Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Friday, 1/11/2008

[Mnemosyne]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.







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



If you can:

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








Please Feel Free to "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below). Thanks!



Morning all! :hi:

[Mnemosyne]

1. National. n't

[deminks]

17. Transcript of Hardball 1/9/08

Chris Matthews alludes to exit polls showing win for Obama.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22598272/

MATTHEWS: Welcome back to HARDBALL. Well, Iowa has said Obama and Huckabee and now New Hampshire said Clinton just last night McCain. Are we in for a long fight? Let‘s bring in the roundtable.

Roger Simon, one of the top political columnists around. He is with Politico. Jonathan Capehart writes editorials for the “Washington Post” here in town and Jennifer Donahue, a senior advisor for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics up at St. Anselm‘s.

Jennifer, I want to start with you. And I‘m wide open on this. I have no preconceptions. Because like everyone else I was stunned. I was passed a piece of paper for guidance that told me that Barack Obama was going to win a significant victory. This was based upon the polling of people coming out of the booths. Having voted.

More at the link.

[Mnemosyne]

53. Thanks for the contribution, deminks!

:hi:

[Mnemosyne]

32. For Young Voters In a Media Jungle, A Study Guide

For Young Voters In a Media Jungle, A Study Guide
Created by Students, VoteGopher.com Aims to Educate About the Issues

By Jose Antonio Vargas
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 11, 2008; Page C02

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- It's "taxing," "daunting," "overwhelming," Eugenia Garcia is saying. So many candidates: five in total, and that's just her Democrats. And so many issues to think about: Iraq, health care, global warming and immigration, the one she cares about most.

But online, where the 21-year-old political junkie follows the presidential campaign, "there's just too much information," she says. "I'm taking this election very seriously. I don't want to make the wrong decision."

Garcia, who's studying politics at Harvard, is living in a tech-savvy, hyper-connected world in which a monsoon of political information rains down on her each day. Four years ago, it was all about blogging, e-mail chains and MeetUp groups. Now add YouTube, Facebook and MySpace, each with its own political hub, and Garcia, already an overstuffed info consumer, faces a perplexing online gumbo. Where to go? What to read? Whom to trust?

On a recent evening inside Quincy House, one of the Harvard dorms, Garcia's making her customary rounds on the Web -- skimming through BBC.com ("My parents are from Argentina. I care a lot about Latin American news"), chatting with friends on Skype ("It's an international thing. You can chat and make semi-free long-distance calls") -- but also checking out a new political site she heard about from friends: VoteGopher.com. It's created by students for students, or anyone else curious about where candidates stand on the issues. It promises political literacy for young people trying to become educated voters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/10/AR2008011003726.html?hpid=artslot

[Mnemosyne]

33. The Voter ID Fraud

The Voter ID Fraud

Garrett Epps


There's a war on across the country over who will be allowed to vote in 2008. One of the key battles in the election was fought on January 9 before the Supreme Court.

The case is called Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. It tests an Indiana statute, passed in 2005, requiring voters to present a government-issued ID before they can cast a ballot. The law is aimed at alleged fraudulent voting by unregistered or noncitizen voters. Republicans insist that these voters pose a major problem, despite the fact that every systematic study of the question has concluded that this kind of fraud--called "voter impersonation"--is all but unknown in the United States right now. In fact, authorities in Indiana could not point to a single case of voter impersonation in the state's history.

Voter ID laws span a wide spectrum. The federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed in 2002, provides that all states must require ID from first-time voters who register by mail. But twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have gone beyond this. Eighteen require all voters to produce some form of ID, which may be a bank statement or utility bill sent to their address. Two require a photo ID, which may include employee or other unofficial IDs. Arizona requires all voters to produce either one government-issued ID or two other identifications. Indiana stands alone in requiring that the ID have a photo and be issued by the government--the most difficult forms of identification to obtain. Voters who don't have such IDs are supposed to cast "provisional" ballots, which will be counted only if they show up at election headquarters with a proper ID within a few days of the voting.

The more restrictive the law, the greater the likelihood that it will tip a close election by turning away legal voters--mostly the poor, minorities and the elderly. It's not a coincidence that these voters tend to vote Democratic. In fact, the State of Indiana, in its filings with the Supreme Court, admits that the litigation represents "politics by other means." This flippant attitude toward the right to vote permeates the state's argument. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has shown signs that it shares the view that turning voters away from the polls is constitutionally unimportant.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080128/epps

[Mnemosyne]

45. NH: We need to eliminate secret vote counting, not a recount

We need to eliminate secret vote counting, not a recount

New Hampshire's primary delivered a "surprise" upset victory to Senator Hillary Clinton, contradicting all pre-election poll predictions and even the facts on the ground, which showed Senator Obama with a strong lead and enthusiastic overflow crowds at every New Hampshire appearance.

Political pundits in the corporate media and citizen journalists in the Blogosphere alike are all asking the same question: What happened in New Hampshire?

It's pretty easy to see what happened in New Hampshire: We had an election in which 81% of our ballots were counted in secret by a private corporation, and this resulted in an outcome that is called into question.

That's what happened.

http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/5324

[Mnemosyne]

2. States. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

7. AR: Machines getting a close look

Machines getting a close look

Wednesday, 09 January 2008

Arkansas election officials say they aren’t expecting the problems that plagued the state’s new touch-screen electronic voting machines two years ago, but the machines are being tested to make sure they will be working correctly for the state’s Feb. 5 presidential primary election.

