All this and more in today's voting news below...
AL: Alabama: Shelby County's complaint against VRA
http://www.votelaw.com/blog/archives/006374.html
The complaint in Shelby County,Alabama v. Holder is available here:
AR: David Sanders Not On His Own Ballot* (Pulaski County)
http://tolbertreport.com/2010/05/03/david_j_sanders-not-on-his-own-ballot/
Sanders told me this afternoon that the problem has been fixed for the electronic machines but he is concerned that the absentee ballots have been sent out incorrectly. He is working with the Pulaski County Election Commission to get the problem addressed.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/05/03/arizona-voters-will-vote-on-whether-to-re-name-secretary-of-state-as-lieutenant-governor/
MD: Maryland ends prison-based gerrymandering
http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/maryland_ends_prison-based_gerrymandering/
This Act counts individuals who are in prison in their home districts rather than the districts where they are currently incarcerated, when redistricting.
NC: Counting Twice: Elections officials say woman voted two times, software caught it only during end-of-day check* (early voted ballots can be cancelled)
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/may/04/counting-twice-elections-officials-say-woman-voted/news/...Rob Coffman, the director of elections in Forsyth County, said a woman came to vote about 11:30 a.m. Friday during early voting, and returned at 2:30 p.m. and was allowed to vote again.
...
The double vote was picked up when elections officials ran their end-of-day check with a second computer application. That will allow officials to cancel out the extra vote.
NC: Rumors of vote buying spread in Elizabethtown
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12420002
The State Board Elections is looking into allegations that a candidate in Bladen County is buying votes.
The rumors are making their way around Elizabethtown and some say suspicions of vote buying have popped up in the past, but this time they find it harder to believe.
NY: Voters file lawsuit demanding special election
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20100503/NEWS01/5030355
OH: Controversy erupts over Facebook posting by elections' board employee
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100504/NEWS16/100509864
A comment posted on a Facebook page by a board employee appeared to indicate how Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications, Inc., parent company of The Blade, had voted.
PA: Team 4: Security Concerns About Voting Machines Remain(ES&S iVotronic)
Jim Parsons Talks With VoteAllegheny & County Elections Head
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/23453058/detail.html
Team 4 has been reporting on potential security flaws in Allegheny County for years, and it turns out that the same questionable machines and security procedures are being used today. (video available)
TN: Davidson County Election Postponed Two Weeks
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=12417033
Staff said it will be necessary especially since some polling sites are under water and machines are likely damaged.
VA: Smigiel, Wright complain of voting problems in Norfolk*
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/05/smiegiel-wright-complain-voting-problems-norfolk
City Council candidate Tommy Smigiel claims that three voters in East Ocean View and another at the Oceanair precinct attempted to vote for him but voting machines would only allow them to vote for incumbent W. Randy Wright.
...
Meanwhile, Wright said he was concerned about a voting machine that broke at Tarrallton Elementary School, a precinct where he typically gets a lot of support.
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City Registrar Elisa Long said the voters Smigiel referred to apparently ran their fingers across the screen, which can cause the wrong candidate's name to appear.
...
Rosmer said at least twice in an attempt to vote for Smigiel the machine gave him Wright's name instead.
VA: Voting machines hit the 10-year mark(Staunton)
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100504/NEWS01/1005
04023/1002/news01/Voting+machines+hit+the+10-year+mark
http://bit.ly/b2KLJt
The large machines are now considered old, but at the time, they were a big step up.
WI: Carolyn Castore and Ellen Rosborough: Election observers do more than challenge votershttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/fairelectionswisconsin/message/2353
Milwaukee has long had an election protection program that places poll watchers to observe and note: that polls open on time and are accessible to the disabled, that people are registered correctly, that poll workers are doing their job, and to look for signs of voter suppression. The observers can call volunteer lawyers about major problems
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