Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Thursday April 27

[EFerrari]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News April 27, 2006

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

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

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.

Please recommend for the Greatest page! The link is below and to the left.

[liberalnurse]

1. May I say...............

This tells the story with simple image terms................."Perfect". O8)

[EFerrari]

2. IL: Voting-machine maker on defense (Sequoia)

Voting-machine maker on defense
Election trouble puts exec on the hot seat

By John McCormick
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 27, 2006

Jack Blaine, president of the company that made the voting machines used in Cook County's glitch-filled March primary, is used to jetting around the country selling election equipment.

These days, however, the head of Sequoia Voting Systems is racking up frequent flier credits defending his products to angry election officials and testifying before committees.

Outcomes in Chicago's March 21 primary went undetermined for days, and the problems cast doubts on more than $50 million of new Sequoia equipment.

Besides shaking the confidence of voters, the problems have also tarnished Sequoia's reputation, providing the latest hit for an industry that is the frequent target of electoral conspiracy theories.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northwest/chi-0604270319apr27,1,1287757.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorthwest-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[EFerrari]

3. CA: California's Emergency HAVA Regulation Adopted (.pdf)

California's Emergency HAVA Regulation Adopted for Statewide Database Change

Electionline: "The new regulation is meant to make voter registration checks more efficient. County registrar's can now "apply a driver's license number found through Calvalidator to a voter record for a registrant, without the need to contact the registrant to confirm it, provided there is a single "exact match" for the registrant's first name, last name and date of birth." - Courtesy of Michael Alvarez, Election Updates."

http://electionupdates.caltech.edu/emergencyhavareg.pdf

[EFerrari]

4. CA: Seven counties promise to use paper ballots

Seven counties promise to use paper ballots
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - Seven of 18 counties sued to prevent them from using Diebold Election Systems' electronic voting machines in November's general election were removed from the lawsuit Wednesday when they gave assurances to a judge they would use paper ballots.

Those counties are Humboldt, Marin, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Trinity, Tulare and Santa Barbara counties. Butte County was added to the San Francisco County suit, filed last month by Voter Action. The suit also names California, which this year approved the use of the disputed voting machine - the AccuVote-TSX, built by Diebold Election Systems, based in Allen, Texas.

The company stands by its machines. The lawsuit alleges the touchscreen voting machines lack adequate security and aren't easily used by the disabled.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/politics/14436645.htm

:woohoo:

[EFerrari]

19. CA: Marin, 6 Other Counties To Use Paper Ballots

(i.e, television coverage)

Marin, 6 Other Counties To Use Paper Ballots

(AP) SAN FRANCISCO Seven of 18 counties sued to prevent them from using Diebold Election Systems' electronic voting machines in November's general election were removed from the lawsuit Wednesday when they gave assurances to a judge they would use paper ballots.

Those counties are Humboldt, Marin, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Trinity, Tulare and Santa Barbara counties. Butte County was added to the San Francisco County suit, filed last month by Voter Action.

The suit also names California, which this year approved the use of the disputed voting machine -- the AccuVote-TSX, built by Diebold Election Systems, based in Allen, Texas.

The company stands by its machines. The lawsuit alleges the touchscreen voting machines lack adequate security and aren't easily used by the disabled.

http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_117111231.html

[Peace Patriot]

43. Voter Action press release on 7 CA counties opting for PAPER BALLOTS

http://www.voteraction.org/States/California/CA.html

:applause: :applause: :applause: :patriot: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[EFerrari]

5. IN: Who moved my poll? Many voters have surprise in store

Who moved my poll? Many voters have surprise in store

David Bergeron has lived on South Wayne Avenue since the late 1990s, and in that time, he’s always voted at St. John’s Catholic School on Fairfield Avenue, just a couple of blocks from his home.

But this year he got a card in the mail, notifying him his polling place had changed. In Tuesday’s primary, he will vote at the Urban League offices on South Hanna Street, nearly three miles from his home, in a different precinct and nowhere near his own neighborhood.

Bergeron was somewhat stunned. It made no sense. Why close a longtime polling place and send voters to a different part of town?

