Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Wednesday 6/8/05

[MelissaB]

Everyone is encouraged to participate

If you can:

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

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

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

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


Link to previous Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x375823


All previous daily threads are available here: http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm

(This is a new source. Please check it out.) :hi:

[Wilms]

1. (PA) Computer glitch delays Bucks election count

Computer glitch delays Bucks election count
County can't certify primary results until printouts corrected.

By Hal Marcovitz
Of The Morning Call

From The Morning Call -- June 8, 2005

Bucks County government's much-maligned computer system is at the bottom of another election mix-up.

On Monday, the Bucks County Board of Elections was expected to issue a certified count for the May 17 primary, but couldn't because a computer printout contained numerous errors.

-snip-

County Commissioner James F. Cawley, the chairman of the Elections Board, said the mistake was caused by a programming error in the county's mainframe computer.

-snip-

And in the spring 2004 primary, a keyboarding error gave U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter 85,000 extra votes in his re-election bid against then-U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.

-snip/more-

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_2electionjun08,0,209391.story?coll=all-newslocal-hed

[Wilms]

2. State won't penalize Volusia for rejecting touch-screens

State won't penalize Volusia for rejecting touch-screens

By Kevin P. Connolly

Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted June 8, 2005

DELAND -- The Volusia County Council's surprise rejection this week of touch-screen voting machines for disabled people has prompted anger, praise and curiosity, but County Chairman Frank Bruno was breathing a little easier after talking to state officials late Tuesday.

Bruno learned the state was not planning any sanctions against County Council members for voting down a contract Monday with Diebold Elections Systems to get disability-accessible voting machines for elections after July 1.

But Bruno said the official reminded him about something he already knew: Monday's vote could open the door for a lawsuit from a disability-rights group if the county does not come into compliance before the next elections, which are Oct. 11 and Nov. 8.

And an official with a national disability group based in Washington, D.C., said the County Council's vote against touch-screens put Volusia on his radar screen.

-snip/more-

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-locvoting08060805jun08,0,5506080.story?coll=orl-news-headlines

[LightningFlash]

6. Finally Florida is getting it....Take that Jeb Bush...

You want your special elections maybe you should move to Afghanistan? Last I checked America counts on verified, accurate elections and uses a fair democracy......

Don't back down on California and make sure it is a voter verified paper ballot. Disabled voters don't deserve anything less!!

[Wilms]

3. (CA)County may buy 5,000 paper printers to verify electronic votes by 2006

County may buy 5,000 paper printers to verify electronic votes by 2006

By: DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 8, 2005

RIVERSIDE ---- The county expects to pump at least $15 million into elections next year, more than twice as much as it spent for that purpose in the fiscal year that is rapidly drawing to a close.

The increase is being driven largely by a state mandate to produce paper records of electronic votes for the first time in 2006, and by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to hold a statewide special election this fall on initiatives that aim to reform state government.

The county Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval this week for an $8.2 million Registrar of Voters budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that covers salaries for the registrar's 42 employees and maintenance for its 4,250 electronic voting machines and other equipment. That budget includes a $1.7 million reserve for the June 2006 statewide primary. Moreover, Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore made it clear Monday in the county's annual budget workshop that she soon will be back with requests for at least $7 million more.

That compares with the $7 million the registrar is expected to have spent in this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The supervisors are scheduled to adopt a final budget for the upcoming year on June 28.

-snip/more-

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/06/08/news/californian/0_00_166_8_05.txt

[Wilms]

4. (FL) Opinion: Voter verification- County Council right to reject contract

Opinion

Voter verification

County Council right to reject contract

Last update: June 08, 2005

A majority of the Volusia County Council took a tough, brave stance Monday on behalf of disabled voters who deserve a self-verified paper record of their ballot, just as other voters now have.

In a 4-3 vote, the council rejected a contract for $782,185 to buy touch-screen machines for the disabled that held only promises of that basic democratic right. The machines manufactured by Diebold Elections Systems do not provide paper receipts -- even though the firm says it is working on that feature.

