Election Reform, Fraud, & Related news for Friday, Feb. 10th, 2006

[FogerRox]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

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

PLEASE, please

will you please:

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=203x397093

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.


If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:
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for MAC users-- IIRC its hold down control- and click on the image to view its source.

[FogerRox]

1. New Mexico, Leg. considers starting with paper ballots.

Senate Committee OK's Paper Ballot Requirement

By Deborah Baker/
Associated Press
SANTA FE — A fiercely fought bill requiring the use of paper ballot voting systems statewide cleared a Senate committee on Thursday.

It's backed by Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson, and GOP lawmakers alleged he and the secretary of state are trying to ram it through on behalf of a particular voting machine vendor.

>snip<

Under a law passed last year, New Mexico must have in place by next year a voting system that provides a "voter verifiable and auditable paper trail.''

The governor and the bill's other supporters say that's best accomplished by paper ballots, which can be recounted in the event of a problem and which they say would inspire more public confidence than electronic machines.

more-

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/xgr/apballot02-09-06.htm

[FogerRox]

2. PA. Voters: New equipment could cost votes

By David Hunt
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, February 10, 2006


If Westmoreland County officials overcome a lawsuit alleging that purchase of touch-screen voting machines violates voters' rights, they still have to answer to concerned citizens like Bryce King.
King, 57, of Scottdale, was one of five people at Thursday's commissioners meeting arguing that transition to electronic voting could result in miscounts at the polls. King, who also is a member of the Scottdale borough council, said he can't trust the machine in question, especially considering that it gives results without a paper trail to back them up.

"It just bugs me that if there is a recount there's no good way to check on it," King said. "Let's face it. You work with computers every day. You know there's more ways than hacking that you can tamper with it."

The Westmoreland County commissioners voted unanimously in December to select Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software Inc. to provide 750 iVotronic touch-screen voting machines. A citizens' panel was consulted before the decision. ES&S also was the lowest bidder.


more-

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/westmoreland/s_422524.html

[FogerRox]

3. Vermont campaign expediture limits case, remaqnded for fact finding

Applying these well-established standards, the court of appeals correctly upheld Vermont's contribution limits. The
legislative and trial evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that those limits are: (1) justified by Vermont's interest in avoiding actual and apparent corruption; (2) closely drawn to meet that indisputably important interest; and (3) ample enough to allow robust campaigning and debate in Vermont.

This Court should decline at this stage in the litigation to review the constitutionality of VermontÂ’s expenditure
limits and should reject the invitation to revisit its holding in Buckley concerning expenditure limits. The court of appeals neither sustained nor struck down Vermont's expenditure limits; instead, it remanded the case to the district court for further fact-finding and analysis regarding whether those limits are narrowly tailored. Those further proceedings may pretermit the need for this Court to engage in constitutional adjudication, which should not be embarked upon unnecessarily or prematurely. If the issue ultimately returns to this Court, the Court will have the considerable benefit of further lower court findings and analysis to inform its decision.


http://electionlawblog.org/

[FogerRox]

4. DIEBOLD UNDER REVIEW

DIEBOLD UNDER REVIEW
Friday, February 10, 2006 - FreeMarketNews.com

Diebold’s new chief executive, Thomas Swidarski, said he wants to cut $100 million in costs over three years. In an interview with the Associated Press, Swidarski said one of his decisions is whether the company should continue investing in its electronic voting business.

"There's pieces and aspects of each of our businesses that I'm going to be looking at with a very critical eye in terms of what the future holds for us," said Swidarski. The CEO insists that the e-voting machines are safe and reliable despite the controversy surrounding the 2000 election and other reported election glitches. There have been numerous eyewitness reports of vote tampering using the machines which, for some reason, do not provide a paper trail.

Last week, Diebold reported earnings fell 76 percent to $14.6 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31. Company-wide restructuring and other big changes explain the earnings drop.


more-

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=7295

[FogerRox]

5. Officials, residents get look at electronic voting machines

Officials, residents get look at electronic voting machines
By John Finnerty
The Daily Item

SUNBURY — Northumberland County officials Thursday hosted the first of at least three demonstrations by companies vying to supply electronic voting machines beginning with the May primary.

Robert Diekmann, a salesman from Diebold Election Systems, brought two electronic voting machines and gave a 90-minute presentation to county elections workers, representatives of a committee set up by the county to make a recommendation about which voting system to select and members of the public.

