Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News, FRIDAY August 4, 2006

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1860 - Lincoln


Source: http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Sunday 07/30/06

1960

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

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2004

Source:University of MI

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1. TX: Texas Democrats have good day in two courts

Austin American Statesman

DeLay can't be replaced; new congressional map due soon.
By Laylan Copelin, Tara Copp
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, August 04, 2006

Two separate courts Thursday gave Texas Democrats a glimmer of hope of recouping a couple of congressional seats as part of their party's uphill battle to take back Congress.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the Republican Party cannot replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, on the November ballot, as DeLay and GOP officials had wanted.

A three-judge panel in Austin trying to fix the state's congressional map signaled that it might make it harder for San Antonio Republican Henry Bonilla to win re-election — and also might try to restore more of Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett's political base in Travis County. The judicial panel's map could come as soon as today.

"Today was a good day" to be a Texas Democrat, said Norm Ornstein, a congressional analyst with the American Enterprise Institute. "Tomorrow may tell us if it was a great day."

Texas Democrats had sued to keep DeLay on the ballot even though he resigned from Congress in June and testified that he had moved to Virginia. Democratic Party officials argued that GOP officials and DeLay concocted that move as a way to allow the party to replace him.

Those Democratic officials think their candidate, former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, has a better chance against DeLay, the former House majority leader who faces money-laundering charges and possible fallout from federal investigations of his inner circle, than against a GOP replacement.

Republicans plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/4redistrict.html

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2. OH: What if we aren't ready for an election?

There's much to do to fix digital voting

Thursday, August 03, 2006
Joan Mazzolini
Plain Dealer Reporter
In 96 days, the people responsible for elections in Cuyahoga County will be hosts to tens of thousands of people voting for a new governor, U.S. senator, members of Congress and state legislators.

Will elections workers be ready?

Their chief is embattled. Their governing board is divided. The workers are dispirited.

And overall elections operations, according to an investigation of the botched May primary, need a ground-to-ceiling overhaul.

So, will they be ready?

"I definitely think they can be," said Candice Hoke, a Cleveland State University law professor and a member of a three-person panel that investigated the May election.

At the moment, though, it doesn't look good.

"The board and staff all need to be moving in the same direction, but right now, they're not," Hoke said.

Elections workers already have taken a step they were criticized for taking in the spring.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1154593879281930.xml&coll=2

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3. TN: Long lines in Rutherford means polls still open at 9:40 p.m.

Tennessean.com

Thursday, 08/03/06

By BOBBY LEE
Staff Writer

Rutherford County’s election office is reporting that there is one precinct still open, with voters in line. About 20 voters remain in line at the Walter Hills precinct, election officials said.

Voters in Rutherford County had been waiting up to two hours in the searing heat to cast their electronic ballots earlier today.

"The problem is the extremely long ballot," says Hooper Penuel, Rutherford County election administrator.

Voters will have to wade through 14 pages in order to cast a ballot for the primaries, or 11 pages for just the general election.

One voter developed a medical problem while waiting. "We had notification of an individual that had to sit down, became exhausted and I think she was on oxygen at that time. We got her some emergency service," said Penuel.

Other voters tried to beat the heat-and cut short their wait in line -- by opting to cast their vote by paper ballot, he said.

So many voters had requested paper ballots by midmorning that the county was concerned they were running through them at a fast pace. They called the state election authorities, who advised that paper ballots should only be given out to voters in case of emergencies or to handicapped voters who are otherwise unable to use the machines.

So the county stopped giving out the paper ballots, except to those with physical disabilities, in order to ensure that there were enough paper ballots available in case of an emergency, such as a machine breakdown, said Penuel.

http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS0206/60803060/1291/MTCN01

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4. TN: Election official: Report of Memphis poll impostor just a mix-up

Tennessean.com

Thursday, 08/03/06

The Associated Press

MEMPHIS - Election officials say the reported case of an impostor picking up a Memphis ballot box was actually a mix-up between poll workers with the same name.
Shelby County Election Commission chairman Greg Ducat said the mistake occurred Wednesday when poll worker Betty Johnson picked up the ballot box for her assigned precinct for today's primary.

