'Daily Voting News' for May 13, 2009

 

Concerns about military and overseas voters headline the national voting news. Senator Schumer held a hearing to discuss a report showing that, in 2008, nearly one-fourth of the absentee ballots requested by these voters (1) were undeliverable, (2) weren’t returned to the local elections office, or (3) were rejected due to a missing signature or failure to notarize. The report says these voters were disenfranchised but fails to mention that high percentages of absentee ballots sent to ordinary citizens go uncounted for the same reasons. Senators Inhofe and Cornyn are re-introducing a bill they hope will help military and overseas voters return their ballots to their local officials in a timely manner, while ensuring the privacy and secrecy of the ballots.

 

On a more local note: A voter registration database error assigned 12 voters in a Mississippi Democratic primary to the wrong Wards. With only a 2-vote margin between the two candidates in one of the Wards, the result of valid votes couldn’t be determined, and the party decided to hold a re-vote, which flipped the outcome.

 

NAtional: Report: One-Fourth of Overseas Votes Go Uncounted

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/13/us/politics/AP-US-Military-Voting.html?_r=1

 

NAtional: Inhofe Co-Sponsors Legislation to Protect Military Voters

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/102210
(Text of the 2008 version is here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-5673)

 

CT: House Backs Measure That Aims To Elect President By Popular Vote

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-house-backs-measure-to-change-presidential-vote,0,6099829.story

 

MS: New Albany re-vote apparently changes run-off lineup but final numbers not in

http://nems360.com/bookmark/2546454

(Re-vote due to election software malfunction)

 

NY: New Voting Machines Ready For Fall Elections

http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/530386.html?nav=5018

 

SC: Early-voting and photo ID advance in S.C.

http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today;see-oUMT1eMppLwLxep9#c-355830

 

TX: Bill requiring ID at polls 'won't survive,' its author says

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12346935

 

TX: Readers discuss fallen mailboxes, voter ID and nursing aspects of all types

http://www.wacotrib.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2009/05/13/05132009wacletters.html

 

TX: Editorial: Drive a stake through Voter ID bill

http://www.wacotrib.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2009/05/13/05132009waceditorial1.html

 

India: Observers to check 2 EVMs every round

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2009/05/13114436/Observers-to-check-2-EVMs-ever.html

 

India: Election 2009 and Chennai's missing voters

http://blog.ashwinpowers.com/2009/05/election-2009-and-chennais-missing.html

 

Ireland: E-voting bill cost taxpayer thousands

http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/-Evoting-bill-cost-taxpayer.5258468.jp

 

Published by VotersUnite.Org

Ellen Theisen (ellen@votersunite.org), Director and Managing Editor

Dave Klein (Klein.David@VotersUnite.org), Editor

John Washburn (Washburn.John@VotersUnite.org), 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 dvn-tips@votersunite.org. To donate, click here: http://www.votersunite.org/donate.asp.

 

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**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 ed 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. **