All this and more in today's voting news below...
AK: Abstention in Alaska
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/ ...there seems little likelihood that either a state or federal court would end up nullfying the outcome of this election
AK: Federal Judge Rules for Miller, Temporarily Halts Certification of Murkowski in AK Senate Race http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8203
Question of misspelled write-in ballots belongs in state court, says judge...
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Miller would be performing a service to the voters of Alaska and the rest of the country if he used his standing to insist on a full, public hand-count...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/opinionshop/detail?entry_id=77478
Contra Costa County Registrar Steve Weir: "We cannot allow a 'casual' observer to challenge a voter's right to participate when he or she is not present."
CA: Harris' lead over Cooley grows in attorney general race
The Democrat is ahead by about 40,000, with about 300,000 ballots left to count.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-attorney-general-20101120,0,4410535.story
Most of the remaining votes statewide are provisional ballots, given to voters when polling places do not have a record of their registration, often because a voter has moved.
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About 80% to 85% of provisional ballots are usually deemed valid, said Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan.
CA: Bay Area races increase scrutiny of ranked-choice voting
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ranked-choice-20101120,0,6759361.story
The method avoids runoffs by having voters pick candidates in order of preference. Some question its fairness, but all agree it will transform the nature of campaigning.
CO: Boyd brings election complaint to BOCC* (asks for recount)
http://www.southforktines.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1278
Boyd also brought an affidavit from Sheila Saudevs Casias, who worked as an Elections Assistant, that reported "at the main Elections Polling Precinct, there were several mechanical problems that occurred while the Rio Grande County Elections Officials were tallying the ballot votes using the scanner machines" and that "due to inconsistencies" the ballots had to be rescanned numerous times, because the numbers kept changing."
CT: Bysiewicz: Secretary of the State powerless to enforce election laws, count ballots http://www.ctvoterscount.org/bysiewicz-secretary-of-the-state-powerless-to-enforce-election-laws-count-ballots/ We caution agains patchwork solutions. The problem goes well beyond the number of ballots printed; voting integrity and confidence call for a much broader study and action than proposed by the current Secretary
FL: My Florida Recount Memory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21florida.html
Ten years ago this month, all eyes were on Florida ..The Op-Ed editors asked some of the people at the center of the recount to share their reminiscences.
MN: New voting not as simple as 1-2-3
http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/109543404.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU6:iPhD_oD3aPc:i_kchO7DU
Minneapolis' 2009 foray into the ranked-voting system showed promise for statewide use but pitfalls, too.
MN: County officials blast GOP request for vote match
http://www.startribune.com/politics/recount/109351909.html
Counties say Tom Emmer's call for signature count is unwarranted.
MN: Ritchie responds to Emmer petition
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/109295259.html
MO: Warned about potential conflict, Election Board refuses to release security contract http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_305bd8a2-f41e-11df-a732-0017a4a78c22.html
NJ: Why vote-by-mail can lead to fraud
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/10385190/article-Why-vote-by-mail-can-lead-to-fraud?instance=home_Most_popular
Under the current law, agents of political campaigns are permitted to handle as many Vote by Mail ballots as they can get their hands on.
NY: Dems mull recount in 60th
http://tonawanda-news.com/top_stories/x1897759002/Dems-mull-recount-in-60th
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