In a democracy, though, the right should come before the promise. Only with a direct, self-verifiable receipt of ballots can voters be assured their votes are correctly recorded.

Further, without paper receipts, an audit of any election could prove only that the number of voters equals the number of ballots. That's not enough. Paper receipts are essential in case machines malfunction. Several cases have been documented over the past year in which touch-screen voting machines lost ballots or misrecorded ballots.

The council's vote also temporarily blocks an expanded use of the machines for all voters. During the special council meeting, Elections Supervisor Ann McFall revealed that she intended to use the touch-screen machines for early voting sites, except at the election division's main office in DeLand. Voters in all but the one early-voting site could not opt to use the more reliable optical scan ballots. In earlier presentations, McFall maintained that optical scan voting would be available and touchscreen machines would be an option, even for the disabled.

-snip/more-

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN95060805.htm

[Wilms]

5. Diebold Inc. gets Utah's vote

Posted on Wed, Jun. 08, 2005

Diebold Inc. gets Utah's vote

Diebold Inc. has landed a multimillion-dollar contract to supply Utah with touch-screen voting machines.

The state's 29 counties are expected to buy more than $20 million worth of equipment and services over the next two years.

Utah primarily uses punch-card machines and is replacing the equipment as part of a federal mandate known as the Help America Vote Act.

Like some counties in Ohio, Utah will get Diebold's AccuVote-TSX machine with an AccuView printer. The printer creates an audit trail for recounts and allows voters to verify their selections before casting their ballots.

-snip/no more-

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/11841853.htm

[Wilms]

7. Miami-Dade may scrap its paperless voting machines

06/08/05

Miami-Dade may scrap its paperless voting machines

By Jack Gurney

Pelican Press

Conspiracy theories about the validity of paperless touch-screen voting machines refuse to go away, and a recent recommendation by Miami-Dade County elections officials to scrap $24.5 million worth of them could rekindle the issue in Sarasota County.

Last week, Miami Elections Supervisor Lester Sola submitted an analysis of the iVoltronic machines manufactured by Elections Systems & Software at more than 700 precincts and said they should be replaced with a simpler system that would restore voter confidence.

Miami-Dade is one of 15 Florida counties that bought ES&S equipment to correct the problems that captured national attention in the 2000 general election. Sarasota County paid $4.7 million for 1,615 of the iVoltronic machines that do not produce a paper receipt for voter verification.

If Miami-Dade follows through and replaces its touch-screen machines with paper ballots and optical scanners, it will become the first county in the United States to reverse course and go back to a system that allows voters to verify their decisions with paper receipts.

-snip/more-

http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArchive3/060805/vn3.htm

[Wilms]

8. (WI) Town of Herman's 366 votes for president should have been 266

Error nets Bush 100 extra votes

Town of Herman's 366 votes for president should have been 266

By GREG J. BOROWSKI

[e-mail]

Posted: June 7, 2005

While Milwaukee officials blamed computer glitches and data-entry errors for its more-ballots-than-voters-recorded problem, that explanation simply won't fly in the Town of Herman, population 741.

-snip-

"That would be highly impossible," Shawano County Clerk Rosemary Bohm insisted, when asked about conflicting numbers by a Journal Sentinel reporter in a telephone interview.

The click and whir of an adding machine were heard, then she returned with a sheepish acknowledgment.

"It appears on my form here there was a typing error of 366 for Bush," she said. "It should have been 266. It was apparently not caught."

-snip/more-

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun05/332057.asp

[Wilms]

9. (WA) County eliminates polling places

County eliminates polling places



By Sally Ousley

Jun 07, 2005 - 10:43:32 pm PDT

Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday unanimously decided that all elections will be conducted by mail, ending long tradition but bowing to voters' preference for convenience.

After hearing more than 90 minutes of testimony, commissioners ultimately with County Auditor Kris Swanson that mail balloting saves money, increases turnout and reduces mistakes.

Each commissioner acknowledged that they vote by mail, and elections officials said almost 80 percent of the county's 56,000 voters are permanently registered to vote by mail.

Of Washington's 39 counties, 23 have adopted mail-only balloting or are considering it.