Saline County Clerk Freddy Burton and employees in his office are joining other county clerk employees in the state as they prepare and test the touch-screen electronic voting machines.
“You have to do a logic and accuracy test on each machine for every election,” Burton said. “You’re making sure the machine is doing what it’s supposed to do and making sure the ballot is correct on that machine.”

It’s no simple process, he said.

“We have to pull up the Democrat, Republican and Green Party ballots on each machine,” he explained. “You have to go through and check and make sure it’s recording each candidate.

http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/view/104611/

[Mnemosyne]

8. AR.: Smooth Electronic Voting Expected

Ark.: Smooth Electronic Voting Expected

By ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press


LITTLE ROCK — Counties around Arkansas are preparing and testing hundreds of touch-screen electronic voting machines for the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary, and election officials say they don't expect the problems that plagued the new machines in elections two years ago.

Several counties said they have begun testing or will begin testing the electronic voting machines this week in advance of the primary, which has been moved up from May. Early voting is scheduled to begin in the state Jan. 29.

Pulaski County officials on Tuesday began testing the roughly 160 electronic voting machines the state's largest county will use during early voting and on election day for the presidential primary. County election coordinator Susan Inman said testing on the machines would take several days, but didn't anticipate any major problems with the equipment.

"We're in pretty good shape so far," Inman said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5440394.html

[Mnemosyne]

11. CA: Huffman's new vote-by-mail bill advances

Huffman's new vote-by-mail bill advances

Brad Breithaupt
Article Launched: 01/09/2008 03:51:20 PM PST

Assemblyman Jared Huffman's bill allowing Marin and other counties to hold more vote-by-mail elections narrowly won approval in its first committee test.

The Assembly Committee on Elections and Redistricting on Tuesday voted 4-3 to advance Huffman's bill, an overhauled version of his all-mail bill that last year was shelved.

"It was hard work," said Huffman, D-San Rafael, whose bill faces opposition from organizations representing Latino voters, who contend so-called all-mail voting would dampen turnout among minorities.

Huffman said his bill - AB 1654 - is "a complete makeover" of last year's legislation. This bill, promoted as a "voters' choice," creates a five-year pilot that allows Marin, Sonoma and five other counties the option to conduct all elections by mail to see if it improves voter turnout.

http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_7924426

[Mnemosyne]

12. CO: Coffman changes tune on voting machines

Coffman changes tune on voting machines
Denver's clerk says she was told he might recertify the voting system after an appeal.

By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 01/09/2008 01:02:02 PM MST

Secretary of State Mike Coffman incorrectly decertified the electronic voting machines used by Denver and Arapahoe County, said Denver Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O'Malley on Tuesday.

In a meeting with a committee of the Denver City Council on Tuesday, O'Malley also relayed that Coffman had told her he would probably certify the machines if she appealed his decision.

O'Malley said Coffman telephoned her on Jan. 2 to tell her he no longer had concerns about the machines in use in Denver.

"He believed there was an error made that led to decertification of those machines," O'Malley said.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7916814

[Mnemosyne]

13. CO: County voting machines likely to be recertified

County voting machines likely to be recertified

By PETER ROPER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

The sky may not be falling after all for Pueblo County and others in Colorado that have been using electronic voting machines.

Secretary of State Mike Coffman has told several county clerks, including Pueblo Clerk Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz, that the Sequoia Voting Systems electronic voting machines that Coffman declared unacceptable in December probably will be recertified when the county clerks resubmit the equipment during an appeals hearing this winter.

"I talked to the secretary last week and he told me that if we follow the (procedures) his office has provided, the machines probably will be recertified after the appeals hearing," Ortiz said in an interview Wednesday. "That's a big relief because we spent a lot of money buying those machines in 2006."

That's pretty much the same story that Denver County Clerk Stephanie O'Malley told Denver City Council on Tuesday Ñ that Coffman had assured her Denver's Sequoia electronic machines also would be recertified during the appeals process this month.

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1199949687/3

[Mnemosyne]

14. CO: Denver clerk: Voting machines incorrectly decertified

Denver clerk: Voting machines incorrectly decertified

Posted: Jan 9, 2008 01:25 PM

Updated: Jan 9, 2008 02:58 PM

DENVER- Denver election officials say Secretary of State Mike Coffman made a mistake when he ruled that electronic voting machines in Mesa and other Colorado counties were unfit.

Coffman put county officials in a bind last month when he said most of the electronic voting machines used in the state did not meet accuracy or security standards.

Janice Rich argued that "Mesa County has conducted successful elections for many years" and "If the county goes with a new vendor--it will cost the taxpayers over $5 million."

Sequoia Voting Systems machines -- used in Denver, Arapahoe, Elbert and Pueblo counties -- are among those that didn't make the cut.

http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7599917

[Mnemosyne]

15. FL: Area absentee ballots near record pace

Area absentee ballots near record pace


By NICHOLAS AZZARA and STACEY EIDSON
Herald Staff Writers

If you're thinking of weighing in with a presidential preference or on the proposed tax-reform amendment, you might consider taking a few minutes to cast an early vote before the Jan. 29 primary.

If early statistics are any indicator, there could be a record turnout - and long lines - on election day. Manatee County Elections Supervisor Bob Sweat's office has issued close to 8,000 absentee voter ballots in recent weeks, up 15 percent from most presidential primaries. Sweat mailed 600 Wednesday alone, in response to a flood of requests Monday.

"We're getting requests like crazy, and people are picking them up every day," Sweat said. "The phone's ringing off the hook. But that's good. Anything to get more voters voting."

