Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Saturday, Feb. 25

[livvy]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.



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

If you can:
1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the new Spring 2006 Edition of "Election Fraud and Reform News Directory" listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x407240

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

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



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

[livvy]

1. FL: Dragging Feet, County Buys No-paper Voting Screens

Dragging feet, county buys no-paper voting screens
The quest for an alternative with paper ballots won't end, some vow.
Kevin P. Connolly
Sentinel Staff Writer

February 24, 2006

DeLAND -- Diebold is staying in Volusia County after all, and a shipment of the company's controversial handicapped-accessible -- but paperless -- touch-screen voting machines is scheduled to arrive Monday.

In a unanimous but reluctant decision capping a yearlong debate, County Council members agreed Thursday to buy 210 Diebold touch-screens, saying they were out of options for now in their quest for accessible voting devices with paper ballots, but they haven't given up the fight.

A majority of council members have resisted buying the machines for about a year, even successfully defending a federal lawsuit filed by advocates for the blind, because the devices don't use paper ballots, which some say are crucial in ensuring the public's confidence in any voting system.

Volusia is thought to be one of the last counties in the state to buy touch-screens, which provide handicapped access with "audio ballots," headphones and keypads.
>more
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-vvote2406feb24,0,4115177.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-volusia

[livvy]

2. NY: City's Lawyer Criticizes State on Rules for Voting Machines 2/23/06

February 24, 2006
City's Lawyer Criticizes State on Rules for Voting Machines
By JENNIFER MEDINA

ALBANY, Feb. 23 — The state's plan to modernize its voting system came under attack again on Thursday, as New York City's chief lawyer called the proposal for regulations on voting machines "gravely defective" and urged the State Board of Elections to overhaul the plan.

The board is scheduled to discuss the proposed regulations on Monday. The rules will govern which voting machines the state certifies for this fall's elections.

In a letter to the four elections commissioners, Michael A. Cardozo, who as corporation counsel heads the city's Law Department, said the latest state proposals ignored major concerns of the city, including recommendations for more security tests and more training procedures.

A spokesman for the State Board of Elections, Robert Brehm, said that he could not comment on Mr. Cardozo's letter but that the board would consider the recommendation before it votes on the regulations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/nyregion/24vote.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[livvy]

3. PA: Electronic Voting system Will Have Paper Trail in Bradford County

02/23/2006
Electronic voting system will have paper trail in Bradford County
By C.J. Marshall

TOWANDA - It's unofficial - Bradford County has picked a new electronic voting system to replace its paper ballots in the upcoming primary election.

The Bradford County Board of Commissioners is expected at its regular meeting today to officially approve the purchase of 165 WINvote touch-screen machines to be used in all of the area's 67 precincts. According to Director of the Bradford County Board of Elections Marie Zbyszinski, the commissioners officially gave approval last week to purchase the machines in order to make certain the new system was in place by the primary election on May 16.
Once in place, the WINvote touch-screen machines - which are produced and supported by Advanced Voting Solutions of Fisco, Texas - will allow votes to be recorded and counted electronically via a video touch screen, as opposed to the optical scanned paper ballot system now in place in Bradford County.

One concern voiced by some quarters is that electronic voting machines can be vulnerable to fraud, user error and illegal tampering. Zbyszinki said that each WINvote system is equipped with a printer that will record on paper each vote cast at that particular station. It is hoped that such a system, she said, will greatly reduce the chance of fraud or error in the electronic voting system.
The way it works, Zbyszinski explained, is when an election official sets up on Election Day, the WINvote system will - by law - be sealed at the office. When the seal is broken, and the system set up, the official will generate a printout, which should read "zero." If the system doesn't read zero, Zbyszinski said, it will be returned to the office and a new one substituted in its place.
By law, Zbyszinski said, they cannot hook the WINvote system up to a modem, or to the Internet, or over an intranet. At the end of Election Day, three printouts of the results are generated, she said. One is posted on the polling place day, and another is given to a minority election official for safekeeping. The third printout, she said, is transported, along with the electronic record of the vote to the elections office for tabulation. The paper and electronic tabulations will be compared to each other during the official vote count, she said.
more

http://www.thedailyreview.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16181580&BRD=2276&PAG=461&dept_id=465049&rfi=6

[livvy]

4. IN: New Voter Registration System Won't Solve Old Problems

An I-Team 8 Investigation
New Voter Registration System Won't Solve Old Problems
Feb 24, 2006, 10:41 AM

By Rick Dawson
Produced by Loni Smith McKown

If you are a registered voter in Indiana, you still might not be able to vote in the next election. If you do vote, your vote might not count or you might be able to vote twice. I-Team 8 explains why.