Next Thursday, there will be two presentations, one at 9:30 a.m. by a representative of Hart InterCivic and the second at 1 p.m. by a representative of Electronic Systems and Software, county chief clerk Mike Lindermuth said.

The county's Web site, www.northumberlandco.org, also has an online demonstration by a company called Sequoia Voting Systems, but county officials have been unable to get a live demonstration scheduled, he said.


more-

http://www.dailyitem.com/archive/2006/0210/local/stories/03local.htm

[FogerRox]

6. Tenn. Montgomery county considers Micro Vote

Voting machines may go high-tech

Commission to vote on $79K to help pay for new machines
By REGAN LOYOLA HUNEYCUTT
The Leaf-Chronicle

When residents go to the polls in August, they likely will cast votes on brand new machines.

The County Commission will vote Monday on a resolution to spend $78,835 to help replace the 100 voting machines used at the 24 precincts in the county.

In order to comply with the federal Helping Americans Vote Act of 2002, Montgomery County was slated to receive $130,000 from the state to buy 24 machines — one per precinct — that will allow citizens with visual disabilities to vote unassisted.

But the state has allocated $300,000 for Montgomery County, which is enough to purchase 79 machines and the software needed to run them.

Rather than operating two systems — 79 new machines and 21 old ones — local Elections Administrator Vickie Koelman has suggested the whole group of machines be replaced in time for the general election in August.

more --

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS01/602100343/1002

discussion--

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412438

[FogerRox]

7. LA. Lawsuit seeks change in N.O. election plans

Lawsuit seeks change in N.O. election plans

It says black voters must be protected
Friday, February 10, 2006
By Bruce Eggler
Staff writer
A group of Lower 9th Ward leaders and the community group ACORN filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking major changes in Louisiana's plans to hold elections this spring for New Orleans mayor, City Council and other offices.

The suit says the state's election plans would violate the voting rights of thousands of primarily African-American voters displaced from the city since Hurricane Katrina.

The suit does not specifically seek to delay the elections, which are scheduled for April 22 and May 20. Instead, it calls for actions such as setting up satellite polling places in other states and mailing unsolicited absentee ballots to all displaced residents with known addresses, rather than waiting for them to request ballots.

A spokeswoman for the Advancement Project, a Washington, D.C, civil rights group involved in filing the suit, said a delay in the elections might well be necessary, however, if the requested changes are made.

more-

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/neworleans/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1139555191131400.xml

[Algorem]

8. Oh- Ex Taft aide latest in 'Coingate' scandal,Prosecutor to file charges

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS01/602100427/1056

Last Updated: 5:00 am | Friday, February 10, 2006

Ex-aide latest in 'Coingate' scandal
Prosecutor expects to file charges against ex-Taft assistant

BY ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS - Charges could be filed within the week against a former aide to Gov. Bob Taft over allegations that he donated money from another person in his name to three Ohio Supreme Court justices.

Douglas Talbott, who also served as an aide to former Gov. George Voinovich, could face ethics charges at the same time involving his failure to report a loan he received from the coin dealer at the heart of Ohio's government corruption scandal, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said Thursday.

Talbott, 41, was investigated for a $39,000 loan he reportedly took from Tom Noe in 2002 but didn't disclose after he was appointed to the Ohio Cosmetology Board in 2003. Ohio law requires state board members to report outstanding loans and sources.


O'Brien said he expects to file both charges quickly. A message was left with Talbott's attorney, Roger Synenberg, seeking comment...



http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS24/602100392/-1/NEWS

Article published Friday, February 10, 2006

Former Taft aide put on notice; 3 ethics, campaign-finance charges to be filed against lobbyist


COLUMBUS - Prosecutors plan to file three misdemeanor charges against H. Douglas Talbott, a former high-ranking aide to Govs. George Voinovich and Bob Taft, for allegedly violating state ethics and campaign finance laws through his dealings with former coin dealer and Republican fund-raiser Tom Noe.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said yesterday that he and Columbus prosecutors will "move forward quickly" to file charges against Mr. Talbott but didn't know if it would be today or early next week.

Mr. O'Brien announced the pending charges shortly after the Ohio Elections Commission concluded that Mr. Talbott violated state campaign finance law by funneling money from Mr. Noe to three Republican state Supreme Court candidates. The commission voted 6-0 to refer the matter to the Franklin County prosecutor's office. If convicted, Mr. Talbott could face a fine up to $10,000.