The numbers are even higher in Sarasota County, where Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent has mailed more than 12,700 absentee ballots.

http://www.bradenton.com/local/story/318681.html

[Mnemosyne]

16. FL: Primary mistake: Ballots sent to wrong addresses

Primary mistake: Ballots sent to wrong addresses

Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Last updated on: 1/9/2008 11:27:37 PM by Kate Eckman

LEE COUNTY: The Lee County Supervisor of Elections needs your help. A mechanical glitch sent thousands of absentee ballots to wrong addresses. Now, the rush is on to resolve the situation before the primaries.

If you've already received your ballot, you need to take a close look at it. Sharon Harrington, Lee County Supervisor of Elections, says it's possible the name doesn't match the address on the envelope and ballot itself.

When Lee County resident Alana Bobbish got her mail Wednesday, she says the most important piece in her mailbox wasn't addressed to her.

"My basic concern was did someone get my ballot?" said Bobbish.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=16811&z=3&p=

[Mnemosyne]

21. IL: Election vendor accused of deceptive practice

Election vendor accused of deceptive practice

By Joy Swearingen
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 4:30 PM CST

Hancock County Clerk Kerry Asbridge is requesting the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Election Systems and Software Company of Omaha, Neb., Asbridge said. “Election Systems and Software has consistently engaged in deceptive business practices concerning Hancock County, Illinois. It is time for it to stop.

“Technology is supposed to cut costs and save time. Our state and federal governments have been complacent while companies like Election Systems and Software have used the technology mandates to increase county costs four fold and multiply the time required to do election tasks.”

Election Systems and Software manufactures the M-100 optical scan voting machine, and the Auto Mark handicapped voting machine. The company provides ongoing computer software support and programming services.

Asbridge gives three specific examples where taxpayers are being abused.

http://www.journalpilot.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/news3.txt

[Mnemosyne]

22. IN: Voter cited by opponents of Indiana's ID law registered in two states

Voter cited by opponents of Indiana's ID law registered in two states

By Cindy Bevington
[e-mail] (Created: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 8:08 AM EST)

WASHINGTON – On the eve of a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Indiana Voter ID law has become a story with a twist: One of the individuals used by opponents to the law as an example of how the law hurts older Hoosiers is registered to vote in two states.

Faye Buis-Ewing, 72, who has been telling the media she is a 50-year resident of Indiana, at one point in the past few years also

claimed two states as her primary residence and received a homestead exemption on her property taxes in both states.

Monday night from her Florida home, Ewing said she and her husband Kenneth “winter in Florida and summer in Indiana.” She admitted to registering to vote in both states, but stressed that she¹s never voted in Florida. She also has a Florida driver’s license, but when she tried to use it as her photo ID in the Indiana elections in November 2006, poll workers wouldn’t accept it.

http://www.kpcnews.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/today/evening_star/doc478441f2313a5420740819.txt

[Mnemosyne]

23. IL: Illinois voter registration surges

Illinois voter registration surges

2008 Election

Posted: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- Illinois residents are still registering to vote Wednesday, even after the formal registration deadline.

Election officials say people are taking advantage of a "grace period."

People who use this option can't go to a regular polling place, but they'll be able to vote at the local election office or by absentee ballot.

Tuesday was the deadline to register for the usual voting procedure.

http://www.khqa.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=83018

[Mnemosyne]

24. MS: Federal appeals court sets hearing date in voter-ID lawsuit

Federal appeals court sets hearing date in voter-ID lawsuit

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON --
A federal appeals court has scheduled arguments for the week of March 3 in New Orleans in a case in which the state of Mississippi was ordered to adopt a party-registration system and enact a voter-identification law in time for the 2009 elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set the tentative date in an order issued Jan. 2. A specific date will be announced when the court sets its docket for March.

In December the 5th Circuit delayed implementation of a district judge's order that Mississippi enact a voter ID law and re-register voters until it could hear appeals.

U.S. District Judge Allen Pepper ruled last year the state should re-register all voters to allow people to declare themselves as Democrats, Republicans or members of another party. Or, Pepper said, people could register as unaffiliated with any party. Pepper said Mississippi must restructure its party primary system by Aug. 31, 2008.

http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/290854.html

[Mnemosyne]

25. NJ: Voter-registration fever has Jerseyans swamping offices

Voter-registration fever has Jerseyans swamping offices

Thursday, January 10, 2008
BY TED SHERMAN
Star-Ledger Staff

The back-to-back political drama that played out in Iowa and New Hampshire has yet to pick a nominee for either party, but it is awakening voters in New Jersey.

With the deadline to register for the Feb. 5 New Jersey primary coming up on Tuesday, thousands of applications from prospective new voters are suddenly being filed with state and county election boards.

"We received approximately 6,000 applications in the last two days -- 4,000 yesterday and another 2,000 today," said David Wald, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, which oversees the state Division of Elections.

The registration uptick is characteristic of presidential election years, but those who have experience in the division say the crunch usually comes later -- right on deadline, not a week before.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/119994517393290.xml&coll=1

[Mnemosyne]

26. NJ: Sea Bright election results challenged

Sea Bright election results challenged
Residency of voters at issue in outcome of mayoral race

BY MELISSA KARSH Staff Writer

A shadow was cast over the Sea Bright reorganization meeting Jan. 5 as a new mayor was sworn in and her validity as the Election Day winner was challenged.