When another worker from the same precinct came by later to pick up the ballot box, election officials tried calling Johnson to confirm she had it.
"We called the wrong Betty Johnson," Duckett said, "and when she said she hadn't picked up the box, we were left to assume it was an impostor who had the box."

http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/NEWS0206/60803055/1321/MTCN06

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5. MO: KC Gets New Voting Machines

KMBC-TV Channel 9


POSTED: 8:40 pm CDT August 3, 2006
UPDATED: 8:49 pm CDT August 3, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Election officials are preparing for a big change in voting Tuesday.
In Kansas City, the voting will be done electronically. A shipment of 210 new voting machines arrived this week, thanks to $2.9 million in federal funds.

The new systems are compatible with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The machines include a touch screen and a touch pad with audio for the visually impaired.
Election officials said the new machines will make voting easier.

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/politics/9626708/detail.html

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6. PA: Voting machines to make debut at Grange

Doylestown Patriot

By Gina V. Stevens
08/03/2006

Bucks County's brand-new electronic voting machines will be unveiled to the public shortly through a series of training sessions in the months leading up to the Nov. 7 General Election

The "user-friendly" Danaher machines, purchased by the Bucks County commissioners in March in compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, will make voting a virtual walk in the park, officials say.
The county will hold demonstrations on the streamlined machines for the general public as early as Aug. 16 at the annual Middletown Grange Fair. Other sites expected to host demonstrations in the coming months include senior citizen centers, public libraries and schools.
The County of Bucks will also provide educational materials and information via its web site (www.buckscounty.org), poster and brochure distributions, video and DVD recordings, and cable channel access through Comcast Cablevision.
The League of Women Voters and the Bucks County Board of Elections have already begun training volunteers scheduled to work the polls in November. In that light, Voter Education Project Manager Terry Savage led a hands-on training session July 26 to familiarize volunteers with the Danaher machines.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17008919&BRD=1685&PAG=461&dept_id=45363&rfi=6

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7. IN: Election Web site a headquarter for information

Tri-State Media

Posted: Thursday, Aug 03, 2006 - 05:02:43 pm EDT


Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita's office will share its successful e-Services program, which provides voters with information on and around Election Day, at a summit sponsored by the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in Washington, D.C.

In May, Rokita announced a Web site to answer voter questions on Election Day and for Hoosiers to report cases of election fraud and accessibility problems during the Primary Election. The resource assisted Indiana voters on Election Day and helped maintain the integrity of the state's electoral process.

The ? Primary Election Day HQ,” which still can be accessed via Rokita's official Web site found at www.sos.IN.gov, is part of Rokita's ongoing e-Services effort to incorporate technology into initiatives and duties undertaken by the Secretary of State's office. A member of Rokita's office will help to create a set of “best practices” with regard to voting information Web sites.

“For the first time ever in an Indiana election, our ‘Election Day HQ' Web site provides a variety of Election Day resources at the fingertips of Indiana voters,” Rokita said in May. “By accessing the site, Hoosiers can find out where they are supposed to vote, provide easy to understand answers on the new Voter ID law, and even access videos on how to use the new electronic voting systems found throughout the state.”

http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2006/08/03/warricknews/community/03election.txt

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8. FL: Voter registration deadline nears (announcement)

Sun-Herald

08/04/06

Those interested in voting in the Sept. 5 primary have until Monday to register or change parties.

Those needing to register can do so online at www.charlottevotes.com for those living in Charlotte County, or srqelections.com for those living in Sarasota County.

To change parties or to register in person, go to one of the Charlotte County Supervisor of Election's Offices: 6868 San Casa Drive, Englewood; 410 Taylor St., Punta Gorda; or 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.

For more information on registering or changing parties in Charlotte County, call 941-637-2232.

Sarasota County residents may register at the Supervisor of Elections Office at the R.L. Anderson Administration Center, 400 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. For more information, call 941-861-8600.


Clowns on the town this week ( oops -next announcement) :)

http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/080406/np10.htm?date=080406&story=np10.htm

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9. TN: Long ballot and longer lines frustrate voters

Tennessean.com

Friday, 08/04/06

By ANNE PAINE
Staff Writer

Long lines at several polling locations around the state left some voters sweltering in the hot sun for hours and others waiting hours after polls closed to cast ballots.
Delays were chalked up to lengthy ballots and, in several cases, to new computer voting systems. Lines also backed up as people hit the polls after work.

