Michigan Internet Voting Moves Step Closer

[Freddie Stubbs]

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan Democrats are a step closer to having the option of voting for their presidential favorite over the Internet next Feb. 7 despite a challenge from opponents who say Internet voting would deny equal access to minority and low-income voters in the state.

Hearing officer Helen McFadden heard the challenge to the Internet voting plan on behalf of the Democratic National Committee's rules panel and recommended Internet voting should remain available.

The co-chairs of the DNC's rules panel were inclined to accept the hearing officer's recommendation, said co-chair Carol F. Khare, but she said the full rules panel would be consulted in the case of an appeal.

Joel Ferguson, a black DNC member from Lansing who was among those filing the challenge, said he plans to appeal the recommendation. He said Internet voting might be a good idea in 2008, but would leave many voters who don't have access to computers at a disadvantage in 2004.

more: http://www.insidebaltimore.com/news/technology/03-11-03-mich.shtml

[Upfront]

1. Mr. Ferguson Is Full Of It.

as usual. We will have more polling places open then ever before. You can vote absentee. In addition you can vote on the internet. This is good if you beleive as I do that the Democrats need to get more people voting, and especially the young people who have not been voting. The good thing about this dis-agreement is we will have more polling places open then ever before. We did not have enough before. I once drove 60 miles to vote for Gep. and now know what a mistake that was. Mr Ferguson is a powerfull man in Michigan, and I think a good man, but he can get it wrong. He wanted to keep Mr. Williams as the MSU coach. People out voted him and we hired Mr. Smith, and most Spartan fans are happy we did. This is much to do about nothing, you can vote if you want to, and it will be easier. Certain candidates seem to want less people to be able to vote in Michigan, I wonder why?

[CMT]

2. I see nothing wrong with this

it is just another way to make voting easier. In addition to having more polling places and absentee ballots--what is wrong with having internet voting. People use the internet for many things. It is not disfranchising anybody--people can still attend in person or order an absentee ballot. We should be trying to make voting easier not harder. I understand that some of the candidates are upset because they think this favors Dean and/or Clark due to their success on the internet--maybe so, but I think even if they didn't have internet voting it wouldn't make much difference--their supporters by and large would show up anyway. It sounds too like they are trying to accomodate people who don't have access to computers by increasing caucus sites from 429 to 576.