Maria D. Fernandes was sworn in as mayor of Sea Bright Jan. 1 after a Dec. 4 mayoral election recount upheld the Sea Bright election night results that gave the longtime former Democratic councilwoman the mayor's seat, defeating Republican incumbent Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams by three votes.

Kalaka-Adams continued to challenge the outcome, however, by contesting the election results in state Superior Court in Freehold in a Dec. 13 filing.

Kalaka-Adams was in attendance at the meeting and, together with last year's council president, William J. Keeler, received a plaque in honor of her service to the borough.

http://hub.gmnews.com/news/2008/0110/Front_Page/003.html

[Mnemosyne]

28. OH: County racing to find new voting machines

County racing to find new voting machines
Officials will meet with vendors Tuesday. They must pick by month's end to be set for primary.

By Joe Nixon | Of The Morning Call
January 9, 2008

Northampton County expects to -- make that, needs to -- make a decision on a new voting system by month's end.

''By the end of this month, I have to have a system on order,'' county Director of Administration John Conklin said Tuesday.

The proposed time frame is tight but necessary, county officials have said. The county needs to have a new system in place in time to train voting office staff and poll workers for the April 22 primary.

Northampton County will host a vendor fair of sorts Tuesday at the county Government Center in Easton. Invited are officials from Lackawanna and Wayne counties, the only two Pennsylvania counties besides Northampton that were using Advanced Voting Solutions Inc. machines, now decertified by the state over testing and other issues.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_3vote.6218269jan09,0,3658441.story

[Mnemosyne]

29. IL: Voter registration jumps, even after the deadline

Voter registration jumps, even after the deadline

By NGUYEN HUY VU
Associated Press Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --
Election officials across Illinois report a surge in registrations for next month's primary, driven in part by excitement over the presidential race.

News coverage of the campaigns reminds people about the looming Illinois election and competitive races in both parties stir people's interest, officials said this week.

The Feb. 5 primary could help determine whether Illinois Sen. Barack Obama wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

About 10,000 people registered in the week leading up to Tuesday's deadline - roughly triple the figures from past presidential primaries, said Jim Allen, a spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

http://www.bnd.com/326/story/223440.html

[Mnemosyne]

30. IN: Supreme Court Voter ID Case Could Impact the Way You Vote

Supreme Court Voter ID Case Could Impact the Way You Vote

Submitted by WDEF News 12 and AP on January 9, 2008 - 10:23pm. News | Politics

The Supreme Court appears ready to uphold the nation's strictest voting requirements.

Indiana law requires voters to show government issued photo identification before casting a ballot.

During arguments Wednesday over a challenge to that law, Justice Anthony Kennedy did not sound persuaded the challengers had made their case.

More than 20 states require some form of identification at the polls.

http://www.wdef.com/news/supreme_court_voter_id_case_could_impact_the_way_you_vote/01/2008

[Mnemosyne]

31. PA: Elections chief: Voting machines here might not be so vulnerable

Elections chief: Voting machines here might not be so vulnerable


By Matt Snyder
Herald Staff Writer

MERCER COUNTY —

Mercer County’s voting machines may not be quite as vulnerable as an Ohio report makes them out to be, said Jeff Greenburg, county elections director.

The Dec. 14 report highlighted security faults in the popular ES&S iVotronic touch-screen voting machines used by the county.

Those faults could lead to votes being miscounted or even altered through methods ranging from physically manipulating machines to introducing viruses or malicious software.

“The report’s criticisms and conclusions with vulnerability are not the same in every county,” Greenburg said.

http://www.sharonherald.com/local/local_story_009215531.html

[Mnemosyne]

35. CA: Vote-by-mail trend causes big changes

Vote-by-mail trend causes big changes
Candidates forced to rethink ways to campaign in places like California

By Brandon Lowrey, MEDIANEWS STAFF
Article Last Updated: 01/10/2008 02:37:55 AM PST

With less than a month before Super Tuesday, thousands of Californians have already cast their mail-in ballots, and if this year keeps up with a decade-long trend, mail-in ballots could make up almost half of all Golden State votes.

In 2006, more than 41 percent of California voters mailed in ballots, compared with about 20 percent a decade earlier.

"At least half of the votes cast for this election will be by mail," said San Mateo County Elections Manager David Tom.

In the Nov. 6 consolidated local election, 63 percent of 75,394 voters cast their ballot through the mail.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_7930828

[Mnemosyne]

36. GA: Official: No Voter ID Expansion

Official: No Voter ID Expansion

Reported by: Denis O'Hayer
Web Editor: Michael King
Last Modified: 1/10/2008 8:46:23 PM


Georgia's top voting official said she will not ask the legislature to expand the new photo ID law to include absentee voters.

Voting rights groups have long argued that absentee ballots are much more vulnerable to fraud than votes cast in person at the polls. But the state's new photo ID law does not cover absentee ballots.

Democrats charge Republicans got rid of many former safeguards for absentee voting.

Secretary of State Karen Handel told 11Alive News a photo ID requirement won't work for absentee voters, but she said she will ask for other ways to tighten security.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=109377

[Mnemosyne]

37. IL: Hancock County asks feds to investigate election vendor

Hancock County asks feds to investigate election vendor

By Chuck Gysi/[e-mail]
Published: Thursday, January 10, 2008 4:20 PM CST

CARTHAGE - Hancock County's clerk said that escalating costs incurred by the county from an election vendor has forced him to call for a federal investigation of the firm.

County Clerk Kerry Asbridge has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Election Systems and Software Co. of Omaha, Neb., which provides election technology to the county.