-snip/more-

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2005/06/08/top_story/news01.txt

[Wilms]

10. Election Reform Advocates From 25 States Expected

More Than 200 Election Reform Advocates From 25 States Expected in D.C. For Two-Day Lobbying Blitz in Support of Voter-Verifiable Paper Trail

6/7/2005 10:30:00 AM

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Mary Boyle of Common Cause, 202-736-5770

News Advisory:

WHO: Common Cause, Electronic Frontier Foundation, VerifiedVoting.org, VoteTrustUSA, VotersUnite.org, Rock the Vote, Working Assets and election reform advocates from across the country.

WHAT: More than 200 citizen activists concerned with election reform have signed up for a two-day lobbying blitz on Capitol Hill in support of H.R. 550, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, which would require voting systems used in federal elections to generate a voter verifiable paper trail that could be inspected by voters prior to their votes being cast. The activists are coming from at least 25 states and represent 80 congressional districts. They have at least 80 meetings scheduled on Capitol Hill.

The coalition will hold a lobbying training session for activists before they fan out across the Hill to lobby the House and Senate for legislation sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.). The second day of the visit will feature a press conference, blogging and radio interviews by activists and additional meetings with members of Congress.

WHEN: June 9 and 10

WHERE: (June 9), activist training, 9 a.m. to noon, Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., meetings with members of Congress and staff, noon to 6 p.m., Capitol Hill office buildings

(June 10), press conference with Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), HC-7, Capitol, 10 a.m., activists blogging and media availability, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., HC-7, additional lobbying visits, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

http://www.usnewswire.com

© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=48461

[Wilms]

11. (WI) Judge rules election official had authority to make contract

Posted on Fri, Jun. 03, 2005

Judge rules election official had authority to make contract

Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - A state Elections Board official had authority to make a $13.9 million contract with a company in Bermuda that was hired to create a statewide voter registration list, a judge ruled Thursday.

-snip-

Ed Garvey, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, said he was concerned that information collected by Accenture would wind up in private hands and would not be owned by the state.

Elections Board spokesman Kyle Richmond said the contract provides that the state will have access to, but not own, the source code that runs Accenture's data collection program.

He said all the data, including voters' names and addresses, will belong to the state, not Accenture.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com

-snip/more-

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/11802048.htm

[Wilms]

12. (WI) State to put limits on voter list firm

State to put limits on voter list firm

Rules to be put in Accenture pact

By Judith Davidoff

June 7, 2005

State negotiators have agreed to require Accenture LLP, the company hired to create Wisconsin's mandated statewide voter registration list, to provide access to its proprietary software and ensure that confidential voter information not be copied or sold.

Assistant Attorney General Monica Kurkert-Brist sent a letter Monday to Kevin Kennedy, executive director of the Wisconsin Elections Board, confirming that Kennedy and the Department of Administration's Office of Legal Counsel have agreed to negotiate such requirements in two amendments to Accenture's $13.9 million contract.

-snip-

"They would be deal breakers if Accenture is not willing to agree to these kinds of protections for the people of Wisconsin," Kurkert-Brist said.

"The lawsuit raised the issue of ownership of the list and raised the fact that the source code was Accenture's private property and remained in the possession of this private company," he said. "That forced the state to renegotiate on those issues. I think gaining access to the source code is a significant victory, no doubt about it."

-snip/more-

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=42614&ntpid=5

[Wilms]

13. (NJ) Secretary of state draws a reprimand

Posted on Wed, Jun. 08, 2005

Secretary of state draws a reprimand

Regena Thomas failed to disclose her interest in a consulting firm.

By Robert Moran

Inquirer Trenton Bureau

TRENTON - An ethics panel yesterday reprimanded New Jersey Secretary of State Regena Thomas for failing to disclose her ongoing - though nonpaying - interest in a political consulting firm.

The Executive Commission on Ethical Standards said her violation did not warrant a stiffer penalty because she was not actively involved in the firm and had received no money from it since assuming her state office three years ago.

Thomas was a nationally known Democratic operative in 2002 when then-Gov. Jim McGreevey tapped her for the office, which oversees the distribution of grants to arts and cultural groups.

