Thursday 2/10 Election Fraud, Reform, & Updates Thread

[MelissaB]

In order to organize and document I thought it would be a good idea to have a daily thread to place items related to reform, fraud, protests, and other items. This also make it easier to "catch up" when we are away from the computer for a while.

Please help us. If you see something that isn't here post it with a link to the thread and a thanks to the author. Thanks to everyone who is helping with this project.


Link to the thread from yesterday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x321672

[L. Coyote]

1. OHIO in the headlines with a variety of articles

Chaos in Ohio: Blackwell Says G.O.P. Chair Is in Diebold's "Hip Pocket"; Ohio AG Rules Blackwell Order Illegal; Blackwell Says AG's "Playing Politics"

http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/chaos-in-ohio-blackwell-says-gop-chair.html


Date for Hearing in New Ohio Recount Case Can Now Be Set

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0209-06.htm


Breaking News: Vanity Fair's Christopher Hitchens, a Bush Supporter, Calls for Ohio Investigation: "There Is Something Wrong About the Ohio Election"

http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/breaking-news-vanity-fairs-christopher.html


State lacks funds for new voting printers

http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/N.php?article=N3&date=020905


Ohio Officials Begin Voting Machine Fight

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/10850812.htm


THE BIG NEWS:

Attorney general: election chief's voting machine order improper

http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4815

[dzika]

2. Letter from John Kerry - Stand with Howard Dean

02/10/05

Letter from John Kerry - Stand with Howard Dean

Dear David,

We have a strong Democratic Party - and we need it to be stronger. Strong enough to turn back George Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security. Strong enough to insist that every child in America has health insurance. Strong enough to elect candidates committed to Democratic ideals at every level of government and in every region of our country.

On Saturday - just two days from now - Howard Dean will be elected as the new chair of the Democratic National Committee. He'll need the ideas, engagement and financial support of the entire Democratic Party to succeed.

Let's welcome Howard Dean and give him the groundswell of grassroots support he needs.

http://www.democrats.org/BuildTheParty

Let's send an unmistakable message to George Bush and his allies: In 2005, the Democratic Party is strong and united.

Again, it is just two days until Howard Dean becomes chairman. Please join me now in getting his efforts to strengthen our Party off to a record-setting start.

http://www.democrats.org/BuildTheParty

Thank you,

John Kerry

[dzika]

3. Short Video Clip from CNN about March from Selma

Short Video Clip from CNN about March from Selma

(of course, they don't actually bother to mention that the march was for voting rights)



Video in Real Media (256k stream/40 sec.)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_selma_clip_050210-01.rm

[dzika]

4. Olbermann on "Gannon-Gate"

Why is Gannon related to this the 2004 election discussion? 2 Reasons.

1. Gannon gave the White House "softball" or "life-line" questioning during the campaign that helped to suggest that Kerry is a traitor.

2. If we are going to fight them then we must understand how the media is being manipulated.

---

If you don't know who "Gannon" is then you will after watching this.


Video in Real Media format (128k stream/10 min)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050209-02.rm

[GuvWurld]

5. Eureka, CA Planning IRV forum; Arcata, CA Mulls No Confidence Resolution

http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/02/confirmed-eureka-councilmembers.html

Next Tuesday at 1pm I will be meeting with Eureka City Councilmembers Chris Kerrigan and Mike Jones to discuss convening a town hall forum on bringing Instant Runoff Voting to Eureka, CA. This is the second big week in a row following the Arcata City Council's decision last week to formally consider the No Confidence Resolution.

Read the rest in the GuvWurld blog.

[dzika]

6. No-Shows Annoy Group Probing 2004 Election

Thu Feb 10,12:31 AM ET

Ohio & Fla. No-Shows Annoy Group Probing 2004 Election

By MALIA RULON

WASHINGTON - Starting on a sour note, lawmakers holding the first congressional review of the 2004 vote were upset by the absence of top election officials from Ohio and Florida, states with many balloting complaints.

The chairman of the House Administration Committee said he would hold hearings away from Washington and continue to seek testimony from Ohio's secretary of state, Kenneth Blackwell, and Florida's Glenda Hood.

"I am disappointed that they are not here," said Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record), R-Ohio. "We can have disagreements, but you can't run and you can't hide."

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (news, bio, voting record) of California, the top Democrat on the committee, said "the arrogance of these secretaries of state to not be here today is an affront."