“It’s crazy. I think it’s nuts,” Bergeron said.



http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/14440798.htm

:nuke:

[EFerrari]

6. IN: New voting laws have many busy preparing for Tuesday's primary

New voting laws have many busy preparing for Tuesday's primary

Posted: 04/26/2006 10:23 pm
Last Updated: 04/27/2006 11:57 am

Story filed by NewsCenter16 Reporter
Judi Lykowski

St. Joseph County, IN - You’ve heard the saying: your vote counts.

However, this primary that saying will not hold true if you don't follow the new law in the Hoosier state of bringing a picture ID.

Wednesday night, training was in session for inspection workers. With the primary Tuesday, workers are being groomed to have little to no leeway for voters who walk in without their ID.

Precinct Inspector Phyllis Nielsen explains, "We've been doing this for about 30 years and the biggest problem is people come in and they are in the wrong precinct."

http://www.wndu.com/news/042006/news_49519.php

[EFerrari]

7. MN: Court jumps into dispute over voter ID checks

Court jumps into dispute over voter ID checks
Requiring a photo could be unlawful

BY DAWSON BELL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

April 27, 2006

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to referee the highly partisan dispute over whether state voters can be asked for photo identification under a law approved nearly 10 years ago that has never gone into effect.

A divided court said Wednesday it will issue an advisory opinion on whether the law's photo ID provisions are constitutional, and invited arguments from Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and the two major political parties.

The five Republican-nominated judges approved the order; the two Democrat-nominated judges opposed it.

The request to the Supreme Court was sponsored by state House Majority Floor Leader Chris Ward, R-Brighton, who said Wednesday that upholding the photo ID law would be "the right thing to do."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060427/NEWS06/604270623&template=printart

[EFerrari]

8. MO: Study: County voting precincts in compliance

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Study: County voting precincts in compliance

By ANDREW UJIFUSA
Assistant Managing Editor


Madison County’s voting precincts are doing a good job of providing access to people on election days, according to a recent review published by the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, in conjunction with the Madison County Election Commission.

The review was conducted in order to measure Madison County’s compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a federal law passed in 2002 in response to the voting problems experienced in Florida during the 2000 presidential election. HAVA also requires voting precincts to comply with certain provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as making voting areas accessible to handicapped or wheelchair-bound residents.

“Madison County has done a tremendous job in having foresight to empower their voters,” said Ben Collins, a research analyst at the Stennis Institute who helped the election commission conduct the study. “They’ve done a wonderful job engaging their constituency and planning for the future.”

Kakey Chaney, the election commissioner for District 2 and the chairman of the Madison County Election Commission for the past two years, said that she was pleased with the report, but that it was more informational than motivational.

http://www.onlinemadison.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=16833

"Compliance is not a goal but in itself a form of illness." - D W Winnicott

[EFerrari]

9. NJ: No tally? Essex County missing voting machines

No tally? Essex County missing voting machines

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

By ERICA ZARRA
of The Montclair Times

Essex County is, once again, experiencing technical difficulties.

The June primaries are just weeks away and the county is still short 550 electronic voting machines.

If Sequoia Voting Systems does not deliver its new touch-pad models soon, then the county may be forced to use the old lever-operated machines in upcoming elections, thereby possibly violating both state and federal laws. As a result, the county could stand to lose $5 million in federal reimbursements.

“I’m not interested in going to court, but if the federal government goes after us, then we’re going to go after Sequoia. They signed a contract. They should have delivered the machines already,” Superintendent of Elections Carmine Casciano said.

http://www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=11991

[EFerrari]

10. OH: Social Security numbers listed (in voter lists)

Social Security numbers listed

Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Voter lists distributed by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's office mistakenly included the Social Security numbers of millions of Ohioans, but those who received the lists have promised to send them back, a Blackwell spokesman said Tuesday.

Voter lists routinely are given to political parties and campaigns, pollsters and others with the Social Security numbers removed.

However, one batch of 20 computer disks with the numbers was distributed instead of kept for an in-office task, said Blackwell spokesman James Lee. Blackwell is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in the May 2 primary election.

One disk was obtained by Alan Melamed, a campaign consultant in the Cleveland area. A group of numbers listed under "school district" looked familiar, so Melamed ran through the Social Security numbers of friends and family and they matched, he said.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060426/NEWS01/604260382

[EFerrari]

11. PA: Expert warns of voting chaos

Expert warns of voting chaos

By Jason Cato
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Expect chaos during the May 16 primary election, a voting expert testified Tuesday during the first day of a federal court hearing that could delay Allegheny County's use of new electronic voting machines.