Even after the state spent millions of dollars on a new statewide voter registration system, the problems that thousands of Hoosiers faced last Election Day may happen again.

As I-Team 8 reported, thousands of voters were registered in more than one place, leaving the door open to the potential fraud of voting more than once.

"It looks like we're gonna have the same old, same old with a new database with bells and whistles," said Joel Miller, Democratic Marion County Voter Registration Board member.
more

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4543981&nav=0Ra7

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5. Talk of Voting Machine Maker's Business Exit Fuels Lawmaker Concerns

Talk of Voting Machine Maker's Business Exit Fuels Lawmaker Concerns

By JARED S. HOPKINS
Capital News Service
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

WASHINGTON - Key state lawmakers have begun preparing for the possibility that the company producing Maryland's electronic voting machines might exit the ballot business.

Their concerns stem from recent comments by the company's CEO, controversy over the machines' security and weeks of General Assembly debate over requiring the state's machines to produce paper records.

Two top lawmakers were so concerned that they sent a letter to the Attorney General asking whether the AP article or another state's possible decision to decertify Diebold machines warranted justification for terminating the Diebold contract.

Maryland Assistant Attorney General Robert A. Zarnoch responded to the query from House Ways and Means Chairwoman Sheila Hixson, D-Montgomery, sponsor of the bill to require the machines produce paper records, and Delegate Obie Patterson, D-Prince George's. Zarnoch wrote that neither incident was strong enough evidence, however the contract could be terminated if the state had to decertify the machines, or if Diebold would "abandon the voting machine business and attempt to walk away from its duties under contract with the state."
more

http://www.journalism.umd.edu/cns/wire/2006-editions/02-February-editions/060222-Wednesday/BallotBiz_CNS-UMCP.html

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6. NY: Groups Warn of Chaos At Poll Sites

Groups warn of chaos at poll sites
Watchdogs say state board needs to approve rules for testing, security of electronic voting machines

By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Thursday, February 23, 2006

ALBANY -- New York is headed for an election disaster as bad as the 2000 Florida presidential debacle, with no field tests planned for new machines and poor oversight of the companies that make them, a coalition of election watchdogs warned Wednesday.

"This could be a disaster that would make Florida look like a day in the park," said Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director for the state League of Women Voters.

Bartoletti, along with representatives from NYPIRG, New Yorkers for Verified Voting and Common Cause on Wednesday urged the state Board of Elections to make provisions for "mock elections," as a way to conduct true-to-life tests for voting machines.

The state plans to replace approximately 22,000 aging lever-pull devices used across New York. The Board of Elections meets Monday, and Lipari said he fears it will pass guidelines that don't require testing of the machines.

"There is no call for actual physical tests," Lipari said.

California, he noted, had a 20 percent failure rate when it ran a mock election. And when hackers tested voting machine security in Maryland "they found a gauntlet of problems."
more

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=453726&category=STATE&BCCode=&newsdate=2/23/2006

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7. WI: Election Reform Bill Also Takes Aim At Recalls

Election reform bill also takes aim at recalls
But proposal to form separate accountability panel is delayed
By STACY FORSTER
[e-mail]
Posted: Feb. 22, 2006

Madison - A broad election reform measure moving through the Legislature would narrow the ability of residents to bring recall petitions against local elected officials.

The bill is the product of a committee of lawmakers and election officials from across the state and is intended to clean up the administrative processes that led to questions about election integrity.

Although it contains many tweaks and improvements to the way elections are conducted, it does not include a requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls. Republican lawmakers - and some Democrats - support a photo ID requirement, but Doyle opposes it.

The reform bill says that to recall a city, village, town or school district officer, a cause for the action must be stated. The bill defines cause as official misconduct or malfeasance in office.