"Election Systems and Software has consistently engaged in deceptive business practices concerning Hancock County," he said. "It's time for it to stop."

The firm manufactures the M-100 optical scan voting machine used in the county, as well as the Auto Mark handicapped voting machine. The company also provides ongoing computer software support and programming services for the equipment on a countywide basis.

http://www.macombjournal.com/articles/2008/01/10/news/news0.txt

[Mnemosyne]

38. MS: Reynolds reveals root of election problems

Reynolds reveals root of election problems

Peter Thomas 10.JAN.08

When the dust settled on the 2007 primary, general, and special elections in Tunica County, one thing was certain. The system was plagued with problems holding legal, professional, fair, and honest public elections for its citizens.

According to Tunica County’s Circuit Clerk, the problems exposed during the recent elections stem from a mixture of failures by county election officials, party election officials, poll managers and poll workers in properly following election law for running of polls and the handling of absentee and affidavit ballots, and in part, citizens of Tunica in improperly registering to vote in their correct precinct. Reynolds said this is why Tunica County, which has 6,650 active registered voters listed currently, of which only approximately 3000 voted in recent elections, took three days to certify results during the primary elections in August and until midnight to certify the general election in November. Adjacent counties in Mississippi, some with up to five times the number of voters, had tabulated results by 9 pm on election nights.

“First I want to apologize to the citizens for any problems they saw from my office,” said Tunica County Circuit Clerk Sharon G. Reynolds. “I want them to know that we didn’t do anything wrong on purpose or whatever people said we did. We tried to run an honest and fair election for every candidate and we hope that everyone that wanted to vote could vote and their vote counted. My position as clerk is to assist the democratic party and the election commission. In that position, I must help them prepare their ballots for the election. It is not my duty to ‘run’ the elections, only assist if an when needed and asked.”

Reynolds indicated that some of the problems seen in Tunica County began when citizens first registered to vote.

http://www.tunicatimes.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=3965&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1018&hn=tunicatimes&he=.com

[Mnemosyne]

40. TN: East Tennessee county leads state in educating voters

East Tennessee county leads state in educating voters

By: Emily Stroud, Reporter
Date created: 1/10/2008 2:45:51 PM
Last updated: 1/10/2008 6:51:14 PM

Monroe County goes all out on primary preps.


"We want to have informed voters," Monroe County Administrator of Elections Randall Moser said. "And if the voters come in already knowing who's on the ballot, the dates and times of early voting, and where we're located, it makes it easier on them, plus us also."

Monroe County is the only county in the state that sends a voter guide to every household, complete with a sample ballot, a vote-by-mail application, and election dates.

"Voter guides average about $0.18 each, which--I spend four times that on a Dr Pepper--so it's well worth the cost," said Moser.

The guides for the February 5th election should show up in the mail Thursday or Friday.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=53303

[Mnemosyne]

41. TN: Computer skills urged for election workers

Computer skills urged for election workers

Friday, January 11, 2008

By Randall Higgins
Cleveland Bureau

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Some election workers need improved computer skills, Bradley County election commissioners agreed this week.

Poll workers have been getting ready for early voting in the Feb. 5 presidential preference primary. Early voting is scheduled to begin Wednesday and run through Jan. 31.

Election commissioners said most of the poll workers who came to train this week didn't have trouble looking up information on a laptop. But a few need to become more familiar, and four had trouble manipulating a computer mouse, election officials said.

The commissioners agreed on three steps to increase proficiency. For workers unfamiliar with the laptop or mouse, only one at a time will be allowed to work at the early voting location. That will help them get hands-on experience quickly, commissioners said.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=28162&zoneid=77

[Mnemosyne]

43. OK: Election Board reports high voter registrations

Election Board reports high voter registrations

By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer

Garvin County voters are reminded they have until Friday to register to vote if they want to be able to cast a ballot in next month’s presidential primary election here in Oklahoma.

Officials here are reporting the registration activity has been high in recent days at the Garvin County Election Board office in Pauls Valley, which appears to match up with a trend now being experienced in other states holding primaries for the top office.

“All week long we’ve had a steady flow of people registering to vote in the presidential primary,” said Melanie Porter, Garvin County Election Board Secretary.

Applications are available at the Election Board or any tag agency and must be postmarked by midnight Friday if that voter is going to be allowed to vote in the Feb. 5 election.

http://www.paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/homepage/local_story_010115903.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

[Mnemosyne]

3. Foreign. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

46. Lebanon presidential vote delayed despite Arab bid

Lebanon presidential vote delayed despite Arab bid

Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:21am EST

By Laila Bassam

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon on Friday postponed its presidential election to January 21 from Saturday, the 12th such delay, despite efforts by the Arab League to get rival Lebanese leaders to agree an Arab plan to end the country's crisis.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced the delay in a statement.

Parliament had been due to meet on Saturday to confirm army commander General Michel Suleiman as head of state but lack of a deal between the Western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition meant it could not meet.

The delay follows three days of intense talks by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa with rival leaders in Beirut on the Arab plan that calls for the election of Suleiman, formation of a national unity government and drafting a new law for a parliamentary election that is due next year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1132395020080111

[Mnemosyne]

47. Serbia rejects election monitors

Serbia rejects election monitors

Serbia's election commission has barred US and British observers from monitoring the presidential election in the country on 20 January.

Observers from the two nations were unwelcome because of their backing of Kosovo's drive for independence from Serbia, some commission members said.

The province is expected to declare independence in the next few months.