"You need as much time as you can get, because it's critical to carrying out an effective election without disenfranchising a bunch of people," said Frederick Voigt, 63, a Philadelphia lawyer who helped that city convert to electronic voting machines in 2002.

The problem with Pittsburgh's crossover is time. Without properly trained poll workers and properly educated voters, expect "delay, confusion, even chaos," Voigt said.

A lawsuit was filed this month against the county, state and federal government by seven county voters and the national nonprofit People for the American Way. It alleges the County Council's plan to switch to iVotronic machines comes so close to election day that it jeopardizes voters' rights.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_447485.html

[EFerrari]

12. PA: Butte voters can test new machines

Butte voters can test new machines
By ROGER H. AYLWORTH/MediaNews Group

Butte County voters are getting a chance to test drive the new machines that will be in the voting booths this June.

A cadre of workers from the county Clerk-Recorder's Office are making the rounds of public meetings, fairs and festivals, demonstrating the operation of the Diebold touch-screen voting machines that will make their official debut at the June primary election.

The machine uses an ATM-like screen and voters will make their picks by touching the box representing the candidates they want. The device will keep a voter from casting a ballot for more than the appropriate number of candidates in any category, and will remind the voter if the individual failed to vote in all categories.

Tuesday the demonstration was set up in the lobby outside of the Board of Supervisors chambers.

http://orovillemr.com/news/ci_3755870

[EFerrari]

13. PA: Fayette officials announce voting demonstrations

Fayette officials announce voting demonstrations

By Daily Courier
Thursday, April 27, 2006

Fayette County officials released a list Wednesday of demonstrations to familiarize residents with the new electronic voting machines before the May 16 primary election.

Officials will travel throughout the county to show voters the digital eSlate system from Hart InterCivic.

The system also is available for review from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the county's Public Service Building, 22 E. Main St., Uniontown.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_448025.html

[EFerrari]

14. TX: Bexar's early voters to put pen to paper

Bexar's early voters to put pen to paper

Web Posted: 04/27/2006 12:00 AM CDT

Greg Jefferson
Express-News Staff Writer

Bexar County's electronic voting machines — for which it paid $8 million — will be unplugged when early voting starts Monday in local elections because the equipment supplier failed to deliver the necessary software, according to county officials.

The county Elections Department instead will use emergency paper ballots and may have to do so again on election day, May 13.

County officials say they have no guarantee from Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software that it'll have the touch-screen voting machines ready by then.

And the hassles don't stop there: The company also hasn't delivered programming for the county's hand-held optical scanners, which could mean counting votes by hand.

(OH! THE HORROR!)

[EFerrari]

15. WV: Touch-screen voting: Technology brings ease, efficiency to polls

Touch-screen voting: Technology brings ease, efficiency to polls
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

West Virginians and Virginians will now be able to let their fingers do the walking — on election day.

Secretary of State Betty Ireland was in Mercer County Tuesday, where she made several appearances to demonstrate the new touch-screen voting machines. In Tazewell County, demonstrations of new electronic voting devices have also been held throughout the month.

Plans are for the new machines to be in use in Tazewell County for their May 2 election; and in Mercer and McDowell counties by the May 9 primary.

Although Mercer and McDowell counties — like many across West Virginia — are using paper ballots for early voting, we commend the state and county offices for keeping the tried-and-true method in place instead of rushing the new technology.

http://www.bdtonline.com/editorials/local_story_116175025.html?keyword=topstory

[EFerrari]

16. Ireland: Irish Govt urged to drop e-voting (short but sweet)

Irish Govt urged to drop e-voting

The Irish government is being told to scrap its plans for electronic voting.

The Committee on Public Accounts in a new report says the discredited e-voting proposals have cost the taxpayer €52 million so far.

Michael Noonan, the chairperson of the committee has said it is time to stop this waste.


http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=72784&pt=n

(Is this the same planet we're on? :) )

[EFerrari]

17. PA: New voting machines to be used in November (old ones in primary)

New voting machines to be used in November

Rather than deploy a hodgepodge of lever voting machines and new Danaher full-face electronic screen units, Bucks County officials have decided to maintain status quo - for one more ballot session.