It would not change recall procedures for state or county officials, said Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), the bill's author.
more

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=403469

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8. Electronic Poll Books Speed Process for Workers and Voters

electionline Weekly – February 23, 2006

I. In Focus This Week

Electronic Poll Books Speed Process for Workers and Voters

By M. Mindy Moretti
electionline.org


Those days are numbered for millions of voters as Georgia, Montana and a handful of local jurisdictions in other states prepare to make the move to electronic poll books as a way to sign-in voters or route them to the correct polling place.
Electronic poll books, or e-poll books, range from laptops to PDA-type systems to point-of-sale style systems and are used in a variety of ways. They can be simple look-up devices to help steer voters to the correct polling place or they can be complete systems that sign in voters and track voter history. Despite the various incarnations and uses of e-poll books, the prevailing thought from those who use them is that life just got much easier for poll workers and voters alike.

Last year, Georgia finalized plans to acquire e-poll books from Diebold as part of their existing contract with the company that also provides their voting machines. Although the poll books have been used in several localities with another pilot set for March, the first statewide roll out will be the July primary.

In 2005, two localities in Virginia — Virginia Beach and Norfolk — used e-poll books as look up devices. Although both are considering using them more broadly in the future, for now they are satisfied with the look-up capabilities of the e-poll books.
However, as with any electronic elections technology, there are concerns about integrity, reliability and security. Some elections watchdogs fear e-poll books could be the target for “denial of service” attacks on Election Day or eliminate human-verified physical evidence of how many people actually voted.
However, as with any electronic elections technology, there are concerns about integrity, reliability and security. Some elections watchdogs fear e-poll books could be the target for “denial of service” attacks on Election Day or eliminate human-verified physical evidence of how many people actually voted.
more

http://www.electionline.org/Newsletters/tabid/87/ctl/Detail/mid/643/xmid/176/xmfid/3/Default.aspx

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9. Interesting Site of Europe's Voting Issues

I happened upon this site this morning in my quest for news. I thought some might find it interesting to explore even though some of the articles are quite old.

In the Press (Articles from April 6, 2005 to January 20, 2005
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/news/archive.htm

News Releases: 2006 (Jan. and Feb.)
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/pressreleases/press.htm



Alternative Voting Methods, Ballot Integrity and Security

The UK entered the 2005 general election with a big cloud hanging over the safety and security of the voting system, particularly the ability of all voters to cast their ballot postally. Just a couple of days before the election was called, a High Court judge, sitting as an Election Commissioner, concluded his judgement in the Birmingham fraud case by saying that the system of postal voting and the administration of it 'would disgrace a banana republic'. Judge Richard Mawrey had heard evidence which, he said, showed that the system of postal voting was 'wide open to massive and systematic fraud'.

In the event, the election did not throw up as many cases of abuse as had been feared, but the general tumult over the potential has led to a significant shift in the
Government's thinking in this area and proposals for legislation which will go a long way to cutting down on electoral fraud in UK elections.
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/topstories/elecvoting.htm

[livvy]

10. Clinton Campaign Ready For More Than 2006

Clinton Campaign Ready for More Than 2006


By MARC HUMBERT, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 24, 9:29 PM ET

ALBANY, N.Y. - Six years after battling her way to a Senate seat from her newly adopted state by campaigning night and day,
Hillary Rodham Clinton is coasting toward re-election — and piling up money that could go toward a run for the White House in 2008.

A year ago, New York's state GOP chairman sent out national fundraising letters warning that the 2006 Senate race was "not merely a race for New York. It's a race for America." To counter that, Clinton sent out letters warning that her 2006 opponents "will raise and spend hundreds of millions of dollars against me."

But that has not happened. Pirro and other Republican hopefuls and activists have struggled to raise money.

President Nixon's son-in-law Edward Cox, a New York lawyer who briefly pursued the GOP Senate nomination, said contributors had a "very knee-jerk" reaction to Clinton in 2000, but their attitude this time is "What have you got to offer against her?"
more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_el_se/clinton_what_campaign;_ylt=AuywuVtq00nksrGFXdX3VY.yFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

on edit: bad link

[livvy]

11. Ports Debate Gives Democrats Opportunity

Ports Debate Gives Democrats Opportunity


By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent Fri Feb 24, 9:31 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Eight months before midterm elections, Democrats sense political opportunity in a Republican revolt over the Bush administration's handling of port security in an age of terrorism.

Rather than risk attacking the president alone in an area of his unquestioned political strength, they can stand with GOP critics. And hope to benefit while the commander in chief is forced to defend his credentials in the war on terror.

The challenge for Democrats, says former White House press secretary Michael McCurry, is to "thread it into a larger tapestry" that challenges the administration's policies.