Serbia's commission approved monitors from the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe and from Russia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7184197.stm

[Mnemosyne]

49. 'Voter bribes' in Zimbabwe poll

'Voter bribes' in Zimbabwe poll

Voters are being intimidated to back the ruling Zanu-PF party ahead of Zimbabwe's March elections, according to a report by independent monitors.

It says villagers have had to prove their loyalty to get free farming equipment, with threats of having it withdrawn if Zanu-PF loses.

Opposition parties have threatened to boycott the polls if they are not free.

Talks in South Africa between Zanu-PF and opposition factions to ensure free polls are reported to be deadlocked.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7183009.stm

[Mnemosyne]

50. Wales: Hain faces sleaze watchdog probe

Hain faces sleaze watchdog probe
Mr Hain is facing a call for his resignation

Peter Hain has been reported to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner for failing to declare £103,156 in gifts to his Labour deputy leader bid.

The watchdog will investigate whether the work and pensions secretary broke the rules on MPs' conduct.

Downing Street said Gordon Brown had "full confidence" in Mr Hain, who has said his failure to declare the donations was an innocent mistake.

But Plaid Cymru has called for Mr Hain, who is also Welsh secretary, to resign.

The Conservatives have held back from calling for Mr Hain's resignation, pending the outcome of the investigation by standards commissioner John Lyon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7182480.stm

[Mnemosyne]

51. Kenya opposition calls wave of protests

Kenya opposition calls wave of protests

Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:49pm EST

By Wangui Kanina and Alistair Thomson

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's opposition on Friday called three days of nationwide protests next week after mediation failed and the country's post-election crisis worsened.

Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also called for international sanctions against President Mwai Kibaki, who was re-elected in a disputed December 27 poll, saying world leaders would be irresponsible to trust him with "a single cent".

"We are asking our countrymen and women with whom we feel such great sadness and solidarity to join us in demonstrations countrywide on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week," ODM secretary general Anyang' Nyong'o told reporters.

Odinga's supporters say Kibaki stole the vote, and Nyong'o said Kenyans had every right to protest peacefully.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL108768820080111

[Mnemosyne]

52. Scotland: MSPs agree election control move

MSPs agree election control move

MSPs have agreed a deal arguing that the day-to-day running of Scottish Parliament elections should be shifted from Westminster to Holyrood.

The Scottish Parliament also supported holding council and Holyrood elections on different days.

The call came after last year's election fiasco, which was dogged by delays and saw about 140,000 ballot papers rejected.

An expert report later made a series of recommendations for improvements.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7178752.stm

[Mnemosyne]

4. OPED/BLOGS/LTTE. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

34. WV: Some States Find Faults With Voting System

Some States Find Faults With Voting System

West Virginia uses some equipment now under scrutiny in Ohio, elsewhere.

Posted Thursday, January 10, 2008 ; 06:00 AM

Story by Walt Williams

CHARLESTON -- Reviews in Ohio and other states have found flaws in some of the same voting systems used in West Virginia, prompting officials in those states to re-evaluate their procedures heading into the 2008 election season.

So far, no one in West Virginia is proposing replacing any of the voting machines used in counties throughout the state. However, state officials are reviewing reports from other states and likely will use any recommendations that apply, said Jason Williams, manager of the elections division for the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office.

"We are comfortable to continue moving forward with the voting systems we have in place," he said.

The Associated Press recently reported that officials in Ohio, Colorado, California and Florida found security flaws in tests of the touch-screen voting systems that have been put in place since the passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/OPINION01/801100304/1016

[Mnemosyne]

39. TN: Ballot paper trail proposal comes late

Ballot paper trail proposal comes late

Congress should pass legislation requiring states to keep paper trails of voters' ballots, then fund it.

Our nation can ill-afford another debacle such as the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush that required the U.S. Supreme Court to determine who won the Florida vote and, ultimately, the presidency.

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations last week released a report recommending Tennessee's 95 counties start using election machines that record a paper trail of votes. The report noted that only two counties, Hamilton and Pickett, use voting machines capable of producing paper records.

This report makes sense. We only wish it had been done two years ago so Rutherford County would be better prepared for the coming presidential election.

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/OPINION01/801100304/1016

[Mnemosyne]

42. Why New York Times e-voting story fell short - Sharon Machlis

Sharon Machlis

Machlis Musings

January 11, 2008 - 5:44 P.M.

Why New York Times e-voting story fell short

"Can You Count on These Machines?" asks a cover story in last Sunday's New York Times magazine. "After the 2000 election, counties around the country rushed to buy new computerized voting machines. But it turns out these machines may cause problems worse than hanging chads."

True enough. And, there was plenty of interesting and important information in that N.Y. Times magazine piece about vote-counting woes. But they ruined it for me with their snide, condescending attitude toward people with technological expertise. Why go there? My guess is that it's an easy (if cheap) way to justify why it took consumer media so long to figure out e-voting can be a problem. Who could be expected to believe those nerds anyway?

"The earliest critiques of digital voting booths came from the fringe — disgruntled citizens and scared-senseless computer geeks," the story says. Oh, really? People who have actual knowledge and understanding of the technology are "the fringe?" Seems to me they're less a "fringe" and more among the best qualified to determine how well these systems are being designed and implemented.