At 9 p.m., two hours after the polls closed, voters were still waiting in Vanleer and the Charlotte area, according to the Dickson County Election Commission.
Vote tallying bogged down in several counties, including Wilson.
In Davidson County, Eastland Baptist Church precinct workers didn't bring the memory card containing the votes cast to the Election Commission office.
"We're out there trying to get it right now," Ray Barrett, Davidson election administrator, said at 11:25 p.m. Thursday.
The church was locked and efforts were under way to reach church leaders to get back in. The same situation occurred with the old machines, he said.
It will make little difference in the vote totals for the county, Barrett said.

http://www.dicksonherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/NEWS0206/608040434/1297/MTCN02

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10. CA: Attempt to Nullify Vernon Election Defeated

Los Angeles Times

A judge rules city officials were wrong in denying people the right to vote and trying to set aside an April election.
By Hector Becerra, Times Staff Writer
August 4, 2006

The city of Vernon's attempt to stop candidates from forcing the town's first contested election in 25 years was shot down Thursday by a judge who described the city as one "run like a fiefdom."

The decision marks a defeat for officials of the small city south of downtown Los Angeles, which has spent months trying to invalidate the April election. City officials have refused to count the ballots from the vote until this and several other lawsuits are settled.

Vernon leaders have insisted that the candidates were ringers brought in by opponents trying to take control of the cash-rich industrial town. The challengers deny the claim and say leaders who have controlled the town for decades went to great lengths to prevent them from running for office.

It was up to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aurelio Muñoz to sort out the charges and countercharges, and neither side emerged unscathed.

Muñoz said attorneys representing the city did not present the evidence of fraud necessary to strip the eight men and women of their right to vote or run for office.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-vernon4aug04,1,5369633.story?coll=la-news-politics-california

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11. MI: New voting system won't be glitch-free

The Detroit News

Friday, August 04, 2006

Decision 2006
New voting system won't be glitch-free
John Wisely / The Detroit News

Election officials across Metro Detroit say all votes will be counted in Tuesday's primary -- despite new federally mandated voting machines, not because of them.
Prompted by the "hanging chad" fiasco of the 2000 general election, Congress required hardware changes. But among the problems local officials blame on the new voting equipment:
Ballot jamming.
Incorrect or incomplete computer programming that renders machines unusable.
Printer and display screen failures.
Misdirected write-in ballots.
Machines accepting multiple ballots but counting only one.
"It's a total mess," said Plymouth City Clerk Linda Langmesser. She had to reschedule a required public accuracy test after the equipment manufacturer, Election Systems and Software of Omaha, Neb., couldn't provide the proper computer programming in time.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/POLITICS01/608040336/1022/POLITICS

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12. TN: Greenbrier sees voting machine problems

Robertson County News

Friday, 08/04/06

GreenRidge Church of Christ experienced some electrical problems early election morning from 7-8 a.m. when they could only set up one machine.
During that time, the wait to vote was approximately an hour. However, once the problem was resolved four machines were put to use.

According to election officials at the site, the current wait is 15 minutes at the most.

Official added that it’s been busier than they expected but they are having no more problems.

(entire report)

http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060804/MTCN030702/60803042/1303/MTCN03

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13. LA: Annual Voter Education/ Registration Week to begin (announcement)

Southwest Daily News

Published: Thursday, August 3, 2006 2:26 PM CDT

Calcasieu Parish Registrar of Voters, Angie Quienalty announced the annual Voter Education/Registration Week will be conducted August 7th through 11th.

Calcasieu Parish along with other parishes throughout Louisiana, is working diligently with the Secretary of State's Office to increase voter registration and voter participation. During this period, the Registrar of Voters and staff will be speaking at civic clubs, schools, radio talk show, local television, and newspaper interviews, and numerous other gatherings and organizations. This effort will be to inform the voting public on matters ranging from “How to register to vote in person or by mail” to “How and when Early Voting is conducted.” The discussions will include matters like the statutory deadlines established for the last day to register or change your voter registration for each election, general registration information, voting early and voting at the polls on electon day as well as voting by individuals with disabilities. Discussions will also include how to become an election poll worker.

