'Daily Voting News' for July 2-3, 2009

Ellen Theisen, Dave Klein, and John Washburn

While the goals of the U.S. and the Philippines seem to be the same regarding elections fair and fraud-free, their methods are diametrically opposed. The Philippines is desperate to get away from paper ballots and automate their elections, and the U.S., having been there done that, is heading in the opposite direction.

Happy Independence Day! We're taking the weekend off.

National: New York Times, Rep. Holt, Still Misrepresenting Contents of Controversial Election Reform Bill
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7273

IL: Judge to decide if uninitialed ballots count in RI race
http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_f709c5c6-66b8-11de-a392-001cc4c002e0.html

MI: Clerks say overseas military balloting needs fix
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090703/NEWS01/907030331/1002/NEWS01 (A sensible solution in our opinion.)

MN: Another “winner” in a tied election
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/028772.html

TX: Texas Legislature begins special session
http://www.athensreview.com/local/local_story_182232901.html
(Voter ID bill will not be included.)

Iran: Unfolded Ballot Slips in the Boxes
http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2009/july/02//unfolded-ballot-slips-in-the-boxes.html

Philippines: Enrile raises more election questions
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/july/04/yehey/top_stories/20090704top2.html
(Quote from the article: But Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said, “Under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to be the canvasser for president and vice president. But if the election is automated, what will we canvass?”)

Philippines: Enrile warns poll officials
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090703-213710/Enrile-warns-poll-officials
(Quote from the article: Election officials will end up in jail if they fail to either automate or prepare for the manual balloting next year, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile warned on Friday.)

Philippines: 'Automation only way vs. poll fraud'
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090703-213674/Automation-only-way-vs-poll-fraud

Philippines: Catholic schools pray for miracle to save poll automation
http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/9450

Philippines: Comelec readies charges against automation firm
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news1_july2_2009

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.

"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 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. **