Blackwell was in the capital, where he led a meeting of the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. He said he already had agreed to attend that meeting before the House committee asked him to appear.

"I don't know why there would be any hand wringing or foot stomping. The Ohio story is probably the most widely told story in the country," Blackwell said. He pledged that someone from Ohio — though not necessarily him — would go before the committee, which oversees election issues.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=3&u=/ap/20050210/ap_on_go_co/election_reform

[dzika]

7. Ohio Officials Begin Voting Machine Fight

(02-08) 20:16 PST Columbus, OH

Ohio Officials Begin Voting Machine Fight

By JOE DANBORN


Ohio's attorney general and its secretary of state launched a dispute over voting machines on Tuesday, the day before counties are required to submit their machine choices.

Attorney General Jim Petro issued a written opinion Tuesday saying Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell did not have the authority to order counties to use one type of voting machine. Petro said the choice is up to the counties.

Blackwell said the statement Tuesday contradicted what Petro told him in the past. Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for the secretary of state, said Blackwell's order last month requiring elections officials in Ohio's 88 counties to pick between two types of optical-scan machines "carries the weight of law, and he expects that to be complied with."

Blackwell and Petro are seeking the Republican nomination for governor.


more
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/02/08/national/a201633S54.DTL

[dzika]

8. J. Kenneth Blackwell - Questions of principle and Conflicting Roles

Posted 2/8/2005 9:34 PM

J. Kenneth Blackwell - Questions of principle and Conflicting Roles

...
Like Harris, Blackwell, Ohio's chief elections officer, is an ambitious politician already running for governor and was one of the leaders of President Bush's campaign in the state. He tried to enforce an old rule requiring that registration forms be on a certain kind of paper and controversially rejected some provisional ballots.

Even when Blackwell's decisions were legally correct, his dual role as partisan cheerleader/fundraiser and administrator of one of the most sensitive functions of government — running an honest election — suggested a conflict of interest.

Meanwhile, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, an ambitious Democrat, resigned Friday amid charges of accepting tainted campaign contributions and using federal grant funds for political purposes.

A few people, at least, are beginning to see the problem: Georgia in 2001 banned secretaries of State from having a financial role in others' campaigns. A constitutional amendment to make the office non-partisan is pending before the California Senate. There's talk in Ohio of turning the job over to a bipartisan state board of elections or a non-partisan civil servant.

In elections, credibility counts. It's hard to get when the guy in charge is playing politics.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2005-02-08-gop-rules_x.htm

[dzika]

9. GREENS CONTINUE PUSH FOR OHIO RECOUNT

Published 02-09-05

GREENS CONTINUE PUSH FOR OHIO RECOUNT

The presidential election has been certified, and the Electoral College has met and cast its lots, but the Green Party is continuing with its push to get a second counting of the votes in Ohio.

The campaign of Green presidential candidate David Cobb confirmed on Tuesday that it had submitted the final necessary documents that needed to be on file with a federal court last week

Attorneys for Cobb and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Michael Badnarik filed a legal memorandum on Feb. 3 countering the assertion of Ohio secretary of state J. Kenneth Blackwell that he is not a proper party to the litigation and that the lawsuit filed by the duo should be dismissed.

"Mr. Blackwell and Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro are doing their utmost to keep the public and the proper authorities from finding out what went wrong with Ohio's presidential election and the bungled recount which followed it," said Blair Bobier, the media director for the Cobb presidential campaign.

"Collectively, they have refused to testify before members of Congress, and they have sought sanctions against attorneys prosecuting legitimate election claims. It is not at all surprising that they are claiming a federal court has no jurisdiction in the oversight of a federal election. It's not surprising, it's simply ridiculous," Bobier said.


http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$31505

[dzika]

10. Blackwell scolded for voting decision

Blackwell is getting lots of bad press this week...

---

Article published Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Blackwell scolded for voting decision
State official not empowered to certify single balloting system, Petro says

By JIM PROVANCE

COLUMBUS - Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said yesterday that Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell overstepped his authority last month when he ordered all 88 counties to buy a single type of voting machine.