The Secretary of State's Office has prepared informational guides on Voter Education/Registration which are available at the Registrar of Voters Office and Clerk of Court Office or Secratery of State website www.sos.louisiana.gov/elections.

http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/articles/2006/08/04/news/news2.txt

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14. GA: Leaders Toast Voting Rights Victory But Worry About Getting Toasted

Atlanta Daily World

By:Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent August 04, 2006

WASHINGTON - Wade Henderson, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, standing behind a wooden podium at a hotel just blocks from the White House, offered a toast.
Holding high in the air a half-filled glass of red wine, he said: "We had the commitment, we had the expertise, we had the drive and we had the optimism of the most wonderful civil rights coalition, men and women right here in this room." he said, smiling broadly as the racially-mixed audience cheerfully applauded.
"We also had an incredible team of congressional leaders who were willing to spend hours mastering the substance of these issues and working the politics...And it worked, better than we could possibly have imagined."
Everyone in the chandeliered parlor of the Capitol Hilton Hotel had something to celebrate. The bi-partisan bill to reauthorize key sections of the Voting Rights Act for 25 more years had finally been signed by President Bush after months of anticipation and struggle

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17013114&BRD=1077&PAG=461&dept_id=237827&rfi=6

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15. MO: Carnahan Releases Voter Turnout Estimates for August 8 Primary

Kansas City Infozine

Friday, August 04, 2006

Twenty-six percent Turnout Expected for First Election with New Federal Election Reforms

Jefferson City, Mo. - infoZine - Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan said today that an estimated 26 percent of Missouri's registered voters will turn out for the August 8, 2006, primary election. This estimate is a compilation of the local turnout estimates submitted to the Secretary of State's office by the election authorities in each county.

If the 26 percent estimate is met, more than one million votes will be cast in the primary. The estimate also suggests that the primary turnout should be higher than it was in 1998, 2000 and 2002.

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/16834/

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16. CO: County Clerk Democratic Candidate Peggy Nerlin

Telluride Daily Planet

By Katie Klingsporn
Published: Thursday, August 3, 2006 7:15 PM CDT

Peggy Nerlin is so nice.

She smiles a lot, and seems genuinely interested in everything you say, and when she sees people on the street she knows she gives them a big wave and asks, emphatically, how they are.

Nerlin is running for County Clerk, a job that requires a high level of customer service, she said. It's easy to assume that if she does end up as the clerk, she'll continue the level of geniality that already exists in the courthouse office.

“I think customer service is so key in this job,” she said.

But Nerlin isn't just running out of a desire to serve the community. She is doing it because she believes she has the organizational skills and background to make her well-qualified.

snip

The San Miguel County Clerk is joining clerks nationwide by implementing new electronic voting devices to be in compliance with HAVA. Do you think you are able to deal with this transition and why?

Absolutely! I have been dealing with electronic transition since the 1980s! I have had the opportunity to vote on the new HART voting equipment that San Miguel County has purchased. It is very user-friendly, and I look forward to working with the staff ad election officials to bring about the process of electronic voting in the future. I currently work with a very intricate software program, and I feel i have and excellent business background and desire to make this transition.

http://www.telluridegateway.com/articles/2006/08/04/news/news04.txt

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17. ME: Disabled voters get new help

(author-publication credit unclear)

SACO (Aug 4, 2006): State Rep. Linda Valentino (D-Saco) joined Secretary of State Mathew Dunlap in Augusta last week at a kick-off event showcasing a device designed to allow individuals with disabilities to vote in privacy, without assistance from a caregiver.

Administered by the Secretary of State’s Office, Maine’s Accessible Voting System will be available for use by voters this November.

“This system is not only for people who have caregivers,” said Valentino. “Anyone who has difficulty with vision or writing, or who would benefit from having the ballot read to them, may use this simple device.”

Utilizing a telephone and fax combination available at the polls, voters listen to an audio version of the ballot and cast votes over the phone. A computer system controlled by election officials verifies selections and gives the voter the opportunity to change them. The system then generates a paper ballot marked with the voter’s choices and faxes it back to the voter. The voter places the sheet into the official ballot box.