Subsequently, the Eisenhower-era lever units that have served the county's now-303 precincts for the last half-century will enjoy one final hurrah during the May 16 primary elections.
"We can't get enough of the Danaher machines," explained county chief operating officer/managing director David M. Sanko during the April 19 commissioners board meeting at Falls Township's Village Park Elementary School. "There are also serious training issues (for voting officials)."
According to the mandates of the 2002 Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA), all county election boards were required to have HAVA-compliant machines in place by Jan. 1, 2006.
Bucks County officials continued to weigh their options past that deadline, interviewing vendors while monitoring events around Pennsylvania and the United States to determine their best long-term option.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16545028&BRD=1685&PAG=461&dept_id=45363&rfi=6

[EFerrari]

18. IN: Voting software may get last-minute certification

Voting software may get last-minute certification

By KEVIN KOELLING
Managing Editor

PERRY COUNTY - County Clerk Debbie Weatherholt received word Monday new voting machines to be used in the primary election should be officially certified by state officials Friday.

The fact that MicroVote Infinity voting machines, purchased by Perry and other Indiana counties for use this year, have not yet been certified was revealed in news reports last week.

A. J. Feeney-Ruiz, communications director for the Indiana secretary of state, said Tuesday the lack of certification came to light in hearings this month examining complaints MicroVote was selling equipment whose certifications had expired.

Counties throughout the state responded to the news in different ways. Weatherholt said April 18 she might have had to order paper ballots for Perry County's voters. Allen County Election Board officials voted to go ahead and use MicroVote machines, an Associated Press report in Sunday's Indianapolis Star said. That would have left the county vulnerable to a lawsuit by the state or a candidate, but keep it from violating federal election law. All 47 counties using MicroVote Infinity machines would be in violation of federal law - and might have to return some of the federal money used to purchase them - if the equipment could not be used, an April 20 Star report noted.

http://www.perrycountynews.com/articles/2006/04/27/headlines/h4.txt

[EFerrari]

20. PA: Voting coalition not giving up fight

Voting coalition not giving up fight

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

By BRIAN CALLAWAY
The Intelligencer

Despite a disappointing loss at the Bucks County level last month, the group will push for paper records of voting in Harrisburg.

An activist group may have lost its battle over Bucks County's new voting machines, but its members are continuing to fight for election reforms.

The Coalition for Voting Integrity is beginning a series of training sessions to talk to residents about voting and to push for legislators to require machines that can produce a paper record for every ballot cast.

Mary Ann Gould, the coalition's co-founder, said more voters are getting worried about replacement machines.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-04272006-647970.html

[EFerrari]

21. PA: Election machines come to a vote

Election machines come to a vote
Hoping to avoid a "train wreck," Pa. is hurrying to get poll workers and voters up to speed on new voting systems.
By Nancy Petersen
Inquirer Staff Writer

State officials are crossing their fingers that the May 16 primary election will go off without a hitch, but to some outside observers, there are signs that it won't.

Sixty of the state's 67 counties have acquired new voting machines to comply with federal law, but many waited until the last moment and are only now starting to train poll workers and educate voters.

That's a volatile combination just a few weeks before Election Day, said Dan Seligson, editor of a nonpartisan online election reform newsletter, Electionline.org., which monitors election activities around the country.

"The 2002 primaries in Florida were a pretty jarring example of what can happen if a new voting system is put in place in an abbreviated timetable where neither voters or workers have had enough training," he said. "From the moment the polls opened, you could tell it was going to be a bad day."


http://www.macon.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/bucks_county/14413438.htm?source=rss&channel=inquirer_bucks_county

[EFerrari]

22. News. CA: Latinos ask for job security (re May 1 Demonstration)

LOS ANGELES

Latinos ask for job security

Latino immigrants asked Koreatown business owners Wednesday not to fire them if they leave work to participate in May 1 demonstrations to bring attention to the immigration reform debate on Capitol Hill.

The Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates called on business owners in Koreatown to allow their Latino employees to skip work for the nationwide demonstrations without resorting to ''blacklisting and retaliation.''

Thousands of Latino immigrants work in Koreatown, where they make up about 60 percent of the low-wage work force in markets and restaurants, said Vy Nguyen, an organizer with KIWA.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/state/14440624.htm?source=rss&channel=montereyherald_state

[EFerrari]

30. Supporters urged to turn out for immigrants

Supporters urged to turn out for immigrants
Workers should request off, organizers say
By VICTOR CALDERON
The Salinas Californian

Thousands of Monterey County residents will mobilize for Monday's National Day of Action to promote fair immigration reform, community activists said Wednesday.