Writes Brad Friedman of Bradblog, a long-time e-voting skeptic: "It's better than the Times original take on us, from November 20, 2004, which referred to election integrity issues as 'the conspiracy theories of leftwing bloggers,' just after we began investigating and reporting on the very issues which make up the basis of today's 8,000 word, better-late-than-never, New York Times report."

http://blogs.computerworld.com/why_new_york_times_e_voting_story_fell_short

[Mnemosyne]

44. Bradblog: KUCINICH CALLS FOR 'RECOUNT' OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BALLOTS

BLOGGED BY Brad Friedman ON 1/10/2008 6:10PM

KUCINICH CALLS FOR 'RECOUNT' OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BALLOTS

Cites Concerns About 'Unexplained Disparities' in Hand and Diebold Machine Counted Ballots
Says 'It’s about establishing whether 100% of the voters had 100% of their votes counted exactly the way they cast them'


The BRAD BLOG has just spoken with a Kucinich press spokesperson who was not yet aware of the full scope of the hand count being called for. As more information becomes available, of course, we will share it.

Until then, a few thoughts on the announcement, a concern about recounts in New Hampshire from an Election Integrity advocate on the ground in the state, and one set of eyebrow-raising new numbers...

In the statement above, Kucinich says that he's calling for a "recount". While it may seem a quibble, the fact is that until now, 80% of New Hampshire's ballots have been "counted" only by a hackable, prone-to-error, Diebold optical-scan machine. The systems were entirely programmed, serviced and controlled by one somewhat less-than-reputable company (LHS Associates). The machines are the very same model shown being hacked in the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Hacking Democracy, in which the results of a live mock election were flipped via the gaming of the machine's memory card.

Unedited footage of that live landmark hack from December of 2005, as well as rare footage of LHS Associate's President John Silvestro, can be seen here. And more deep background on LHS and their troubling, and exclusive control over New Hampshire's ballots is posted here.

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5544

[Mnemosyne]

48. Asian voters in US 'got raw deal'

Asian voters in US 'got raw deal'

By Brajesh Upadhyay
BBC News, Washington

Many Asian American voters faced discrimination from voting officials during 2006 mid-term elections in the US, a civil rights group has alleged.

The report is based on a multilingual exit poll conducted among 4,700 Asian American voters in 25 US cities.

It documents alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act and Help America Vote Act and cases of "anti-Asian attitude".

According to a 2000 census, the US has more than 10 million Asian Americans, comprising 3.6% of its population.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7182758.stm

[Mnemosyne]

5. The Youth Vote. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

20. FL: Young Poll Workers

Young Poll Workers

Posted: 5:42 PM Jan 9, 2008
Last Updated: 9:37 PM Jan 9, 2008
Reporter: Bobeth Yates

High School Students As Poll Workers


The Florida presidential primary isn't just effecting party affiliations changes.

Area elections offices are gearing up for what they say could be one of their biggest voter turnouts in years. The Jackson County Supervisor of Election’s Office is getting some help from an unexpected source.

Tara Jurgonski and 12 of her classmates are some of Florida's newest poll workers.

"I'm not old enough to vote right now, but when I do I will actually know what's actually going on."

http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/13570602.html

[Mnemosyne]

27. Ohio moves to allow thousands of college students to work polls

Ohio moves to allow thousands of college students to work polls

By JULIE CARR SMYTH AP Statehouse Correspondent

Published on Wednesday Jan 09, 2008

Tens of thousands of college students could work at campus-area polls far from their homes under a proposal aimed at addressing Ohio's pressing need for election workers.

Lifting residency restrictions for student poll workers is likely to be a national trend as states contend with an aging legion of poll workers who average over 70 years old, said Doug Chapin, of the Pew Charitable Trust's electionline.org.

"As the need to find poll workers grows, you're going to start to see states being more creative or rethinking the traditional arrangements they have," Chapin said.

The central Ohio district of the proposal's sponsor, Republican State Rep. Larry Wolpert, includes the largest campus in the nation, Ohio State University, with 50,000 students from around the state and world.

http://www.ohio.com/news/ap?articleID=330561&c=y

[Mnemosyne]

6. Help Wanted! n/t

[Mnemosyne]

9. CA: Bay Area Counties Scrambling For Election Day Workers

Bay Area Counties Scrambling For Election Day Workers

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- California's primary is less than a month away, and Bay Area counties are scrambling to find poll workers.

Santa Clara County, for instance, needs at least 1,000 election day workers, especially in the cities of Gilroy, Saratoga, Mountain View and Cupertino, according to Elma Rosas, spokeswoman for the registrar's office.

She said part of the problem in finding workers is that California has moved up its primary date by four months.

http://www.kcbs.com/Bay-Area-Counties-Scrambling-For-Election-Day-Work/1454034

[RuleOfNah]

18. All Independent voters in California can vote (D) in the Presidential Primary but not (R).

While not fraud or reform, it might be cause for concern if CA is a factor in the Primary.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=488991&mesg_id=489145

[Mnemosyne]

54. Thanks for the addition, RuleOfNah!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

We need to watch everything involved, no telling where the criminals will cheat next.

[Mnemosyne]

10. CA: County offers $75 bonus for working 3 elections

County offers $75 bonus for working 3 elections

By Troy Anderson, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/08/2008 09:52:38 PM PST

Fearing it will be tough to recruit enough poll workers to serve in an unprecedented number of elections this year, the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to offer a $75 bonus to poll workers who work all three elections.

These elections include the Feb. 5 presidential primary, June 3 state primary and Nov. 4 general election.

While officials feel they are in decent shape for the February and November votes, they fear interest will trail off for the June ballot because it has nothing to do with the presidential race.

"Our concern is the potential for there to be a drop-off in interest in working in the June primary," Acting Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan said.