The opinion is not legally binding upon Mr. Blackwell, who, a spokesman said, still expects counties to meet today's deadline to select between two makers of optical-scan voting devices. The machines employ paper ballots read electronically.
...
"Even as the secretary of state is not empowered to exercise on behalf of the boards of county commissioners the discretion that is given to them to determine which voting system they will choose, the secretary of state is not empowered to unreasonably limit the choices they have by certifying only a single kind of system," he wrote.
...
"The A.G. was with us before he was against us," said Mr. LoParo, who added that he hoped Mr. Petro wasn't using the issue for political gain. Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Petro are expected to vie with Auditor Betty Montgomery next year for the Republican nomination for governor.


Is Blackwell spokesman, LaParo, playing the "flip-flop" card on A.G. Petro?
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050209/NEWS09/502090398

[dzika]

11. Blackwell to Congress: Sorry, I can't make it

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Blackwell to Congress: Sorry, I can't make it

by Stephen Koff

Washington - Where's Ken Blackwell?

Members of Congress could ask that today when a House committee mulls over what went right - and wrong - in the 2004 presidential election. Secretaries of state from Iowa, New Mexico, Indiana and Kansas are testifying.
...
"We certainly had hoped to hear from him, and were surprised to learn he'll be in Washington," said Brian Walsh, spokesman for Rep. Bob Ney, the St. Clairsville Republican who chairs the House Administration Committee.

Ney has pledged to improve elections, and today's hearing "would have been the most appropriate venue" for Blackwell, Walsh said.
...
But that means Blackwell will miss almost certain criticism from some Democrats at today's hearing, since partisans across the nation accuse Blackwell of employing election tactics advantageous to President Bush, whom Blackwell supported.


http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/110794530236263.xml

[dzika]

12. Early voting loses allure for many city elections in Palm Beach County

Posted February 10 2005

Early voting loses allure for many city elections in Palm Beach County

By Anthony Man

Three months ago early voting was all the rage. Politicians hailed it as an innovation that would transform elections by allowing people to vote at their convenience. The public responded in droves, with some waiting as long as seven hours in line so they could vote before Election Day.

Now it's being scrapped by local officials throughout Palm Beach County who don't think it's worth the cost.

Of the 20 municipalities in the county with elections in February and March, only Boca Raton has committed to early voting.

Another 15 had decided against early voting in the event they had contested races. "We didn't think it was something we needed to do or was in our best interest," said Delray Beach City Manager David Harden.


more
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pearlyvote10feb10,0,55523.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

[dzika]

13. One man, one vote (and several bids on eBay)

One man, one vote (and several bids on eBay)

BY BARBARA NORDBY/Lincoln Journal Star

Kyle Stoner spent a few extra bucks last fall to send his absentee ballot through certified mail. He wanted to be sure his vote for John Kerry would count in Cass County. It was a waste of money.

An election office crisis left 288 ballots uncounted, including Stoner's. The absentee ballots had to be reissued, but there wasn't time for all the voters to return them. Stoner, 27, was living in Lincoln by then and didn't get his second ballot in the mail until Election Day.

He wrote to the election office, and in late December he received this response from the new election commissioner, Nancy Josoff: "I'm sorry to say your second ballot was not counted." She described the problem and said, "You can bet the farm that it will never happen again!"
...
Still, Stoner wanted more. On Tuesday, he put up the letters for sale on eBay with the message, "These documents are reminders to all of us that Democracy is only as strong as the laws, technology, public servants, and money that are invested in it."


http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/02/10/local/doc420aeb1a62004001591031.txt

[dzika]

14. CONDI COULD BE REPUBLICANS' ANTI-HILLARY IN 2008

CONDI COULD BE REPUBLICANS' ANTI-HILLARY IN 2008

BY DICK MORRIS


February 10, 2005 -- AS she tours Europe after her Senate confirmation, Secretary of State Condo leezza Rice is like a rock star — her every movement, her every meeting covered by an adoring media.
...
The political fact is that a Rice candidacy would destroy the electoral chances of the Democratic Party by undermining its demographic base.

John Kerry got 54 percent of his vote from three groups that, together, account for about a third of the American electorate: African-Americans, Hispanics and single white women.
...
Unlike former Republican New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), both of whom could probably win in November, she would be very attractive to the pro-life, anti-gun-control, anti-affirmative-action base of the GOP.


http://www.nypost.com/commentary/21803.htm

[dzika]

15. Bush says to Woman - "You work 3 jobs... that is fantastic."

How could people have voted for this man? Here is some sad humor from last night's Leno show.

