All this and more in today's voting news below...
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AR: HOW WE SEE IT Commission's Action Veiled In Secrecy(Benton County)
http://www.nwaonline.com/mailfriend/61/244618/ec20f21954/
WHAT'S THE POINT? The Benton County Election Commission erred on the side of secrecy when it entered executive session to discuss its chairman.
...
A public body needs to err on the side of openness.
AZ: Arizona Justices Nix Secret Ballot Measure
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/07/30150.htm
A proposed constitutional amendment protecting Arizonans' right to cast secret ballots violates the state Constitution, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled.
...
The Arizona Supreme Court agreed that Proposition 108 violates this rule, because it attempts to modify both election law and labor law.
DC: Fenty campaign: Gray supporters lure voters with gift cards
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2010/09/fenty_campaign_gray_supporters.html
In the shaky video, one woman tells the woman with the hidden camera she has to "get on the van" if she wants a $10 gift card.
"We are going to buy you lunch," the one woman says. "If you get in our van, and go vote, if you get back on, I will be right here."
Video here:
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/bbdf4cd58bf86ff24debc22a6c7656b8/video/18263269
HI: Isles on course for election
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100912_Isles_on_course_for_election.html
Budget cuts forced the elections office to eliminate 97 of the 331 polling places used in 2008.
HI: WHERE TO VOTE(since many polling places have been eliminated)
http://elections3.hawaii.gov/ppl/ To confirm your polling place and precinct number, go to elections3.hawaii.gov/ppl/ and follow the instructions, or call the Office of Elections at 453-8683 or 800-442-8683 from the neighbor islands.
KS: City charters out from state election legislation
http://www.augustagazette.com/newsnow/x863084905/City-charters-out-from-state-election-legislation Augusta City Council approved a Charter Ordinance Tuesday night exempting the community from state legislation regarding primary elections.
MA: Secret Ballot? Not!
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/09/10/secret-ballot-not?blog=205
...it may come as a huge surprise that their party affiliation and address are on file, available to anyone with an internet connection.
NC: Potential mess looms in judicial election
Three choices for one appeals seat complicate Nov. 2 ballot.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/09/1679301/potential-mess-looms-in-judicial.html
In some respects, Instant Runoff Voting is at odds with state requirements for transparency in voting and for counting all votes at the precinct where they are cast. And a system for counting ballots in counties that don't have optical scanners has yet to be determined.
NC: Subject: Not so quick: Instant runoff in N.C. requires preparation
Pub: North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=629450
(officials still do not have tallying procedures approved)
NY: Testing out the new ballot marking device(& scanners. 100% hand count/audit)
http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2010/09/10/news/doc4c89ae58c903b252030467.txt
Columbia County, Dominion optical scanners. All ballots in all districts in the entire county will also be subject to a hand count, and great steps are being taken locally to ensure the process will be secure and confidential, according to the commissioners.
[An election commissioner makes good on pledge not to certify a computer-counted election without an appropriate audit
http://www.wheresthepaper.org/09/TestimonyInNYCHearingShocksAssemblymembers.htm]
NY: New ballots bring new complications in New York
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1135ap_us_new_york_voting_challenges.html
Even the most jaded New Yorkers might consider this a recipe for chaos: New electronic voting machines are being introduced in the Sept. 14 primary. State and city budget cuts mean not enough staff has been trained to help voters use them. A glitch in the computer programming will let people mistakenly vote for too many candidates.
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