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7917154

[Mnemosyne]

56. Poll Workers Needed - Around the Country

Santa Clara, CA: Poll Workers Needed

Want to help your community on Election Day? Volunteer at the polls!

Being an Election Officer is a great way to serve your community and take an active role in democracy.

You also become part of the dedicated team working to make the election easy and accessible to everyone.

Volunteer and earn a stipend of $85 or more for providing this critical public service.

Contact the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters at (408) 299-POLL.

http://santaclaraca.gov/city_clerk/poll_workers.html

Huntsville, AL: Election Poll Workers Needed

Several additional poll workers will be needed for the upcoming elections.

What are the requirements?

- Be a qualified voter.

- Work in the precinct where you vote.

- Be able to work long hours. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but you must allot two additional hours to allow for opening and closing the polls.

- Must attend a poll workers school. This requires approximately one hour. You will be notified of the date and time of the school.

- Pay is $200 per day for inspectors and $150 per day for clerks that have attended poll workers school.

If you are interested, please fill out and print the form provided and return it by May 1 to the Probate Judge's Office, Room 100, Madison County Courthouse, 100 Northside Square, Huntsville, AL 35801. Note: Even though you return the form below, you may not be selected. Your name will be kept on file for future use. The Probate Judge's office may be contacted by phone at [phone].

http://www.co.madison.al.us/voter/pollworkers.shtml

Monday, December 31, 2007
Santa Barbara, CA: Poll Workers Needed!

The Elections office needs poll workers for the February 5th election. I've done this before and it is a good public service effort for your community. It's a 14-hour day at $120 but you can definitely afford a celebration that night at Elements or maybe down a few $15 martinis at Ruth's Chris with Craig Smith.

http://blogabarbara.blogspot.com/2007/12/poll-workers-needed.html

Marin County, CA: POLL WORKERS NEEDED

The Marin County Elections Department is continually seeking people dedicated to the democratic process who are able to serve in a polling place on election day.

Each election 700 or more people are selected to staff polling places where they are responsible for issuing ballots, assisting voters, and closing the polls after voting concludes at 8 p.m.

Election officers can earn from $90 for serving as a Clerk, to $125.00 for serving as a Deputy Inspector, to $150 for serving as a Chief Inspector. In general an officer should serve as Deputy Inspector before becoming a Chief Inspector. Those who have never worked at a polling place should read the following duties of these officers before making their selection on the pollworker application.

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/RV/Main/PollWorker/index.cfm

San Diego, CA: Poll Workers Needed

SAN DIEGO – About 4,200 San Diego County residents are still needed to work the polls for the Feb. 5 presidential primary election, according to Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler.

Only about 2,300 people have signed up so far, Seiler said Monday, adding that a total of about 6,500 workers are needed.

Seiler said the bumped-up date of the presidential primary is making it more difficult to recruit poll workers.

“The earlier date is expected to give the state a greater voice in the selection process, but the timing is a challenge because poll worker recruitment must be done during the busy holiday season when many people are focused on other things,” Seiler said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20071218-0346-poll.html

Boston, MA: ELECTION POLL WORKERS NEEDED!

12/31/2007 - Released by Election Department
For more information contact Lynne Onishuk

*** Please note: These are ONE-DAY positions. ***

The Boston Election Department is recruiting Poll Workers to assist in the important work of staffing the City’s 254 precincts for all the upcoming Elections.

In order to guide voters through the electoral process smoothly and speedily and to ensure that all the polling locations are adequately staffed, the Election Department requires a full complement of Poll Workers. There is also a critical need for bilingual individuals to serve in all the Poll Worker roles: Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors and Interpreters. Bilingual speakers of Spanish, Cape Verdean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Russian, Portuguese, and Somali are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following: assist with preparing the voting location for opening; hang signs in accordance with legal requirements; count ballots; check in voters; maintain a record of the Election Day’s activities; check handicap access; assist in removing signage; pack up election materials; and help check counts at the end of the day.

There are stipends ranging from $135-$175 for Poll Workers. While it is encouraged that all Poll Workers be available from 6AM to the closing of the polls (9PM), those workers serving as Inspectors or Interpreters may opt for a half-day shift: 6AM to 2PM or 1PM to 9PM (prorated pay rate of $9/hour). All prospective Poll Workers will be required to attend a mandatory 2-hour training session prior to the Elections.

http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=3599

[Algorem]

19. OH- Heads of GOP, elections board square off at board meeting

"We're going to make the case that the (Republican) party is on the brink of extinction in this county," he said.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1200043809184570.xml&coll=2

Summit officials squabble at election board meeting
Heads of GOP, elections board square off

Friday, January 11, 2008
Terry Oblander
Plain Dealer Reporter

Akron- Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff on Thursday accused Wayne Jones, a Democratic Party leader, of trying to meddle in internal Republican politics.

Jones, chairman of the county Board of Elections, said he used a vulgarity toward Arshinkoff during a public board meeting after Arshinkoff suggested Jones was supporting a move to unseat him as GOP party chairman. Jones said he nearly came to blows with Arshinkoff...


Jones said Republicans had ordered elections board staff members to segregate precinct committee petitions delivered to the board by State Sen. Kevin Coughlin so that the paperwork could be inspected more thoroughly than other petitions. Coughlin is challenging Arshinkoff's long hold over the county GOP...


"We're going to make the case that the party is on the brink of extinction in this county," he said...

[Mnemosyne]

55. Thanks algorem! All help appreciated!

:hi:

[Kurovski]

57. Kick to the top!

Thanks! :thumbsup: