All this and more in today's voting news below...
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CA: Ranked-choice voting may delay results
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16380203?nclick_check=1
Macdonald said his office will release regular vote tally numbers starting late Tuesday night in all races, like it always does, but will not run the first ranked-choice voting algorithm until Friday -- when most of the votes should be in and counted...
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16382570 When a new voter registers in Colorado, the secretary of state mails a nonforwardable notice of disposition that the voter's registration has been received. If the notice comes back undeliverable in the mail, then clerks deem the voter's registration inactive within 20 days.
...
James Finberg, an attorney representing voting and labor groups, said voters are harmed because sometimes the voter cards are returned through no fault of their own.
CO: IRV: Thanks, but no thanks (LTE)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/143158
CT: Coalition Finds Small Improvements and New Problem in
Connecticut Post-Election Audits
http://ctelectionaudit.org/aug-10-election-observation-report-incremental-improvement-new-integrity-issue/ Citizen observation and analysis shows some improvements along with a newly uncovered problem with the random selection process
NC: Voters, candidates continue talk of voting problems*
http://www.wwaytv3.com/voters_candidates_continue_talk_voting_problems/10/2010
Some New Hanover County voters have complained about voting machines not registering their votes correctly. One voter, who did not want to go on camera, told us he raised his hand for help, but it never came.
NC: Editorial: One seat, three votes
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/10/20/article/one_seat_three_votes
In better circumstances, the special election for a seat on the N.C. Court of Appeals wouldn't be happening. Bad timing and an unwise provision in the state constitution put it on the ballot.
NM: New Mexico Pay to Play: Ending the Corruption? (passed House but not Senate)
http://electls.blogs.wm.edu/2010/10/20/new-mexico-pay-to-play-ending-the-corruption/
The text of NM House Bill 118 widely prohibits lobbyists and government contractors from donating to a political candidate or any political committee. It also prohibits "seekers of targeted subsidies" from political donations.
NY: Missing deadline for military mail, election boards hope for the best
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article224177.ece
"New York State should have an earlier primary. We don't have a heck of a lot of time between certifying our primary elections to the state Board of Elections, given the variables of contested primaries and vote recounts,"
TX: Travis County Commissioners OK change to paper ballot after 2012
http://impactnews.com/northwest-austin/256-recent-news/10224-travis-county-commissioners-ok-change-to-paper-ballot-after-2012
Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told the court she believes the system is secure, but said the county is looking to purchase a paper ballot system as soon as possible.
TX: All eyes on Houston, Pt. 2: Lawsuits, fraud & huge ballot challenge elections
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-houston/all-eyes-on-houston-pt-2-lawsuits-fraud-huge-ballot-challenge-elections
TX: DOJ Probes TX Voter Intimidation Complaints During Tea Party Anti-Voter Fraud Drive (video)*
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/the_texas_democratic_party_expanded.php
Poll watchers in Harris County, Texas -- where a Tea Party group launched an aggressive anti-voter fraud effort -- were accused of "hovering over" voters, "getting into election workers' faces" and blocking or disrupting lines of voters who were waiting to cast their ballots as early voting got underway yesterday.
[video interview of voter turned away even though he brought 2 forms of voter id]
TX: Dallas County to have election monitors Nov. 2
http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/story.asp?S=13355216
WA: State Under Fire for Emailed Overseas Ballots (audio podcast available)
click here
News/State.Under.Fire.for.Emailed.Overseas.Ballots http://tinyurl.com/26negk8
The groups Voter Action, Common Cause and Verified Voting have sent Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed what amounts to a cease and desist letter. They say Reed should stop accepting ballots from outside the country - including from members of the military - in PDF form via email. Holly Jacobson with Voter Action says even though this isn't technically on-line voting, it still jeopardizes ballot integrity