The controversy came at a time when Democrats had been straddling other issues related to national security, looking for ways to criticize the president on the Patriot Act and warrantless wiretapping without leaving themselves vulnerable to seemingly inevitable attacks that they were soft on terror.
more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_go_ot/democrats_security;_ylt=AhgxF0CTGGpi3EY.XNqrrAuyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

12. U.S. Judge: No New Orleans Election Delay

U.S. Judge: No New Orleans Election Delay



By KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 24, 7:57 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge Friday refuse to postpone the April 22 mayoral election in New Orleans, turning back arguments that too many black residents scattered by Hurricane Katrina will be unable to take part.

he decision was issued by U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle, who had earlier pressured state officials to make sure the election was held by the end of April.

"We're extremely disappointed," said Tracie Washington, one of the lawyers working with hurricane victim advocates who wanted to either delay the election or force the state to set up "satellite" voting operations out of state.
more


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_el_st_lo/new_orleans_election;_ylt=ArRQh_ByYUv1hAUlvlW3AaSyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

13. 36 Governor Races Bound to Redraw Politics

36 Governor Races Bound to Redraw Politics



By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer Fri Feb 24, 7:55 PM ET

Three dozen contests for governor next fall promise to shake up the nation's political map, with Republicans fighting to hold on to several critical states and the results offering clues to the bigger prize ahead — the White House in 2008.

Democrats are in good position to gain states, at least on paper. Republicans need to defend more of the 36 executive mansions up for grabs — 22 to just 14 held by the Democrats. Tough contests already are shaping up in big-population states including California, New York, Florida and Ohio, all now held by the GOP.

Democrats see reason for hope in President Bush's weak poll numbers, and in the administration's difficulty explaining its policies in
Iraq and response to Hurricane Katrina. The latest political storm, over security at U.S. ports, just adds to their optimism.

"What's different is voters getting tired of ineffective Republican policies, huge deficits, credibility, Katrina," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, head of the Democratic Governors Association. "Competence. I think the competence issue is our strongest suit."
more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_el_gu/governors2006;_ylt=ArYaB9hhVdkSnRXFyk7dtkqyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

14. Chicago Jail Escape Has Political Angle

Chicago Jail Escape Has Political Angle



By DON BABWIN, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 24, 3:15 PM ET

CHICAGO - Chances are, when six inmates broke out of the Cook County Jail earlier this month, they didn't know they were going to be drawn into a political campaign. Then again, this being Chicago, maybe they did.

In a case that seems straight out of Chicago's rollicking "Front Page" era, a jail guard is accused of helping the inmates escape in a plot to influence the election for sheriff.

"It certainly adds to the city's reputation for weird politics," said Don Rose, a political consultant in the Windy City, where a former governor is now on trial on corruption charges and legend has it that the mayor in 1960 helped John F. Kennedy get elected by conjuring up votes from the dead.

Authorities said Gater told them he helped the inmates break out to demonstrate lax security at the jail and embarrass outgoing Sheriff Michael Sheahan. That, in turn, would help Richard Remus in his campaign for sheriff. Remus is running against Sheahan's hand-picked candidate in next month's Democratic primary.
more


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060224/ap_on_el_st_lo/chicago_jail_escape;_ylt=AvGxdUwFnysDgziqKbe28ImyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

15. Santorum Charity Low on Giving, Up on Fees

Santorum Charity Low on Giving, Up on Fees



By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 24, 9:35 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record)'s charity donated about 40 percent of the $1.25 million it spent during a four-year period, well below Better Business Bureau standards — paying out the rest for overhead, including several hundred thousand dollars to campaign aides on the charity payroll.

The charity, Operation Good Neighbor, is described on its Web site as an organization promoting "compassionate conservatism" by providing grants to small nonprofit groups, many of them religious.


Operation Good Neighbor is based at the same address as Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum's campaign office in suburban Philadelphia, and some of the same people who have worked on his campaign are working for his charity and collecting money from it, records show.

Among them:

_Maria Diesel, who has been paid fundraising fees by the campaign, is listed as the charity's finance director. Filings show she has received $192,958 in professional fundraising fees from Operation Good Neighbor.

