[DVN] - 'Daily Voting News' for July 04-06, 2009

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

How can we get a fair and honest election? In the Philippines, citizens worry about paper-ballot fraud; in India, they worry about electronic-voting fraud; in Iran, many question the results of their recent paper-ballot election; in Colorado, the Arapahoe County Clerk extols the virtues of DREs and decries paper ballots. Maybe the way to get a fair and honest election lies not in our technology, but in our transparency.

In 1896 the New York legislature and the courts agreed that to permit an essential step of the electoral process to be within the exclusive control of the State, outside of public view, renders "voting a useless formality as it depends upon the will of the as to who shall hold office, and not upon the vote of the people."

Could open, public observation of the vote count put election questions to rest?

AZ: Vote registration system is long overdue for reform
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/298704.php

CO: Fools rush to paper ballots
http://www.examiner.com/x-1818-Denver-Election-Reform-Examiner~y2009m7d3-Paper-ballots-more-red-than-green
(A 10-minute interview with Nancy Doty, the elected Clerk and Recorder in Arapahoe County.)

MN: Compromise key ingredient for election reform
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/25220/group/home/

NY: News From Underground: MCM and Andi Novick speak on VOTING in NY ...
http://markcrispinmiller.com/2009/07/mcm-and-andi-novick-speak-on-voting-in-ny-on-79.html

NY: New voting machines in Montgomery and Fulton counties
http://capitalnews9.com/content/your_news/mohawk_valley/476228/new-voting-machines-in-montgomery-and-fulton-counties/?RegionCookie=41

OH: Ohio must stress accountability with bipartisan, nonpartisan election reform
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/07/ohio_must_stress_accountabilit.html

TN: 'Battle of Athens' reference leads to TBI investigation
http://dpa.xtn.net/dynamic/News/Story/156956

TN: Law Requires Paper Ballots In Tennessee
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10639048

TX: Gov. Perry Inserts Typo in Veto Message of Bill About Voter Registration Typos
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/8940/gov-perry-inserts-typo-in-veto-message-of-bill-about-voter-registration-typos

TX: Rep. Scott Hochberg Responds To Governor's Veto
http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/release.php?id=2797

WV: WV Vote Flipping Testimonial Video
http://www.videoamerican.us/west-virginia/wv-vote-flipping-testimonial/

Afghanistan: Corrupt election campaign unfolds in US-occupied Afghanistan
http://fma7.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/corrupt-election-campaign-unfolds-in-us-occupied-afghanistan/

Albania: Albanian Opposition Socialists Demand Recount In Southern Area
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090706-711582.html

Bulgaria: In Bulgaria, votes go to the highest bidder
http://www.nrc.nl/international/Features/article2290819.ece/In_Bulgaria,_votes_go_to_the_highest_bidder

Bulgaria: Bulgaria election starts, Turks from Turkey face obstacles
http://get2vote.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/bulgaria-election-starts-turks-from-turkey-face-obstacles/

Canada: Venting About Voting
http://conversationcatalyst.blogspot.com/2009/07/venting-about-voting.html

India: Was Election 2009 rigged?
http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/jul/04/was-election-2009-rigged.htm

India: Voting machine on the wall, who's the best candidate of all?
http://salty-jas.blogspot.com/2009/07/voting-machine-on-wall-whos-best.html
(A poem "written" by an EVM.)

India: EC rejects calls to discontinue EVMs
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ec-rejects-calls-to-discontinue-evms/363044/

Iran: Clerical Leaders Defy Ayatollah on Iran Election
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/world/middleeast/05iran.html?_r=2&hp

Iran: Many Iranians unconvinced about poll result - cleric
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDAH42125620090704

Japan: Election And Internet In Japan
http://asiajin.com/blog/2009/07/04/election-and-internet-in-japan/

Mexico: Mexican election draws its 'anulistas'
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/04/mexican-election-draws-its-8216anulistas8217/

Mexico: Election looks to favor Mexico's former ruling party
http://www.star-telegram.com/279/story/1470160.html
(The null vote was running at about 6.5 percent.)

Philippines: CBCP happy with poll automation development
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090704-213833/CBCP-happy-with-poll-automation-development

Philippines: 'Dream' polls promised: Smartmatic vows 100% accuracy, winners in 3 days
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090705-213890/Dream-polls-promised

Philippines: Poll automation should restore trust in admin
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090704-213853/Poll-automation-should-restore-trust-in-admin

Philippines: Solon: Automation 'tainted' despite TIM-Smartmatic reconciliation
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/04/09/solon-automation-tainted-despite-tim-smartmatic-reconciliation

Philippines: 'TIM president ended cool off with Smartmatic to save firm'
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/04/09/tim-president-ended-cool-smartmatic-save-firm
(Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal chief Ferdinand Rafanan said the possibility of the two companies engaging in electronic election fraud is remote.)

Philippines: Legal issues caused rift with Smartmatic, says TIM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166740/Legal-issues-caused-rift-with-Smartmatic-says-TIM

Philippines: Melo: People want automation
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=484204&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Published by VotersUnite.Org
Ellen Theisen ([e-mail]), Director and Managing Editor
Dave Klein ([e-mail]), Editor
John Washburn ([e-mail]), Editor

Daily Voting News was founded on February 6, 2004 by John Gideon (1947-2009). To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to [e-mail]. To donate, click here: http://www.votersunite.org/donate.asp.

"To encourage citizen ownership of transparent, participatory democracy." The Creekside Declaration March 22, 2008

**Articles and commentary included in "Daily Voting News" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors of Daily Voting News, VotersUnite.Org, or its allied organizations. Articles are selected for inclusion to inform subscribers' ability to draw their own conclusions based on noteworthy and credible news, research, legislation, and debate bearing on the integrity of elections. **

*******************************************************************
If you receive Daily Voting News directly from VotersUnite! and wish to unsubscribe, please send an email to [e-mail] requesting that you be removed from circulation. If you get the email forwarded from someone else you must contact them to be unsubscribed.
*******************************************************************