-snip/more-

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jersey/11839045.htm

[Dancing_Dave]

20. Wilms, I see you are still habitually linking to unanswered questions...

Going back to 9/11 2001.

Here's five original sites where real answers may emerge:

http://www.serendipity.li/

http://home.comcast.net/~jeffrey.king2/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

http://www.globalresearch.ca/

http://www.reopen911.org/

http://ny911truth.org/

http://www.waronfreedom.org/wgt-sf-speech.html

Hope that helps you figure out whats REALLY going on!

[Wilms]

21. The focus of this thread is Election Reform/Fraud

If you have resources for that and would post sories here, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Wilms]

14. Automark Handicapped-Accessible Voting Technology Gets Federal Certificati

ES&S Automark Handicapped-Accessible Voting Technology Gets Federal Certification

Jun 07, 2005 By News Staff

-snip-

"The certification of the AutoMARK will provide a new ADA-compliant voting option for jurisdictions that want to retain or implement paper-based election systems," says Dean Westrom, chairman of the DuPage County, IL Election Commission, servicing more than one million people. "The system works with existing optical scanners and provides unmatched features for the disability community."

The ES&S AutoMARK prevents overvoting, accidentally marking too many candidates; and minimizes undervoting, skipping a race unintentionally. At the end, the votes are summarized on the screen, also via headphones, and voters have a chance to change selections. Once complete, the voter brings the ballot to an optical scan machine for tabulation.

The machine offers several features for disabled voters, including an audio ballot; a tempo control voice technology; directions and a touch pad with Braille; repeat key voice technology; sip/puff tube for paraplegics and quadriplegics; and zoom and contrast button for the visually impaired. It also features a full range of foreign language options.

-snip/more-

http://govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php?channel=27&id=94223

[MelissaB]

15. Ohio coingate scandal explodes: State concealed a $215m loss

Article published Wednesday, June 8, 2005
RARE-COIN CASE

Workers' comp bureau concealed $215M loss; Taft, Petro knew about fund's woes many months ago

By MIKE WILKINSON and JAMES DREW
BLADE STAFF WRITERS

COLUMBUS — Democrats were screaming ''cover-up'' yesterday after state officials admitted that a high-risk hedge fund that the embattled Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation had invested in had lost $215 million in just a few months last year.

The bureau acknowledged that the fund, managed by a Pittsburgh-based investment firm, lost the money between February and September, 2004. MDL Capital Management relinquished control of the fund in November.

...

A spokeman for Gov. Bob Taft said last night that Mr. Taft had been told in September that there was an investment loss at the bureau — a loss of $10 million to $20 million.

...

''...The $225 million investment had no value at the end of September,'' the memo stated.


Link: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050608/NEWS24/50608003


Democrats at the national level should get off their fat butts and start screaming about this felonious, scandalous example of party cronyism -- one that cost pensioners millions.


Kids, this is proto-Enron government at work -- the strategic electoral neutron bomb that will sweep Taft, Ken ''Brackswill'' Blackwell and the other Grand Old Ponzi-ites from Ohio office -- and should provide sufficient collateral damage to Republicans -- but only IF you call your local paper and the cabal... er, cable news organizations and tell them they should be covering it!


Thanks to johnfunk here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1532130

[Wilms]

16. (NY) Officials will meet to discuss pros, cons of 2 voting machines

06/08/05

Officials will meet to discuss pros, cons of 2 voting machines

Counties preparing to comply with new federal standards

By Tom Grace

Cooperstown News Bureau

COOPERSTOWN — A conference of elections officials will meet today at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown to discuss, among other matters, what kind of voting machines to buy.

"We’ll have elections officials here from all over our region, and we’ll share information and see if there is any consensus," said Sheila Ross, Otsego County’s deputy Republican elections commissioner.

Nearly all counties in New York state are preparing to buy voting machines that comply with federal Help America Vote Act standards, and millions in federal dollars are available to fund the purchase.