At a midday news conference, speakers at the Monterey County Courthouse on West Alisal Street in Salinas called for workers, employers and residents throughout the Salinas Valley to join the marches.

About 75 people waved red flags with the black eagle symbol of the United Farm Workers of America, founded by Latino civil rights leader César Chávez, and held signs that read "No to HR 4437."

The day's first march, expected to start at 10 a.m. Monday at Closter Park, will coincide with marches and rallies across California and

the country. It comes about a month after hundreds of students took to the streets to protest the controversial House of Representatives bill dubbed HR 4437, which would erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexico border and make it a felony to be or aid an undocumented immigrant in the United States.

http://www.californianonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060427/NEWS01/604270328/1002

[EFerrari]

38. May 1 immigrant boycott aims to "close" cities

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pro-immigration activists say a national boycott and marches planned for May 1 will flood U.S. streets with millions of Latinos to demand amnesty for illegal immigrants and shake the ground under Congress as it debates reform.

Such a massive turnout could make for the largest protests since the civil rights era of the 1960s, though not all Latinos -- nor their leaders -- were comfortable with such militancy, fearing a backlash in Middle America.

"There will be 2 to 3 million people hitting the streets in Los Angeles alone. We're going to close down Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Tucson, Phoenix, Fresno," said Jorge Rodriguez, a union official who helped organize earlier rallies credited with rattling Congress as it debates the issue.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060427/ts_nm/usa_immigration_dc

[EFerrari]

23. News: National: Sen. Specter Threatens to Block NSA Funds

Sen. Specter Threatens to Block NSA Funds

Staff and agencies
27 April, 2006


By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said Thursday he is considering legislation to cut off funding for the Bush administration‘s secret domestic wiretapping program until he gets satisfactory answers about it from the White House.

Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he‘s become increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program from senior White House officials at several public hearings.

"It is true that we have no assurance that the president would follow any statute that we enact," Specter said. He said he‘s considering adding an amendment to stop funding of the program to an Iraq war-hurricane relief bill being debated by the Senate this week and next.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=182009

Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2250816

[EFerrari]

24. News. Media: MediaNews Buys Four Former Knight Ridder Papers

MediaNews Buys Four Former Knight Ridder Papers

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- Dean Singleton, owner of Denver-based MediaNews Group Inc., has purchased four former Knight Ridder newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News, the Contra Costa Times, and the Monterey County Herald, for $1 billion.

With backing from Hearst Corp., MediaNews also bought the Saint Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota.

The four were among a dozen newspapers around that country that McClatchy Co. decided to spin off immediately after announcing a deal in March to purchase Knight Ridder for $4.5 million.

MediaNews already controls 22 suburban newspapers in northern California.

http://kcbs.com/pages/29285.php

This is terrible news for CA. :(

Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2249205

[EFerrari]

25. MO: Senators approve Missouri Voter Protection Act (voter reg)

Senators approve Missouri Voter Protection Act

JEFFERSON CITY - Protecting the right of all Missourians to vote in fair and honest elections, the Missouri Senate gave first round approval April 20, 2006 to legislation that enhances the election process in Missouri by shielding all voters from polling place intimidation, cracking down on election fraud, reforming voter registration and extending provisional ballots to all ballot issues.

Senator Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, sponsored Senate Bill 1014 and said the changes are important given the ample examples of voter fraud in Missouri.

“Every time someone cheats when casting a vote, it discounts an honest vote,” Scott said. “It's important that everyone in Missouri can vote, vote once and know that vote is counted.”

Scott says the Missouri Voter Protection Act assures greater confidence in the election process by implementing a uniform requirement that all voters provide photo identification when casting a ballot. Missourians 65 years old and over are exempt from the photo I.D. requirement. Disabled, home-bound citizens are also exempt and can vote absentee by signing an affidavit.

http://www.boonvilledailynews.com/articles/2006/04/27/news/news3.txt

[EFerrari]

26. WV: : Democrats hope to reverse registration losses

Democrats hope to reverse registration losses

CHARLESTON -- State Democrats have lost a little ground to Republicans and independents in voter registration, but one party leader says President Bush's problems could reverse that trend.

State Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey conceded that Republicans are benefiting from the influx of new residents in the Eastern Panhandle, which includes Berkeley County. But Casey believes President Bush's fortunes will affect voter rolls in West Virginia.
ADVERTISEMENT

After the state helped Bush win the White House in both 2000 and 2004, "now, he looks very, very bad to a whole lot of people," Casey said.

West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland Tuesday released new figures showing 1,130,008 voters registered in time for the primary, up from primary registration in 2004 but down from the 1.16 million registered for the General Election in November 2004 -- when the voter rolls reached a 52-year high.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060427/NEWS01/604270354/1001/NEWS

[EFerrari]

27. WI: Officials say Wis. voter list is public record, can't be withheld

Officials say Wis. voter list is public record, can't be withheld

(Published Thursday, April 27, 2006 10:11:39 AM CDT)


Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - State officials have decided Wisconsin's new voter list is a public record, even if the multimillion-dollar list is not yet complete, and that means it can be provided to a consulting firm that sells voter information to candidates.

Practical Political Consulting of Michigan and Wisconsin sued the state Elections Board April 7 after the board would not give it a copy of the list.

The board contended the list was considered a draft, was incomplete and had not been checked for accuracy.

But the company argued that any type of list was public record. It has asked for lists of voters from the February primary and spring election earlier this month, as well as an updated version of the list.

http://www.gazetteextra.com/eln_voterlist042706.asp

[EFerrari]

28. IN: Primaries fail to capture voter interest despite their importance

Primaries fail to capture voter interest despite their importance
By Bill Collins
Staff Writer

The election primaries on May 2 are more important than many people think.

Laurie Wilson, co-director of the Tippecanoe County Board of Election and Registration, said primaries are "the vehicle for Republicans and Democrats to nominate their candidates for the election."

They use this election to narrow their candidates down to one for a given position, she said.

"People tend to feel it is not important," Wilson said. Low turnouts are usually expected at primaries � this year being no different � especially because this is not a presidential election year. Interest in local government usually spikes when there is a race for the presidency going on, she said.

http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Issue/action/Article/article_id/3864

[EFerrari]

29. MO: New Voter ID Requirement Means Seniors' Votes May Not Count

New Voter ID Requirement Means Seniors' Votes May Not Count

By Secretary of State Robin Carnahan

As Missouri's Secretary of State, it's my job to make sure our elections are fair and that Missouri voters have confidence their votes are counted. Recently, the Missouri State Senate passed a measure that may mean large numbers of Missouri seniors won't have their votes counted in this November's election.

Jefferson City, Mo. - infoZine - Supporters say the measure is necessary to prevent voter fraud, but we've not yet heard one actual instance in Missouri which this extra requirement would prevent. In fact, this bill won't really prevent election fraud or fix any of the types of problems we've seen in our elections. But, it will take away many seniors' right to vote and to have their votes count.

It's common sense for people to have to identify themselves when they vote. And, in Missouri we do just that. In fact, Missouri already has one of the strictest voter ID requirements in the country. Voters are already required to identify themselves at the polls with a driver's or non-driver's license for those who have it, a voter registration card, a university ID or another approved form of identification before being handed a ballot.

But, it defies common sense and is fundamentally unfair to rush into implementing a new voter ID requirement without letting voters know well in advance about the new rules and giving them a fair chance to comply before election day.



http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/14606/

[EFerrari]

31. News. Financial: Diebold "neutral," target price raised

Diebold "neutral," target price raised

Wednesday, April 26, 2006 7:49:13 AM ET
Robert W. Baird

NEW YORK, April 26 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Robert W Baird maintain their "neutral" rating on Diebold Inc (DBD.NYS), while reducing their estimates for the company. The target price has been raised from $37 to $43.

In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company has reported its 1Q06 revenues significantly ahead of and EPS marginally short of the estimates and the consensus. While more favourable international order patterns seem to be developing for ATMs, Diebold’s execution in terms of pricing and sales has improved, the analysts say. The EPS estimate for 2006 has been reduced from $1.70 to $1.69.

http://www.newratings.com/analyst_news/article_1259273.html

[EFerrari]

32. Diebold's quarterly earnings fall 55%

Diebold's quarterly earnings fall 55%



Company cites costs of global realignment
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Alison Grant
Plain Dealer Reporter

Diebold Inc. reported a 55 percent plunge in first-quarter profits, a drop attributed to restructuring of manufacturing operations and a global realignment of research and development.