Mr. O'Brien said prosecutors plan to charge Mr. Talbott for failing to disclose on his annual financial disclosure statement a $39,000 pay-ment he received from Mr. Noe in September, 2002. He left the governor's office in May, 2000, to become a lobbyist...



http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060210/NEWS24/602100351/-1/NEWS

Article published Friday, February 10, 2006

Taft: 'High time' Ohio revisits lobbying, contracting rules

COLUMBUS - His administration mired in a 10-month ethics scandal, Gov. Bob Taft yesterday said it is "high time" the state revisit and reform its lobbying and contracting rules as he proposed a number of changes in the way Ohio does business.

The governor made the announcement the same day the Franklin County prosecutor said he planned to bring charges against former Taft aide H. Douglas Talbott for allegedly violating state ethics and campaign finance laws in his dealings with indicted GOP contributor Tom Noe. Last summer, Mr. Taft was convicted on ethics charges for failing to disclose dozens of golf outings and gifts he had received from lobbyists and businessmen, including Mr. Noe.

"It's high time we revisit and reform our lobbying and contracting laws to ensure fairness and to assure full accountability to the public," Mr. Taft said in a statement yesterday.

The reforms would ban executive branch employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists and consultants and would deter vendors from trying to influence officials who award state business...


Board dismisses complaint over anti-porn-lobbying allegations

2/9/2006, 3:36 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1139517848211700.xml&storylist=cleveland

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state election board on Thursday dismissed a complaint alleging that a group that fights pornography improperly threatened to target Republican lawmakers if they didn't support a bill restricting strip clubs.

The Ohio Elections Commission voted 6-0 in favor of Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values and against a group of Ohio strip club owners that filed the complaint...

The Buckeye Association of Club Executives alleged that Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, improperly tried to influence an election before creating a political action committee...

The owners based their complaint on an e-mail Burress sent to his group's supporters saying there should be Republican primary challenges to any GOP lawmaker who stood in the bill's way...

[Algorem]

9. OH- Blackwell, Strickland step up attacks in governor's race

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1139599449173180.xml&storylist=cleveland

2/10/2006, 2:11 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — ...

Strickland, whose district includes Ohio's farthest eastern and southeastern counties, said Blackwell's November ballot issue to limit state spending and get voter approval for tax increases would shackle officeholders whose job it is to lead.

"Budgets and programs are not leadership," Strickland said at the forum sponsored by the Ohio Newspaper Association. "Ohioans more than anything else today are hungering and thirsting for political leadership."

Blackwell responded by saying that Strickland, the likely Democratic nominee, doesn't have the 12 years' experience that he has in leadership roles in state government.

Blackwell's plan also was criticized by the other candidates at the forum, Republican Attorney General Jim Petro and two Democrats, state Sen. Eric Fingerhut and businessman Bryan Flannery, a former state representative...



http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/13822786.htm

Posted on Wed, Feb. 08, 2006

Psychologists from across country support Strickland

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Hundreds of psychologists from around the country are contributing to the governor's campaign of Democrat Ted Strickland, a fellow psychologist they say is worth supporting both as a colleague and for his politics.

Of Strickland's more than 6,900 contributions last year, 385 or 5.5 percent were from psychologists, their employees or people working in the field, according to a review of campaign finance reports by The Associated Press.

Of those, the majority or 216 were from Ohio but they also included psychologists from 33 other states.

Those include 22 from New York, 18 from California, 11 from Massachusetts and one from New Hampshire...


Democrat Strickland outdoes all his rivals

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

...

While Republican officeholders have proven to be the better fund-raisers in recent gubernatorial races, Strickland raised $3 million in the last 12 months -- more than Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Attorney General Jim Petro, the major Republicans seeking their party's nomination...

Strickland outpaced both Republican candidates during the last six months, raising $1.9 million to Blackwell's $1.5 million and Petro's $900,000...

Blackwell, who raised about $2.7 million for the year, had $1.5 million in the bank.

Petro's campaign account topped more than $3 million this summer but he spent $1.6 million on a TV ad campaign late last year that he credits with improving his popularity - but still has him trailing Blackwell in the polls. He has $2 million left...

[Wilms]

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