The state’s legislature has yet to agree on a bill that would guide counties through the process, but such a bill might be passed soon, said Lee Daghlian, a spokesman for the state Board of Elections.

-snip/more-

http://www.thedailystar.com/news/stories/2005/06/08/voting5.html

[MelissaB]

17. Conyers on awards and "Senator (and Vice-President*) John Edwards"

I hope this doesn't come across as self-congratulatory, but I wanted to bring to your attention two very humbling honors I received in the last twelve hours or so.

First, there was an event in my honor last night in Washington with a very special guest: Senator (and Vice-President*) John Edwards. As many of you know, John’s life story is an amazing one of achievement, sacrifice, and humility. He is a guy who never has forgotten where he came from.

...snip

Back to the event -- I received lots of embarrassing compliments and praise. My volunteers camcorded it and some clips are posted below. One word of caution: this looks and sounds like a home movie and, like a home movie, we ran out of tape for the last ten seconds or so. So you don't feel like you completely missed the end of the show, I will summarize: John Edwards gave a typically rousing conclusion to his speech about the need for Democrats to fight for what they believe and stop the tactical politics that turns off so many Americans. He shunned the suggestion that we somehow need to change what we are about to win elections and advocated for exactly the opposite: a recommitment to the ideals of the Democratic Party.

...snip

Next, I learned yesterday that I am the recipient of the very first Buzzflash Wings of Justice award (there is a very flattering audio clip on the site). I am truly honored, but you should be too. Many of the things that caused Buzzflash to recognize me were the result of tremendous grassroots support from you. The investigation and challenge of Ohio would not have happened without your efforts. The ongoing investigation of the Downing Street Minutes is the result of grassroots pressure and support. We share this award.



Video available at site: http://www.conyersblog.us/

[Dancing_Dave]

19. Wow, Conyers is for Real and totally GROOVES!

I used to live in his district, near 8 mile road in Detroit. Well, I had to leave for economic reasons related to Corporate Globalization and failed U.S. economic policies since 1980...but Conyers is still the most awesome authentic dude Congress! More power to him!

:yourock:

[Wilms]

18. The Coming Fire: Conference on the 2007 Renewal of the Voting Rights Act

June 08, 2005

Conference on the Future of the Voting Rights Act
The Russell Sage Foundation is holding a conference, "The Coming Fire: Conference on the 2007 Renewal of the Voting Rights Act," June 24-25 in New York.

The foundation will also publish a book based on the conference papers, "The Future of the Voting Rights Act," edited by Rick Pildes, Rudy de la Garza, David Epstein, and Sharyn O'Halloran.

-snip/more-

http://electionlawblog.org/archives/003549.html

[Wilms]

22. (TX) Result counting went later this time

Result counting went later this time

San Antonio Express

08 June 2005

By Elizabeth Allen, Express-News Staff Writer

The choice of paper ballots over electronic votes appeared to slow election results Tuesday night, when 60 percent of the votes were posted by 10:37 p.m. — and hung there in a hair-close mayoral race, for an hour.

-snip-

At the time, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff was incensed that the county would have to go back and forth after upgrading. He was worried that switching might confuse poll workers and voters.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund felt the same, filing a federal lawsuit.

But the city has the right to pick from the available methods under state law. The county maintains some paper ballot technology to handle mail-in and provisional ballots, though it had to rent more machines.

Election workers hand-sorted the paper ballots for the council districts vs. ballots with just mayoral votes. Optical scanners then tabulated the separated ballots.

-snip/more-

http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=5521

[Wilms]

23. (ID) Punch cards knocked out (OpScan in)

The Times Online

Punch cards knocked out

PORTER COUNTY: County could get new election equipment by August

BY MATTHEW VAN DUSEN
[e-mail]
219.462.5151

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 1:05 AM CDT

VALPARAISO | It's official: Porter County can choose its own election equipment.

The County Commissioners approved a contract on Tuesday with Omaha, Neb.-based Election System and Software to provide new voting machines for the county's 125 voting precincts. The county had until the end of this month to enter into a contract to buy voting machines that meet Help America Vote Act requirements or the state would have chosen the equipment.

