All this and more in today's voting news below...
AR: Back to the future(will use touchscreens for early voting)
http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/11280 To borrow the title line from an old movie, Sebastian County will go "Back to the Future" when it begins tabulating votes precinct-by-precinct after the Nov. 2 General Election.
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The electronic voting machines used in Sebastian County can handle the 91 ballots needed for all precincts. So early voting in Sebastian County will be only by electronic voting machine, the same method as that used in Pulaski County. Incidentally, voting in neighboring Crawford County is all electronic.
AR: Voting Machine Purchase On Hold
Commission Eyes Electronic Poll Books
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/aug/14/voting-machine-purchase-hold/?latest
A plan to add to the number of voting machines in Benton County has been put on hold by questions about software compatibility with the manufacturer's newest model.
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"I hope to buy electronic poll books this year if I can redirect (the money) that way," Miller said during a discussion of the 2011 budget ...
CO: NOREEN: Elections don't need polling places(opinion)
http://www.gazette.com/news/noreen-102959-county-paso.html
FL: Rick Scott envelopes cause major problems with voters* (Absentee ballots)
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-08-16/Rick-Scott-envelopes-cause-major-problems-with-votersLEE County
If you do not use and sign the Election's Office envelope and then put the Election's Office envelope into the Scott envelope, your vote will not count.
The Scott envelope is not to be used in place of the Election's Office envelope.
FL: Another Victory This Time in Miami-Dade; or A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Precincthttp://floridavoterscoalition.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-victory-this-time-in-miami-dade.html That means we're to do ballot accounting at the precinct after all. The changes don't make it perfect but they do appear to return to substantial compliance with Florida law and good practice.
IL: More Outcome Oriented Research
http://blog.champaigncountyclerk.com/2010/08/16/more-outcome-oriented-research/
I can't say I know much about race relations in Boston. But I know a little about election administration. Enough to know that the draft paper by Profs. Rachael Cobb, James Greiner, and Kevin Quinn, is long on conjecture and short on facts.
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I've got my doubts about the value of voter ID laws. But those doubts have nothing to do with the ability of election judges to administer them fairly. This research is faulty and its conclusions unsupported. If opponents of voter ID laws are truly concerned about this issue, they should go back into the field in November 2010
NC: New Bern ballot maker defends its reputation and legacy
http://www.newbernsj.com/news/new-89823-bern-materials.html
"People eager to bash the governor or electronic voting machines were ready to use the damaging factoids and insinuations in the initial story to their advantage," wrote Hall, who heads the citizen advocacy group. "Through the muddle, there was enough information to see that neither Bartlett nor Bev Perdue selected the vendor and that counties are free to buy ballots from other printers."
NM: Lynn Ellins: Baseless allegations of voter fraud
http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_15773119
However, hasty accusations or unverified claims such as Ms. Cooper's promote needless distrust of the system. Citizens can rest assured that where substantiated or credible concerns are raised, the Doà ±a Ana County Clerk's office will take appropriate action against voter fraud and will protect our system of elected government, as it has in the past. (Lynn Ellins is Doà ±a Ana County Clerk.)
OH: Premier Elections Solutions pays up in Ohio Diebold suit, offers more faulty voting machines for freehttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/14/premier-elections-solutions-pays-up-in-ohio-diebold-suit-offers/
OH: Ohio signing up more voters at public assistance offices
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/08/ohio_signing_up_more_voters_at.html
More than 11,000 people in Cuyahoga County have registered to vote this year through public-assistance programs as part of a renewed effort to involve poor people in elections throughout Ohio.
OH: Toledo Blade Editorializes in Favor of Ballot Labels in Judicial Elections
http://www.ballot-access.org/2010/08/14/toledo-blade-editorializes-in-favor-of-ballot-labels-in-judicial-elections/ Counties are also eligible for up to $2.4 million in free Premiere software for two years, and the company's even throwing in up to 2,909 free voting machines along with a 50 percent coupon for maintenance fees. Right, because the Buckeye State is so anxious to start using the machines it found so faulty to begin with.
PA: Bill Would Universalize Absentee Ballots
http://wduqnews.blogspot.com/2010/08/bill-would-universalize-absentee.html
A Berks County Senator wants to amend the state constitution so that Pennsylvanians would not need an excuse to vote with an absentee ballot.
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