_Robert Bickhart, who has also been involved in raising campaign funds for Santorum, is listed as the charity's executive director. Filings show he has earned $75,000 in salary from the charity since 2001 and that his business, Capitol Resource Group, rents the office space to the charity. The charity has paid $20,437 in occupancy fees, filings show.
much more info on the shady Santorum and his questionable fundraising.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_go_co/santorum_charity;_ylt=AlMXv9iZVk53RpSexKwdBmSyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

25. Discussion Thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2131167

[livvy]

16. Wade Pleads Guilty to Bribing Cunningham

Wade Pleads Guilty to Bribing Cunningham



By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 24, 7:58 PM ET

WASHINGTON - A defense contractor admitted Friday he paid a California congressman more than $1 million in bribes in exchange for millions more in government contracts in a scandal that prosecutors say reached into the Defense Department.

Mitchell Wade pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring with former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham to bribe the Republican lawmaker with cash, cars and antiques over four years, and to help him evade millions of dollars in tax liability.

Wade, MZM's former president, also admitted making nearly $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions in the names of MZM employees and their spouses to two other members of Congress, identifiable from
Federal Election Commission records as Rep. Virgil Goode (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., and Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla.

Wade also admitted his role in a second, separate conspiracy in which he did favors for a Defense Department official, including hiring his son at MZM, and other employees in return for their help in awarding contracts to his company.
more


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_go_co/congressman_bribery_plea;_ylt=Aj_ZR9AT29Tafav4uClTyo6yFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

26. Discussion Thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2131621

[livvy]

17. IRS: Charities Overstepping Into Politics

IRS: Charities Overstepping Into Politics



By MARY DALRYMPLE, AP Tax Writer Fri Feb 24, 9:33 PM ET

WASHINGTON - IRS exams found nearly three out of four churches, charities and other civic groups suspected of having violated restraints on political activity in the 2004 election actually did so, the agency said Friday.

Most of the examinations that have concluded found only a single, isolated incidence of prohibited campaign activity.

In three cases, however, the IRS uncovered violations egregious enough to recommend revoking the groups' tax-exempt status.

The vast majority of charities and churches followed the law, but the examinations found a "disturbing" amount of political intervention in the 2004 elections, IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said.
more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060225/ap_on_go_ot/irs_politics;_ylt=Atbtrv6AknG1YtWZbk8dzNCyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

18. South Dakota Vote Ushers in New Battle Over Abortion

South Dakota vote ushers in new battle over abortion

Thu Feb 23, 8:34 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The battle over abortion rights in the United States moved into a new stage after the legislature in the state of South Dakota, emboldened by the new make-up of the US Supreme Court, passed a sweeping ban on the termination of pregnancies.

Although it occurred in a sparsely populated state, the vote has sent a tremor through the whole women's rights community because it is expected to set in motion a series of events that could lead to the overturning of
Roe v. Wade, a bedrock 1973 ruling by the US Supreme Court that made abortion legal.

Promoters of the ban don't deny they aim much higher than South Dakota, a rural and socially conservative state which even today has only one abortion clinic.

Instead, they fully expect the ban to trigger a challenge in federal court, which, after a series of appeals and counter-appeals, will make its way to the US Supreme Court.
more



http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060223/ts_alt_afp/uspoliticsrightsabortion;_ylt=AqUORB_CVcYiMETpmilNmoyyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[livvy]

19. Nurses From Eight Unions Band Together

Nurses From Eight Unions Band Together



By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 23, 5:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Nurses from eight AFL-CIO unions are banding together in hopes of increasing their political and organizing strength, leaders announced Thursday.

The move foreshadows more coalitions within specific industries as organized labor attempts to regain clout.


After a difficult year that saw several large unions break away from the AFL-CIO, the labor federation is taking numerous steps to reinvigorate the labor movement.

On a separate front, leaders of the independent National Education Association, with 2.7 million members, and the AFL-CIO are discussing an arrangement that would allow local affiliates to join the labor federation, officials confirmed. The NEA would remain separate from the AFL-CIO at the national level, but local unions could apply for membership in central labor councils, which are active in local politics and organizing. Officials with the NEA and AFL-CIO plan to formally announce their plans early next week.
more
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_go_ot/reshaping_labor;_ylt=Aqf9Ca1f75yZeTJaLeMD_j2yFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

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20. Get Involved! Become a Lobbyist With VoteTrust USA: Information

I Count Coalition Announces DC Lobby Days In Support of HR 550

By VoteTrustUSA
February 23, 2006
VoteTrustUSA and other members of the I Count Coalition: Common Cause, Electronic Frontier Foundation, VerifiedVoting, VotersUnite, and Working Assests, have announced a Lobby Day event in support of HR 550, The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (HR 550). The Lobbys Days will take place on Thursday and Friday, April 6 and 7, in Washington D.C.