Valentino was part of a task force charged with reviewing and selecting the system chosen for this project as part of the state’s effort to comply with the federal requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Ninety-five percent of the approximate $1.5 million start-up cost of the project will be paid for with federal funds.

http://www.keepmecurrent.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=22770

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18. TN: No Problems For Shelby County Voters At The Polls

Aug 4, 2006 06:27 AM

MEMPHIS - Shelby County voters, expecting to be met with long lines at the polls, were pleasantly surprised Thursday. For many it took just minutes to cast their votes, not hours as most feared.

Whether people were scared off by the possibility of standing in long lines in the heat or the new voting machines simply sped up the process it's hard to say.

A large turnout during early voting also contributed to the short lines, Thursday. Roughly 80 thousand people cast ballots Thursday about the same as a record breaking amount who voted early in the weeks leading up to the election.

"With all the new equipment, the longest ballot in history of Shelby County, one of the hottest days of the year. I am very pleased with the outcome of this election," said Greg Duckett, Election Commission Chair.

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=5239411

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19. MI: County clerk predicts problems in primary election

August 4, 2006 - 8:55AM
MASON (AP) - Ingham County's top election official says there could be some snags during next week's primary election.

New touch-screen voting machines designed to help disabled people are failing in test runs ahead of Tuesday's primary.

Clerk Mike Bryanton says the faulty equipment could cause longer lines on Tuesday. But he stresses that all ballots will be counted by hand if there are problems.

http://wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=28972&template=breakout_state.html

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20. BradBlog: NYT Op/Ed Criticizes Republican Power Grab in Alabama HAVA

Dispute

BLOGGED BY Winter Patriot ON 8/4/2006 8:08AM

A Federal Judge Stripped Important Electoral Powers from the Democratic Secretary of State and Gave Them to the Republican Governor
Just Another Day At The Office For Those Who Want To Subvert Our Democracy
Guest blogged by Winter Patriot

Things have begun to stink so badly in Alabama that even the New York Times has noticed.

An unsigned editorial titled Strong-Arming The Vote ran on Thursday. And we have some excerpts from it here:

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3181

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21. WI: Open voter registration deadline Aug. 29 (announcement)

Published - Thursday, August 03, 2006

Village of Bangor clerk Shelly Miller and village of West Salem deputy clerk Carrie Cooper recently finished state elections board training to use Wisconsin’s new Statewide Voter Registration System, designed to bring the state into compliance with federal election requirements.

Municipalities will hold partisan primary elections on Tuesday, Sept. 12. In compliance with federal election requirements, Aug. 29 is the last day open voter registration will be accepted. Anyone registering to vote after Aug. 29 is considered a late registrant. Late registrants will be required to prove identification at the polls. All voters must be registered in order to vote on Sept. 12.

“This system will be brand new to us,” Cooper said. “You can avoid long delays by getting registered to vote in advance.”

Miller also urges local residents to be registered early to avoid confusion and lines on election days.

http://www.couleenews.com/articles/2006/08/03/news/05voting.txt

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22. FL: Judge raises questions about new voter registration law

Herald Today

Posted on Thu, Aug. 03, 2006

MIAMI - A federal judge raised questions Thursday about a new Florida voter registration law that exempts political parties from stiff penalties imposed on other groups who violate rules on the handling of registration applications.

Concluding three days of hearings on a challenge to the law, U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz asked attorneys representing Florida Secretary of State Sue Cobb to explain why the Democratic and Republican parties - as well as 23 minor ones, including the Surfers Party of America and the American Poor People Party - were allowed to play by different rules.

"How do you justify separating them out?" Seitz said during closing arguments in the case.

Lawyer Peter Antonacci, who represents Cobb's office, replied that the state Legislature decided in drafting the law that political parties were already subject to heightened government scrutiny and that third-party groups were mainly to blame for late or missing voter registration forms.

"The Legislature is entitled to make the distinction that political parties are not the source of the problem," Antonacci said. "It is the rest of the world that the Legislature said, 'we're going to keep an eye on.'"

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/15191301.htm

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23. DU: Book TV Panel: Assuring Fair Elections Palast, Freeman, Robeson ,

VIDEO>>

Thanks to Helderheid

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1818072

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24. THE STAIN OF CONG DUKE CUNNINGHAM IS THE STAIN OF SECRECY, NOW IN OUR

ELECTIONS

Thanks to mod mom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x444967

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26. Voted today here in Tn. Asked for paper ballot...

Thanks to crybaby

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x444949

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27. Check out the new documents! Hot off the press! Diebold training manual...

Thanks to helderheid

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1813335&mesg_id=1813335

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28. Activists: Advisory proves Blackwell suppressing vote

Thanks to Algorem

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2435808

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29. McKinney Must Fend Off Primary Challenge (run off election)

Thanks to Omaha Steve

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2435662

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25. Jurist: FEC commissioner proposes rule easing restrictions on political ad

University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Friday, August 04, 2006
Tom Henry at 7:22 AM ET
The Federal Election Commission on Thursday released a proposed rule that would exempt certain "grassroots lobbying" communications from advertising restrictions imposed by the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) . BCRA prohibits interest groups funded by corporations or unions from airing television or radio advertisements two months before general elections or one month before primaries if the communications mentions a candidate in a federal election by name or is targeted toward a candidate's district. FEC Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky proposed the measure that would exempt grassroots lobbying communications during the time period if the ad is directed at an incumbent in his capacity as officeholder, not as a candidate; relates to a public policy issue being considered by Congress or the Executive branch; and urges the candidate to take a position or the public to contact the candidate on the issue.

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2006/08/fec-commissioner-proposes-rule-easing.php

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30. World: Congo: UN powers urge caution in DRC

News 24

03/08/2006 09:10 - (SA)

Kinshasa - United Nations powers on Wednesday warned rivals in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo not to sow unease among voters as they awaited results of the first multi-party election in 46 years.

According to the International Committee supporting the Transition in the DRC (CIAT), politicians and the media should avoid "mispresentation" of early counting in the July 30 vote.

CIAT, whose members included permanent UN security council powers: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States, said: "Such misrepresentation sows unease among the people and could threaten public order."

The warning came as some private television stations owned by candidates - in particular President Joseph Kabila and his arch rival vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba - broadcast results in towns or villages, presenting them as an indication of a national trend.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1977175,00.html

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31. Italy: Italian government to discuss immigrant voting rights, citizenship

Italian government plans to discuss proposals to grant immigrants the vote rights and make it easier for them to become citizens, Welfare Minister Paolo Ferrero said on Thursday.

The minister said the government would discuss the proposed changes in a Friday cabinet meeting.

The proposals were unveiled by Interior Minister Giuliano Amato last month.

The proposals include the right to citizenship after five years living in Italy legally, certain voting rights, and the right to bring specified family members into the country, including children under the age of 18, dependent parents and disabled or sick relatives.

http://english.people.com.cn/200608/04/eng20060804_289698.html

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33. India: Front calls for scrutiny of ration and voter cards

HERALD REPORTER


PANJIM, AUG 4 – Lashing out at the government for its “migrant-friendly” attitude, advocate Aires Rodrigues on Thursday sounded he would press for scrutiny of all ration, voter cards released in the State and for “keeping on hold” all new ration cards to be issued.

Speaking at a press conference, Rodrigues said he would carry out a “battle”, along with like-minded Goans through the Save Goa Front (SGF), the formation of which was announced today, to fight corruption at all levels of the government. Rodrigues is the convenor of the front.
The first goal of SGF is to check into the procedures followed while issuing ration and voter cards. It is come to light that migrants manage to get ration cards before entering the State and all this due to patronage from our politicians, he charged.
“I appeal to the Chief Secretary to initiate a process to scrutinise all ration cards the way the Mumbai administration is doing and thoroughly examine the documents issued for making these cards,” Rodrigues urged.
We have nothing against migrants, Rodrigues stated. “But those migrating to Goa should get the same rights and privileges a Goan moving to Sawantwadi, Karwar, Patna or Lucknow enjoys,” he added.

http://oheraldo.in/node/17372

[livvy]

32. Thanks...nice thread! K&R n/t

[rumpel]

39. thanks-

got out of breath... :) fingers, maybe

[rumpel]

34. WI: State's Voter Database Won't Detect Felons, Dead People

WISCTV Channel 3000

POSTED: 11:44 am CDT August 4, 2006
MADISON, Wis. -- The state's new voter database still won't detect felons or dead people during the fall elections.
Elections officials said technical glitches and data problems will prevent the database from catching the discrepancies.
The state had planned to roll out the database to nearly all municipalities by the Sept. 12 primary.
All states were to have statewide voter registration systems by Jan. 1 under federal law. Wisconsin and at least nine other states have yet to complete their lists, according to monitors.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/9629876/detail.html

[rumpel]

35. CA: Hearing sparks debate

Union-Tribune

Immigration bills discussed at House committee meeting in San Diego
By Philip J. LaVelle and Karen Kucher
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS



August 3, 2006

The debate over illegal immigration broke out on several fronts yesterday, fueled by a House Judiciary Committee hearing held on the secure grounds of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot near downtown San Diego.

Committee members clashed over competing House and Senate immigration bills that many critics – including some on the committee – predict will never be reconciled.

Anticipating the afternoon hearing, advocates of undocumented immigrants staged counter events in the morning.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20060803-9999-7m3immig.html

[rumpel]

36. BradBlog: ComputerWorld Covers Busby/Bilbray Voting Machine 'Sleepover'

Lawsuit, Contest…

BLOGGED BY Brad ON 8/4/2006 9:03AM

Motel Blogged from the road by Brad…

In addition to the previous article mentioned in Florida, more Voting Machine 'Sleepover' coverage today, this time from Marc Songini in ComputerWorld…

A lawsuit has grown out of alleged breaches in security procedures around electronic voting machines in San Diego County after a hotly contested congressional election, throwing a spotlight on the reliability of the machines themselves.
The suit, filed on Monday, requests that a special election on June 6 to fill the 50th Congressional District seat be invalidated. It also seeks a complete hand recount of the paper ballots, said Paul Lehto, an Everett, Wash.-based attorney handling the case. The suit was filed in Superior Court in San Diego and names Mikel Haas, county registrar of voters, and Brian Bilbray, the winner of the seat, as defendants.

San Diego voters used AccuVote optical-scan and TSx touch-screen systems from Diebold Election Systems.

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3183

[rumpel]

37. Freedom To Fascism - A Must-See Film

By Stephen Lendman

04 August,2006
Countercurrents.org

Aaron Russo has produced an important documentary film titled Freedom to Fascism that should be must viewing for everyone. It's now playing in theaters in selective cities around the US and hopefully will be shown abroad as well as what happens in the most powerful country on earth affects all others for better or worse. No one seeing this film will doubt it's frighteningly for the worst.

snip

The film also covers other important information including how US elections are now routinely stolen by government controlled manipulation and voter fraud through easily rigged electronic voting machines with no verifiable paper trail to assure an accurate and honest count. It also discusses the Orwellian Real ID Act of 2005 the Congress passed to become effective in May, 2008 requiring the states to meet federal ID standards. This law makes it mandatory for every US citizen and legal resident to have a national identity card (in most cases a person's driver's license) that will contain on it a person's vital and personal information. Once the law takes effect, no one will be able to open a bank account or maybe even have one, board an airplane, be able to vote or conduct many other kinds of essential business without it.

http://www.countercurrents.org/arts-lendman040806.htm

[rumpel]

38. OH: County won't hang curtains around voting machines

The Beacon Journal

Posted on Fri, Aug. 04, 2006

Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Franklin County elections officials have decided not to hang curtains around new touch-screen voting machines, despite concerns from May primary voters who complained about lack of privacy.

The curtains, which would cost more than $1 million, are too expensive, Matthew Damschroder, elections board director, said Thursday while briefing county commissioners on his agency's plans for November.

After the primary, voters told elections officials around the state that they were concerned others could see the choices being made on the touch-screen machines.

The manufacturer, Diebold Inc. of North Canton, and the secretary of state's office said machine placement - such as turning them at an angle to other machines or placing them so the voter's back is to the wall - should resolve privacy concerns.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/15197956.htm

[Melissa G]

40. Thanks rumpel! K&R!!!