In May, the county's election board approved the purchase of 140 optical scan tabulators, which use paper ballots that voters feed into the machine. Voting watchdog groups generally approve of these machines because they leave a paper trail for recounts.

-snip-

The equipment contract is for $1.3 million, a cost that does not include voting equipment that is required by law for people with disabilities. Brewer estimates the difference between what the federal and state grant money will buy and the final cost is about $600,000.

-snip/more-

http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2005/06/08/news/porter_county/485e1b32523ee5418625701a0005a74d.txt

[Wilms]

24. Brad Blog - KOEHLER: Election 2004 a 'Shiv to the Gut of Democracy'

KOEHLER: Election 2004 a 'Shiv to the Gut of Democracy'

Tribune Media Services Columnist Continues Fight for his Country.

Robert Koehler of Tribune Media Services, one of just a handful of MSM'ers willing to continue the fight for democracy in America, gets it right all over again in tomorrow's column when he refers to November 2nd, as a "shiv to the gut of democracy."

-snip-

In his latest column, Koehler recounts the story of a man from Franklin County, Ohio, who had voted at the same precint for 50 years, only to show up last November to find that he was no longer on the voter rolls. "I guess my vote don't matter anymore," he was quoted as saying at a hearing before the Franklin County Board of Elections.

-snip/more

BRAD BLOG HAS AN ADVANCE PREVIEW:
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001445.htm

Discussion posted in GDP:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1839834

---
Brad Friedman
THE BRAD BLOG - The uprising continues...
http://www.BradBlog.com
VELVET REVOLUTION - The revolution begins...
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us

*** The BRAD SHOW On the Air via RAW RADIO!
*** http://www.BradShow.com
*** Now LIVE on Saturday Nights from 7p - 11p ET!
*** Broadcast coast-to-coast and around the globe
*** via the IBC Satellite Radio Network! Listen Online!

[Wilms]

25. (WI) Gov. Doyle: Statement on Election Problems in Shawano Co.

Press Release

Gov. Doyle: Statement on Election Problems in Shawano Co.

6/8/2005

Contact: Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156

Urges Legislature to "Get Moving" on Comprehensive Election Reform Package

"Today's report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that a bureaucratic mistake in the Town of Herman caused President Bush to receive an extra 100 votes is another example of why our election process needs to be cleaned up.

"As I have said from the beginning, the biggest threats to our elections don't come from voters trying to cheat, but from bureaucratic mistakes. Today's report shows that these mistakes don't just happen in urban areas - they can and do happen anywhere.

"It is time for the Legislature to get moving on the comprehensive election reform package I proposed two and a half months ago. My reform package will directly address problems like what happened in Shawano County. It includes a requirement for a post-election review process that would force election officials to automatically double check their own work after every election, instead of waiting for outside groups or the media to bring election flaws to their attention.

"In addition, my plan would improve training for poll workers, implement uniform voter registration standards, strengthen enforcement to prevent felons from voting, remove financial incentives for voter drives to submit fraudulent registrations, call for a 30 minute maximum wait time for voting, and launch a sweeping reform of the redistricting process.

"In the coming days and weeks, we will see if the leadership in the Legislature is serious about reforming our elections, or merely scoring political points. I urge them to move forward on my Election Reform package without delay."

A summary of the Governor's Election Reform Package is attached:

GOVERNOR DOYLE'S ELECTION REFORM PACKAGE:

Early Voting

To help ease Election Day pressures, the Governor called for Wisconsin to join the 23 other states that already allow for early voting. Municipalities will be allowed to start counting ballots before Election Day; however, no election results would be released until after the polls close.

The early voting period will mirror the timeline for absentee voting in Wisconsin, but early voting will also be allowed to take place on weekends.

While early voting will be available at municipal clerks' offices, the Governor's early voting proposal will also allow municipalities to establish satellite early voting locations at places such as grocery stores, shopping malls, libraries, community centers, and senior centers. Voters may also cast their ballot by mail.