HR 550 would require a voter verified paper record of every vote, establish mandatory random hand counted audits to verify the accuracy of electronic tallies, and prohibit the use of secret software and wireless communication devices in voting machines.



The recent change in leadership of the Committee on House Administration has created a new opportunity for passage of this vital election integrity measure. Previous Lobby Day events in June and August of 2005 were a huge success,generating 24 new cosponsors on the bill from both parties. Please join us in Washington DC April 6 and 7, to build even greater bipartisan support for this critical bill.

To sign up to take part in the Lobby Days and to find out more ways you can support HR 550 visit www.ICountCoalition.org.

more info at the link about this event and other ways you can help.

http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=970&Itemid=27

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21. Two More Republican Representatives Co-Sponsor HR 550

Two More Republican Representatives Co-Sponsor HR 550

By Warren Stewart, VoteTrustUSA
February 23, 2006

Reflecting the growing bi-partisan consensus nationwide that safeguards are needed to verify the accuracy of electronic voting systems, two more Republican Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of Rep. Rush Holt's Voter Confidence and Increased Accesibility Act (HR 550). Last week, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) responded to developements Virginia, where prominent Republicans in both state Houses had introduced comprehensive election reform bills that included many of the same provisions found in HR 550. The bills both died in committe for this year's session. Today, Greg Walden (R-OR) joined as a co-sponsor, completing the Oregon delegation's support of HR 550.

Two Democratic Representatives have co-sponsored HR 550 in the passed month, Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Lincoln Davis (D-TN), bringing the total co-sponsorship, with Wolf and Walden, to 163. VoteTrustUSA, together with other national public interest organizations will sponsor citizen lobby days in support of HR 550 in April. To find out more visit www.ICountCoalition.org

http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=969&Itemid=26

[livvy]

22. Report Details Bias At the Polls

Report details bias at the polls

By Associated Press
February 22, 2006

Unfair tactics and confusing rules still make it tough for many minorities to cast election ballots, and the barriers are so common that the federal safeguards for voters must be renewed, a detailed new report from a civil rights group said.

"Protecting Minority Voters: The Voting Rights Act, 1982-2005" pulls together research and testimony from voters around the country to urge lawmakers to renew the parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that will expire in August 2007.

Among the findings of the 125-page report released Tuesday:

Polling places and voting hours in minority neighborhoods are routinely changed shortly before elections.

Election officials were found to have illegally purged voter lists and refused to translate election materials for citizens who are not fluent in English.

Voters and advocates complained to federal officials about unfair election practices more often between 1982 and 2004 than between 1965 and 1982, data compiled from Department of Justice records show.
more



http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_national/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19860_4487458,00.html

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23. Editorial: Why Renew Voting Rights Act? Ala. Town Provides Answer

Why renew Voting Rights Act? Ala. town provides answer

By DeWayne Wickham
When Asian-American residents of Bayou La Batre, a small Alabama town that was made famous by Forrest Gump, went to the polls in August 2004, they might have had one of the film's most memorable lines on their mind. "Momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get, " Gump, the title character in the Oscar-winning movie, said prophetically in the opening scene.

After being urged by several candidates to vote in the municipal election, many of the Southeast Asian-Americans in the town of about 3,000 had their ballots challenged. Nearly 50 of them were forced to fill out paper ballots and have another registered voter vouch for them.

Tuesday, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a non-partisan group, released a 187-page report that argues the need for reauthorizing the sections of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire next year. One of them empowered the Justice Department to send observers to monitor Bayou La Batre's runoff election.

Though the law "has accomplished much during its first 40 years, more remains to be done in order to protect the rights of racial and ethnic minorities to fully and equally participate in the electoral process," the report concludes.
more


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-02-22-forum-voting-act_x.htm

[Wilms]

27. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x414147

[livvy]

24. The Electoral College: A New Approach To Reform

February 23, 2006

The Electoral College: A new approach to reform
by Rob Richie and Ryan O'Donnell

http://www.opednews.com

Polls consistently show that a large majority of Americans favor electing the president through a national popular vote over our dysfunctional Electoral College. The current system makes most Americans irrelevant in presidential elections and is no more accurate for choosing a winner in close contests than a coin flip. No argument in its defense holds up to scrutiny.