---

Bush says to Woman - "You work 3 jobs... that is fantastic."

Bush: "You work 3 jobs?"

Woman: "Yes"

Bush: "Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic."

(applause from pre-screened audience)

Video in Real Media format (256k stream/1 minute)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_leno_bush_jobs_050210-01.rm

[dzika]

16. Election Assistance Commission Examines 2004 Election Reforms

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Election Assistance Commission Examines 2004 Election Reforms

By MALIA RULON

Officials from a new federal voting commission cited improvements in the country's election system in the first congressional review of the 2004 election, which has sparked lawsuits and numerous complaints of irregularities.
...
Already, the commission has distributed $2.2 billion to states, which helped some to install new electronic or optical scan machines before the Nov. 2 election.
...
The hearing comes as the General Accountability Office, responding to complaints from around the country, investigates last year's vote count, including the malfunctions of voting machines and handling of provisional ballots. Lawsuits over provisional voting were filed in at least five states, most notably Ohio, Michigan and Missouri.
...
Ney has pledged to hold a series of hearings to examine election issues, including reports of voter disenfranchisement and the growth of tax-exempt political groups that aren't regulated by the Federal Election Commission.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/02/09/national/w070906S78.DTL

[dzika]

17. WaPo - The Karl Rove Ascension

Wednesday, February 9, 2005; 11:41 AM

The Karl Rove Ascension

By Dan Froomkin


Karl Rove is now, officially, in charge of pretty much everything at the White House.

But it's mostly just a title change.

President Bush's long-time chief political strategist is now assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff and senior adviser.

That's a lot of titles. But of course Rove has even more nicknames. He's been called "Bush's guru," "Bush's brain," "the man behind the curtain" and "the wizard of the West Wing." Rove himself cracked that his reputation is "evil Rasputin." And Bush alternately calls Rove "the architect," "boy genius," or "turd blossom" -- the last a reference to a West Texas flower that grows in cow manure.
...
The news is being widely hailed as another indication that Rove has been authorized to use the power of the White House in this second Bush term to carve out a lasting Republican majority.


more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10754-2005Feb9.html

[dzika]

18. Congresswoman Tubbs Jones Outraged at Blackwell's Failure to Appear

Wednesday February 9, 1:52 pm ET

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones Outraged at Blackwell's Failure to Appear During House Administration Hearing

Press Release Source: Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones spoke before the House Administration Committee during their hearing on the Implementation of the Help America Vote Act following the 2004 election.

"I am thoroughly disappointed that the Secretary of State from my home state of Ohio, Ken Blackwell, chose not to testify today before the House Administration Committee," stated Rep. Tubbs Jones. "Just as he created tremendous confusion among voters in Cuyahoga County and across the state of Ohio during this past election by issuing bizarre directives and playing partisan politics, his failure to testify before this committee today shows that he is not committed to improving our election system.

"I would have thought that he would have seen this hearing as an opportunity to further examine the problems that occurred during this past election and work to develop a plan of action for addressing them. The Secretaries of State from key battleground States such as Iowa, New Mexico and Indiana felt it important enough to attend this hearing today. Ken Blackwell owed it the people of Ohio and of this country to be at this hearing today. They deserve the truth!"

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones recently introduced legislation with Rep. John Conyers in introducing the Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act, or the VOTER Act of 2005 which seeks to combat the tremendous voting irregularities that plagued both the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Source: Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050209/clw048_1.html

[dzika]

19. Suspicious Results in NY Underscore Need for Seizure of Ohio Voting Machin

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Suspicious Results in New York Senate Race Underscore Need for Immediate Court-Ordered Seizure of All Ohio Voting Machines

By ADVOCATE STAFF

...
In New York, a race for the State Senate draws approximately 114,000 votes.

...

Nevertheless, Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins successfully militates for a recount.

And according to CBS, that "recount of the machine vote narrowed the gap to single digits."

...

A similar result in a statewide manual recount in Ohio would net Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry approximately 87,500 votes.

Let's be clear -- it would net Kerry that many votes.

Not gross.

Such a result would narrow President Bush's lead in Ohio from 118,000 votes to 30,500 votes -- or roughly one half of one percent.