Mandatory Training For All Poll Workers

Currently in Wisconsin, only chief elections inspectors are required to receive training. The Governor's proposal will require that all poll workers receive a certain level of training, to ensure consistent administration of elections across the state. The State Elections Board will be responsible for administering and determining the content of the course, offered in person, on-line, and by videotape.

Expanded Poll Worker Recruitment

The Governor will launch a variety of initiatives to ensure a larger polling workforce to meet statewide needs. In particular, the Governor will encourage volunteerism on Election Day, calling on private companies to allow employees who work as poll workers to take Election Day off without losing pay.

Additionally, the Governor will be launching an extensive outreach campaign to encourage high school students to volunteer at the polls. Wisconsin law already allows qualified high school students to serve as election officials on Election Day with parental and principal approval.

The Governor will also partner with municipalities and counties to facilitate the sharing of municipal and state workers, particularly in areas that have difficulty meeting the needs of registered voters. Such intergovernmental cooperation will include allowing local and state employees to assist a municipality with pre-Election Day activities, including the processing of registration cards and staffing early voting locations prior to Election Day.

The Governor also offered his support of the removal of residency restrictions on municipal clerks and certain other election administrators to allow them to register voters or fill in as poll workers in municipalities in which they are not residents.

Mandatory Training for Special Registration Deputies

Currently, any qualified elector of the state may apply to the State Elections Board to be appointed as a special registration deputy to assist municipalities in the task of registering voters. However, under current law, there is no prescribed training that a special registration deputy must complete. The Governor called for mandatory training of all special registration deputies to promote the more accurate and complete collection of voter information.

30-Minute Maximum Waiting Time

The Governor proposed a requirement that municipalities develop Election Day plans. The plans, approved by each municipality's common council, will be designed to achieve the goal of no voter waiting longer than thirty minutes before voting and will ensure proper oversight of election processes. Wisconsin would be the first state in the country to enact such a law.

Election Day Plans will be required to include:

* Details on pre-election education on voting eligibility and procedures;
* Strategies to ensure adequate staffing for pre-election activities and on Election Day;
* The assignment of at least one poll worker to monitor lines to make sure that voters are standing in the right lines, and answer questions;

* Measures to ensure the orderly and efficient flow of voters at every polling location;
* Contingency plans to deal with higher than expected voter turnout, including the requirement of having a group of trained, on-call reserve poll workers;

* Tight management controls to ensure accountable and orderly election processes; and
* A specified post-election review process designed to cover compliance with relevant election laws, determine whether the 30-minute standard was met, and provide ideas on how to improve the administration of future elections.

Additional Safeguards to Ensure Ineligible Felons are Not Allowed to Vote

The Governor proposed that the Statewide Voter Registration leave the name of an ineligible felon on the list with a notation that the individual is not eligible to vote, such as an asterisk or the date probation or parole, thereby prompting an election worker to have the voter fill out a challenged ballot instead of sending the person to the same-day registration line. By filling out a challenged ballot, the voter will still be able to vote in case the notation was an administrative error and the voter is not, in fact, an ineligible felon. The challenged ballot may be discounted later if the voter is found to be definitively ineligible.

The Governor's proposal also requires same-day registrants to be cross-referenced post-election against an updated Department of Corrections list to determine whether any ineligible felons voted that were not on the Statewide Voter Registration (due to being a first-time voter) or who were sentenced after the Statewide Voter Registration information was distributed to polling places.

Additionally, a same-day registration voter will have to affirmatively check on his or her registration form that the voter is not a felon currently on probation or parole, before being allowed to vote. Under current law, voters are only required to certify that they "are not disqualified on any ground from voting".

Allow Access to Voter Birth Date Information For Better Oversight

The Governor's proposal would again allow access to voter birth date information to prevent fraud through an open records request, but prohibit the use or sale of such information for commercial purposes or the display of such information on the Internet. Individuals seeking such information will be required to sign an affidavit, stating that the birth date information will not be used for any unauthorized purposes. Access to this information will help determine whether someone voted twice, a felon voted improperly, or someone voted as a dead person.