The Green, Ohio, maker of automated teller machines said that it plans to open an ATM factory in Eastern Europe, probably in Budapest, Hungary. Diebold anticipates that it will be operating by the fourth quarter of 2006.

It also plans to close a plant in Cassis, France. The company on Tuesday notified plant employees and the related Work Council, as required by French law.

"Realigning the company's manufacturing operations in Europe is necessary given the tangible growth we're seeing in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the prevailing market and competitive conditions in the financial self-service industry worldwide," said Thomas Swidarski, president and chief executive officer.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1146040456219270.xml&coll=2

[EFerrari]

33. UK: Police called in to investigate new electoral fraud claims

Police called in to investigate new electoral fraud claims

Hugh Muir and Diane Taylor
Thursday April 27, 2006
The Guardian

Scotland Yard is investigating new claims of electoral fraud in seven London boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, the area at the centre of last year's postal voting scandal, the Guardian has learned.

Ahead of next week's local elections, Special Branch officers are to examine claims from east London that almost 5,000 votes have been registered for what is expected to be a tight and bitter contest in Tower Hamlets between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Respect party.

But officers are also being sucked in to political dogfights in other areas. The Metropolitan police yesterday confirmed it is working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Electoral Commission on electoral fraud allegations across the capital. Inquiries are focused on Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Southwark, Hounslow and Barnet.

Scotland Yard confirmed that its Special Operations Command is involved. A spokesman said the force could not elaborate on the nature of the alleged frauds. But the Guardian has learned that some of the claims involve new postal vote irregularities while others relate to alleged offences involving election literature.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/localgovt/story/0,,1762374,00.html?gusrc=rss

[EFerrari]

34. Haiti: Election turnout `a big step forward'

Election turnout `a big step forward'
Nearly one third of Haiti's 3.5 million registered voters participated in Friday's election runoff. Results are expected later today.
BY STEVENSON JACOBS
Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE - At least a million Haitians voted in an election runoff to choose a new parliament, double the initial estimate given by some international observers, U.N. officials said Monday.

An official count showed at least 30 percent of Haiti's 3.5 million registered voters participated in Friday's election, said David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, citing data from Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council.

Final results are expected as early as today.

Wimhurst said the participation figure represented a ''a big step forward'' compared to past legislative races in Haiti, despite a claim by a European Union observer team that turnout was poor.

http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/14420705.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_americas

[EFerrari]

35. OpEdNews: The "Invisible Ballots" Lending Library Project Update

The "Invisible Ballots" Lending Library Project Update

by Joan Brunwasser, Voting Integrity Editor, OpEdNews


http://www.opednews.com

This is an update on the “Invisible Ballots” Lending Library Project. A brief recap for those unfamiliar with its history: last summer, I attended a screening of “Invisible Ballots” and was struck by its effectiveness as a catalyst for discussion on election issues, particularly the perils of electronic voting. Starting last September with three copies, the library project sought to spread the word through widespread distribution of the DVD. As of today, the project has reached 247 individual and group borrowers in 33 states, Washington DC and four foreign countries (Canada, Japan, Holland and England). Groups screenings are popping up across the country. The project has
been mentioned in YES! and Lilith magazines and online websites like: BradBlog,
Velvet Revolution, Smirking Chimp, Dissident Voice, True Blue Liberal, Blue Mass
Group, Crisis Papers, Indybay.org and VotersUnite!

Unfortunately, at the same time, and at a faster pace, electronic voting machines are conquering the electoral battlefield, state by state. While the press tends to deal with each new ‘glitch’ as a local phenomenon laid at the feet of unprepared election workers, the truth is much more disturbing and global in scope. I highly recommend that you follow the developments nationwide rather than just looking at what’s going on in your own state. The total picture is quite alarming. John Gideon of VoteTrustUSA and Voters Unite! has done a yeoman’s job giving timely updates from all corners of the country via the Daily Voting News. You can sign up for this extremely informative newsletter by going to http://www.votersunite.org/news.asp and clicking on the box in the upper right hand corner. You may lose sleep from your newfound awareness but you will be much better informed.