As usual, a good article from The Nashua Advocate:
http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/suspicious-results-in-new-york-senate.html

[dzika]

20. Political activism continues after election - and a note about "Gannon"

2/9/2005

Political activism continues after election

By Lauren Hoffman


Months after the presidential election, students continue to demonstrate support for political parties and causes.

Following the high turn out of voters during the 2004 election, in which 61 percent of Americans cast votes, and the subsequent inauguration of president George W. Bush, political apathy seemed likely to return to campus. Students have responded, however, by displaying continued interest in current political issues.
...
Last semester both clubs worked to organize many lecturers, rallies and protests among other student-run events.Yoder said she is especially pleased with the outcome of the events her club sponsored last semester.

Jeff Gannon, white house correspondent for Talon News, Christina Hoff Sommers, conservative author, and David Hardy, co-author of “Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man,” presented their views on campus during the presidential campaign.

Hardy was chosen to counter the pro-Michael Moore sentiment on campus, Yoder said.

more
http://www.bw.lehigh.edu/story.asp?ID=18372

[dzika]

21. Chaos in Ohio: Blackwell Says G.O.P. Chair Is in Diebold's "Hip Pocket"

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Chaos in Ohio: Blackwell Says G.O.P. Chair Is in Diebold's "Hip Pocket"; Ohio AG Rules Blackwell Order Illegal; Blackwell Says AG's "Playing Politics"

By ADVOCATE STAFF


What the hell is going on in Ohio?

To any objective observer, it would seem the state's electoral processes are in an advanced state of meltdown, with former political alliances -- most notably, between the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, and between the G.O.P. Chairman and the Secretary of State -- now strangely and suddenly dissolved.

They say rats try to flee a sinking ship: is Ohio's murky electoral administration about to implode under the weight of investigations into a recent, suspicious presidential election?

As The Advocate reported this week, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell recently issued an edict that all the state's counties have until today to choose voting systems for the fall of 2006 -- even though he's only given them two choices of vendors, one "choice" of system type, and 354 fewer days to evaluate their options than federal law (the 2002 Help America Vote Act) would otherwise have given them.

Now, at the urgent request of several county boards, that edict has been deemed illegal by the Ohio Attorney General, Jim Petro -- who, though a long-standing Blackwell ally as allegations surfaced that the 2004 general election in Ohio was mismanaged, says of Blackwell's latest order, according to a paraphrase in the Wednesday edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "(he) does not have the authority to dictate how independent boards conduct their elections."


More
http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/chaos-in-ohio-blackwell-says-gop-chair.html

[dzika]

22. IL Gov. Blagojevich signs law expanding voter registration

February 9, 2005

IL Gov. Blagojevich signs law expanding voter registration

Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed legislation allowing prospective voters to register 14 days before an election, instead of the previous 28 days before an election. By creating the two-week "grace period," Senate Bill 2133 allows voters more time to register or change their address and still have the chance to vote in the next election.

Senate Bill 2133, sponsored by Sen. James T. Meeks (I-Chicago) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D- Matteson), allows individuals who wish to register to vote or change their address during the grace period to do so in person, at their local election authority or at a specially designated site.

Under the new law, voters who register or change their address during the grace period and want to vote in an upcoming election will be able to vote by mail or in person, at a site chosen by their local election authority. To identify possible irregularities in grace period votes, grace period votes will be kept separate from precinct votes and will be counted at election headquarters.

The legislation brings Illinois’ registration time period in to line with many other states. Six states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, allow same day registration, and several others allow registration up to 15 days before an election. The new law is based on the state of Washington's grace period, which has a 28-day deadline for 'regular' registration and a 14-day deadline for 'late' registration.


http://www.suntimesnews.com/2/news_archive/Feb_05/0209blag.htm

[dzika]

23. Iowa SOS Culver Reports On Election Reform

Iowa SOS Culver Reports On Election Reform

February 9th, 2005 - Iowa's Secretary of State is be in Washington D.C. to report that Iowa is leading the way when it comes to election reform.

Chet Culver is one of four Secretaries of State from around the country who have been asked to give testimony about the Help America Vote Act. Members of Congress will use the testimony to see what kind of progress has been made.

Culver plans to describe parts of the state's 30-million dollar HAVA implementation plan, including voting systems technology and voter education.