Indeed, Congress has considered more amendments to reform the Electoral College than any other subject. One house has given the necessary two-thirds majority for change several times, including in 1969, when more than 80% of House Members voted for direct election and backers included the NAACP, AFL-CIO, Chamber of Commerce, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.

But even at a time when the Electoral College causes more harm to the principles of equality, accountability and majority rule than ever before, civic and political leaders almost never talk about it. They've just given up, contributing to a shockingly limited debate about what the problem does to American democracy in the 21st century.

Fortunately, an innovative new effort is about to turn this conventional wisdom on its head. In the coming year, expect a sharp rise in debate about reforming presidential elections - and change to start in a state near you.
more

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_rich_060223_the_electoral_colleg.htm

[Wilms]

28. Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x414235

[Wilms]

29. Staff & Consultant Reports Up on SoS Website CA

Staff & Consultant Reports Up on SoS Website CA

Hearing Agenda

SEQUOIA System - Staff Report
SEQUOIA System - Consultant's Report
SEQUOIA System - Edge I Volume Test Error Reports
SEQUOIA System - Edge II Volume Test Error Reports
SEQUOIA System - Insight Volume Test Error Reports
SEQUOIA System - Insight Volume Test Error Reports
SEQUOIA System - Proposed Use Procedures

HART System - Staff Report
HART System - Consultant's Report
HART System - eSlate Volume Test Error Reports
HART System - eScan Volume Test Error Reports
HART System - Proposed Use Procedures

ESS System - Staff Report
ESS System - Consultant's Report
ESS System - PBC Volume Test Error Reports
ESS System - Proposed Use Procedures


Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x414478

[Wilms]

30. CA: Voting machines certified, but with conditions

Voting machines certified, but with conditions

02/25/2006

James Faulk The Times-Standard

EUREKA -- The new touch-screen voting systems on order by the county to offer more accessibility to area voters have been certified by the state, with a few conditions.

snip

”There are still some security issues to be addressed,” said County Clerk Carolyn Crnich.

snip

Some advocates maintain that the certification of the voting system is a mistake that could prove costly. Dave Berman, co-founder of the Voter Confidence Committee of Humboldt County, said the secretary of state doesn't have the authority to unilaterally change California's election law.

”Despite granting conditional certification to Humboldt's election machines, the equipment is in violation of state and federal law, even according to the secretary's own security analysis,” he said. “I anticipate a court injunction will prevent Humboldt's continued use of these illegal and unsecure Diebold machines and urge the county supervisors and the Elections Department to begin making preparations to conduct the June 6 primary using hand-counted paper ballots.

“We must have a transparent, secure and verifiably accurate voting system or there is no basis for confidence in the results reported,” Berman said.

snip

http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_3546656


Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x414559

[yowzayowzayowza]

31. Tx Progressive Populist Caucus Endorses VVPAT

http://www.texaspopulists.com/files/Public%20Support%20for%20VVPAT.pdf

from: http://www.texaspopulists.com/node/835

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Party Governance Resolutions

Party Governance Resolution Number 2 (Progressive Populist Caucus)

DRAFT RESOLUTION ON PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR VVPAT

WHEREAS the Democratic Party is one of just two Political Parties Nominating By Primary Election (Title 10, Subtitle B, Texas Election Code) in Texas; …

WHEREAS it exercises inherent powers (Title 10, Section 161.001); …

WHEREAS the State Democratic Executive Committee is the general custodian of records for this party (Title 5, Section 66.010); and …

WHEREAS the State Democratic Convention is the highest authority of the party in Texas; …

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the State Democratic Convention duly convened in Fort Worth to conduct such business as shall properly come before it, …

1. THAT the people of the TDP direct its leadership, including Chair as well as all Democratic Party County Chairs, to actively and aggressively advocate the inclusion of a voter verifiable paper audit trail with all DRE electronic voting machines in use for all elections.

...snip

13 Texas Counties have such non-transparent voting machines in use and many more in ’06 will be adding them to comply with HAVA requirements. Aggressive advocacy for this verified voting technology includes proactively communicating this urgent need to all Democratic party officeholders and candidates, especially those in charge of elections, media interviews, public meetings and news releases stating the Party’s continuing demand for a VVPAT.