The likelihood for elections which actually reflect the will of the voters is slipping through our fingers as Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states succumb to the electronic voting machine juggernaut. Picture a set of dominoes here. We will pay for this lack of vigilance in the years to come with more, unsatisfactory, ‘elected’ officials and unpalatable programs and policies.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_joan_bru_060427_the__22invisible_ballo.htm

[EFerrari]

36. Bradblog: EXCLUSIVE - ES&S MELTDOWN: "Create Emergency Paper Ballots"

EXCLUSIVE - ES&S MELTDOWN: Texas SoS Office Advises Election Officials to Create 'Emergency Paper Ballots' for Upcoming Elections!

Director of Elections Sends Letter Authorizing Measure in Light of Latest Failure by Electronic Voting Machine Vendor Says Company's Performance in Most Recent -- of Many Similar Incidences Around the Country -- is 'Completely Unacceptable and Disturbing'

On Monday, Texas Director of Elections Ann McGeehan sent a letter to all state Election Officials authorizing them to create "emergency paper ballots" in light of statewide failures by Election System & Software, Inc. (ES&S) to provide ballots in time for the state's upcoming May 13 Runoff Elections, The BRAD BLOG has learned.

Early voting begins on Monday for those elections and counties across the state do not yet have ballots and, in many cases, programming for their optical-scan and touch-screen voting machines. ES&S has contracts with more than 140 Texas counties.

McGeehan has instructed officials to create and number their own paper ballots, secure boxes to store them in, and hire additional workers to manually hand count ballots as an emergency procedure to deal with the rapidly deteriorating situation.

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002742.htm

[EFerrari]

44. Discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2251216

[EFerrari]

37. Commentary (Internets) A Letter to the Verizon/AT&T Five

A Letter to the Verizon/AT&T Five

by Matt Stoller, Wed Apr 26, 2006 at 06:13:30 PM EST

I've been asked for background, so here goes. This post refers to a vote on internet freedom (or 'net neutrality') that took place in a House Committee today. Right now your broadband ISP isn't really allowed to block legal web sites or services to their customers. A law that passed in a House Committee today lets them. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's the gist. Pretty soon your broadband provider will be allowed to block Google, Vonage, or your favorite blog if a competitor pays them, if they develop a competing service, or if they just don't like you. This sort of undermines the whole internet thing, and I'm fighting against it. More info is at Savetheinternet.com. These five people I'm highlighting are the Democrats who voted against a free internet, and I'd like you to call them up and let them know that their vote against the Markey Amendment (that's what the amendment was called) is simply outrageous. They need to know people are mad.

Dear Verizon/ATT Five,

I know how much you enjoy getting campaign contributions from telecommunications interests, and I hope that you find yourself swimming in contributions. I mean, you've earned it, since voting against freedom on the internet isn't going to get you many fans. I'm also glad you're so accessible to your constituents, and I've taken the liberty to list the amount of money you received from cable and telephone interests, as well as your office's phone number.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/4/26/1836/60088

Discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1039054&mesg_id=1039054

[glitch]

39. Seattle Channel streaming the election fraud panel discussion from Tues

http://www.seattlechannel.org/media/programDetails.asp?title=5010630

Landshark is the first speaker.

[ourbluenation]

40. damn girl - good on you! K and R

:kick:

[blm]

42. and add a kick. Ignoring this issue = Lose2008.

.

[MelissaB]

45. Ain't she something?

K&R

:kick:

[infogirl]

41. Brad Friedman talking after Clint Curtis on Guy James Show

right now....

http://www.theguyjamesshow.com/listen.shtml

[Algorem]

46. OH- Democratic lawyer team scrutinizing Ohio election situacion

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers/

A team of Democratic lawyers plan to closely review any directives issued by Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in the coming months and, if necessary, challenge anything that could tend to disenfranchise voters.

The lawyers are reviewing the legal battles and issues that marked the 2004 presidential election, trying to head off a recurrence...

Gilligan said the lawyers are examining, among other issues, Blackwell rulings on the handling of ballots cast by voters at the wrong polling locations, known as provisional ballots, and on the allocation of voting machines, which was blamed for long lines at some locations.

He said they are will pay particular attention to new laws requiring that some voters present identification at the polling locations and at the use of electronic voting machines...

[autorank]

47. Special Honor fo sfexpat2000

HAVA THE EASTER BUNNY AWARD
for News Gathering Above& Beyond
the Call of Duty