilms]

28. Maryland commission appointed to study election systems

EarlyVoting Blog

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Maryland commission appointed to study election systems

The Maryland governor has appointed a blue ribbon commission to study in order to "Maryland's local, state and federal elections. Members will specifically focus on early voting, absentee voting, provisional voting, voter identification and voter verification systems."

It's not clear what sort of academic research the commission will draw upon. The appointees seem well chosen, but the list mainly consists of lawyers and elections officials. Not sure why it doesn't include, for instance, Jim Gimpel or Paul Herrnson of University of Maryland, both of are well-known and well-published scholars of election reform.

The governor's announcement is contained here.

Ehrlich's veto message concerning legislation that required a commission with members appointed by the legislature (not the governor) is contained here.

snip/more/links

http://earlyvote.blogspot.com/2005/11/maryland-commission-appointed-to-study.html

[Wilms]

29. CA: Postage Incorrect On Absentee Ballots

Postage Incorrect On Absentee Ballots
Requires 60-Cents, Not 37-Cents

Oct. 25 - If you plan to mail your special election absentee ballot from Santa Clara County, there's something you need to know to make sure your vote gets counted.

The ballot is printed with instructions to mail it back with a 37-cent stamp. But a San Jose man thought the ballot's thick paper made it too heavy for that amount of postage. He checked it himself - and it turns out he's right.

snip

There was a misprint on the ballot, and 60-cents postage is actually required.

Officials recommend putting the additional postage on the ballot to be sure it arrives. However, they've made a deal with the post office to accept ballots with less postage and the registrar will make up the difference.

snip/more

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=elections&id=3570751


Thanks to petgoat

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x399875

[Mnemosyne]

31. Fla.! Proposal seeks to resolve voting-machine dilemma

By JAMES MILLER
Staff Writer

Last update: November 04, 2005

DELAND -- Volusia County could be a step closer to resolving its voting machine problems.

At the County Council meeting Thursday, County Chairman Frank Bruno said officials had worked out a potential arrangement with a voting machine manufacturer that could preserve Volusia's use of paper ballots, while upgrading equipment for voters with disabilities in the near-term.

The idea -- which was not taken to a council vote -- involves buying touch-screen voting machines to meet state and federal accessibility requirements but replacing them with comparable paper ballot-marking devices as soon as those devices are available.

The federal government requires disabled accessibility by the first federal elections after Jan. 1. It has provided $700,000 to help pay for the mandate, but if the county doesn't have a contract for disabled-accessible equipment by Jan. 1, it will lose the money.

more:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Politics/Headlines/03PoliticsWEST01POL110405.htm

[Mnemosyne]

32. CITIZENS TO RALLY IN SUPPORT OF PAPER BALLOTS AND OPTICAL SCANNERS

THE DAY BEFORE NY'S LAST ELECTION USING LEVER MACHINES



Rally to be held at the State Capitol in Albany Nov. 7, 2005, 12 Noon

ALBANY, NY -- (11/04/2005; 1500)(EIS) -- This Election Day may be the last time that New Yorkers vote on mechanical lever machines. What will we replace them with? New York State citizens, legislators, and technical experts call for paper ballots and optical scanners rather than untested, unauditable, problem prone electronic voting machines (DREs).

At 12 Noon on Monday, November 7, New Yorkers for Verified Voting and the NYS League of Women Voters will hold a rally at the State Capitol in Albany NY in support of adoption of paper ballots and optical scanners, and to demand transparency in the voting machine selection process.

"The State Board of Elections is not listening to the many New Yorkers calling attention to the problems and high costs of DREs." said Bo Lipari, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Verified Voting. "Our State Board of Elections works on behalf of citizens, and we require regulations which explicitly address vital issues of voting system security, usability, and accessibility" said Lipari.

"Precinct-based optical scan voting machines with the addition of accessible ballot marking devices are a more reliable and accurate solution to meeting the requirements of the Help American Vote Act in New York State." said Aimee Allaud, Elections Specialist, New York State League of Women Voters. "The New York State League of Women Voters prefers optical scan systems because they meet our criteria of secure, accurate, recountable and accessible." said Ms. Allaud.

more:
http://www.eisinc.com/release/storiesh/PEFNYS.083.html

[Mnemosyne]

33. TX - County okays deal for voting machines

Front Page November 3, 2005

Hart Systems contract will cost $600,000
By BRENDA ALLUMS [e-mail]

Some 160 new voting machines are expected to be in place and ready for use in Gregg County for the March primary.

Gregg County Commissioners recently approved a recommendation from the county’s Elections Board to purchase the machines from Hart Systems Inc. of Austin.

The county will spend about $600,000 on the machines in order to meet the federallymandated Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA). This requires all polling places to have machines equipped for citizens with disabilities.

County Judge Bill Stoudt said the commissioners court is expected to approve the contract with Hart at its Monday meeting.

more:
http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2005/1103/Front_Page/001.html

[Wilms]

34. Election Standards Project

Election Standards Project

The Electoral Challenges and Standards Project encompasses a comparative study of five critical issues facing election administrators world-wide: refugee and external voting; boundary delimitation; political finance; election technology, and EMBs’ use of the Internet.

The project engaged five experts to develop framework documents that examine standards for these topics from the perspective of human rights conventions as well as those standards that are included in regional initiatives such as those by the Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Southern African Development Community, and the Council of Europe.

In order to receive comments from election administration practitioners, the frameworks will be discussed with EMBs through the regional associations of election officials. After comments have been received from EMBs, the Challenge project will develop five assistance packages to support EMBs in their administration of these new responsibilities under the standards frameworks.

snip/more/link to papers

http://www.ifes.org/arc-project.html?projectid=electionstandards

[Wilms]

35. Book: Democracy at Risk

Book: Democracy at Risk

How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation, and What We Can Do About It

Stephen Macedo and others

Brookings Institution Press 2005
c. 188pp.

Voter turnout was unusually high in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. At first glance, that level of participation—largely spurred by war in Iraq and a burgeoning culture war at home—might look like vindication of democracy. If the recent past is any indication, however, too many Americans will soon return to apathy and inactivity. Clearly, all is not well in our civic life. Citizens are participating in public affairs too infrequently, too unequally, and in too few venues to develop and sustain a robust democracy. This important new book explores the problem of America�s decreasing involvement in its own affairs.

Democracy at Risk reveals the dangers of civic disengagement for the future of representative democracy. The authors, all eminent scholars, undertake three main tasks: documenting recent trends in civic engagement, exploring the influence that the design of political institutions and public policies have had on those trends, and recommending steps that will increase the amount and quality of civic engagement in America. The authors focus their attention on three key areas: the electoral process, including elections and the way people get involved; the impact of location, including demographic shifts and changing development patterns; and the critical role of nonprofit organizations and voluntary associations, including the philanthropy that help keep them going.

This important project, initially sponsored by the American Political Science Association, tests the proposition that social science has useful insights on the state of our democratic life. Most importantly, it charts a course for reinvigorating civic participation in the world�s oldest democracy.

snip/more

http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/democracyatrisk.htm