Prohibit Voter Drives From Paying Workers on a Per Voter or Quota Basis

Currently, many voter drives encourage voters to fill out registration forms and are paid on a per-voter or quota basis, thereby providing a financial incentive to cheat by forging signatures or registering the same voter multiple times. The Governor's proposal will prohibit such practices, and thus would protect the quality of the information being filled out. Workers could still be paid for their time spent registering voters.

Uniform Registration Cards

Currently, registration forms often differ from municipality to municipality, given that the statute only requires the forms to contain certain information. The Governor has proposed a requirement that the State Elections Board create a statewide registration card that must be used by all municipalities in order to ensure the more orderly collection of registration information.

Allow People to Register to Vote at their DMV

To help ease the pre-election workload of municipal clerks, the Governor proposed allowing people to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license.

Uniform Poll Hours

The Governor offered his support for statewide, uniform poll hours. Wisconsin currently allows different poll hours for different classes of municipalities. The proposal would require all polling places to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Require Maps to be Displayed at Every Polling Location

A common problem during elections is new voters standing in long lines to vote only to learn upon reaching the front of the line that they were at the wrong polling location. To reduce Election Day confusion, the Governor's proposal requires a map to be posted at all polling places serving multiple wards that would direct voters to their proper polling place.

Merging the State Elections and Ethics Boards

Governor Doyle also offered his support to transform the State Elections and Ethics Board into one agency, more effectively administering and independently enforcing state election and ethics laws.

Redistricting Reform

Despite the nearly even partisan divide in Wisconsin, only two incumbent legislators facing re-election were defeated in the 2004 general election. Of 116 total legislative races in 2004, 57 races had no major party opponent. Forty-nine legislative incumbents faced no opponent whatsoever.

Governor Doyle is committed to restoring competition and true representation to Wisconsin legislative elections, and has therefore called for redistricting reform.

Under the Governor's proposal, non-partisan staff in Wisconsin's Legislative Research Bureau (LRB) will draw state legislative districts using criteria that are proven to create competitive districts. When creating legislative districts, LRB will be prohibited from using incumbents' addresses and previous election results. This factor is often cited as a key to creating independent districts and competitive elections. New district boundaries will coincide with other political boundaries, be contiguous and compact, and meet all of the requirements of the Voting Rights Act.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=38372

[Wilms]

26. (WI) Bad vote tally revives reform debate

Bad vote tally revives reform debate

Doyle touts his plan for change, seizing on election error in town
By GREG J. BOROWSKI

[e-mail]

Posted: June 8, 2005

Gov. Jim Doyle on Wednesday urged Republican lawmakers to put his election reform plan on the fast track, citing a new report of a counting error that led to President Bush getting 100 extra votes last fall in the Town of Herman in northern Wisconsin.

A key GOP senator, though, called on Doyle to back a photo ID requirement aimed at stopping people trying to scam the system at the polls - and not just focus on post-election accounting safeguards.

Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) also noted that Doyle's plan has not even been introduced, so no action is possible.

Meanwhile, Doyle spokesman Dan Leistikow countered that drafting was delayed because GOP leaders didn't make it a priority.

-snip/more-

http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun05/332290.asp

[Wilms]

27. .

[LightningFlash]

28. ES&S Systems has lost 25% of November's votes on "straight-ticket" rules.

"Medford, Wisconsin. March, 2005. ES&S.
ES&S programming error lost over 25% of the votes in the 2004 election.
Four and a half months after the election, a consulting firm discovered that ES&S had programmed the optical scanners incorrectly, failing to account for partisan elections.*


That failure meant that the votes of everyone who voted straight ticket - anyone who voted only for candidates of a single party - were not counted. In all, about 600 of 2,256 ballots cast were not counted, Strama said.
... Medford and Taylor County officials have been told by Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software that the city will be reimbursed for the costs of setting up the vote-counting machine in the fall because the program was faulty. A spokeswoman said the company takes full responsibility for the error."

http://www.votersunite.org/info/content/newmessup-01.asp

The great highly paid workers of the board of elections..... :wow:

Those 2 million at minimum straight-ticket democratic votes shift the election outcome........Amazing what these companies have done! A stolen election.