Culver's office was in charge of counting ballots from the 2004 election. Iowa's process was actually one of the slowest in the country in counting and certifying it's vote count.


http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2923205

[dzika]

24. Commissioners Describe Help America Vote Act as Success Story in Progress

U.S. Election Assistance Commission Reports to Congress on Election Reform Progress in 2004
Commissioners Describe Help America Vote Act as Success Story in Progress, Outline 2005 Goals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2005

Kay Stimson
[phone]



Washington, DC During testimony before Congress, members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) today reported to congressional leaders that election reforms mandated under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) are working and asked them to support full implementation of the law that preserves the delicate balance between state and federal government.

"Our role is to serve as a resource for states as they spend their federal funding to make HAVA a reality, but at the same time, we must fulfill our responsibility to provide due diligence to protect the interests of the federal government and voters," noted EAC Chair Gracia Hillman. "If the 2004 election taught us anything, it's that HAVA is a success story in progress, but the story has not ended and we must all continue our work."

While acknowledging that the 2004 election cycle was not without problems, the Commissioners urged congressional leaders to let HAVA implementation continue unabated in order for all HAVA reform measures to be realized. According to preliminary findings of an EAC Election Day 2004 Survey combined with other sources, the law contributed to or directly impacted the 2004 election with the following results:

• National Election Data: An EAC Election Day 2004 Survey, the federal government's first effort to gather quantitative election data from the states on HAVA implementation and election administration. With 47 states and territories reporting, there was an eight percent increase in registered voters in the U.S., totaling about 13 million new voters.
  
  
• Provisional Voting: Over 1 million provisional votes were counted in the November 2004 elections. Seventeen states used provisional voting for the first time, and 1.5 million people cast a provisional ballot, of which more than one million (68 percent) were counted.
  
  
• Funding for States to Meet HAVA Requirements: More than $2.2 billion was distributed to 46 states and territories to enhance the election process and to help states meet HAVA requirements, including provisional voting, voter identification, voter information and polling place accessibility.
  
  
• New Voting Equipment: Since 2000, at least 25 percent of the nation's voters have used new voting equipment, with another 30 percent to be using new equipment by 2006.
  
  
• Statewide Voter Registration Databases: At least nine states had developed and used a statewide voter registration database to help increase access to the process and reduce opportunities for fraud. All states and territories must have a statewide database by January 1, 2006.
  
  
• Poll Workers: An increase in the number of trained poll workers who served across the country on Election Day. In the EAC survey, 12 states have reported a full complement of poll workers in 2004.

"Now that the first federal elections have occurred under HAVA, our theme for 2005 is 'Building a Framework of Excellence for the Future'," added EAC Vice Chairman Paul DeGregorio. "We are pursuing an aggressive research agenda this year and will use our clearinghouse role to share good ideas with state and local election officials as HAVA intended."

In 2005, EAC will focus on the following initiatives:

• Updated voluntary voting systems standards and recommendations for making voting more secure, as well as guidance on provisional voting, voting information, the impacts of HAVA voter identification requirements and statewide voter registration databases.
  
  
• New processes for the testing and qualification of voting systems with the support of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST).
  
  
• Continued national data collection efforts, specifically with the Election Day 2004 Survey, Military and Overseas Absentee Ballot Survey, and a National Voter Registration Act Survey.

Congress created the four-member U.S. Election Assistance Commission under HAVA, which has provided approximately $3 billion in funding for election reform. EAC is charged with disbursing payments to states for replacement of voting systems and election administration improvements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse for the collection of information regarding election administration. EAC is also charged with providing guidance to states on a variety of election reform topics. EAC Commissioners are Gracia Hillman, Chair; Paul DeGregorio, Vice Chair; Ray Martinez III; and DeForest Soaries, Jr.


To learn more about EAC, please visit www.eac.gov.

###

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/details.cfm?id=28137

[dzika]

25. Schwarzenegger allies sued to overturn contribution regulation

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Schwarzenegger allies sued to overturn contribution regulation

By TOM CHORNEAU


A business group raising money to back Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's package of constitutional amendments for an upcoming special election has sued to overturn a cap on contributions to committees controlled by elected officials.

The suit, served Wednesday on the California Fair Political Practices Commission, targets a regulation that officials from the Citizens to Save California and the governor's office have said does not apply to them because Schwarzenegger does not play a controlling role in the group.

Critics have charged that Citizens to Save California is violating the regulation by raising unlimited amounts of money for campaign purposes that the governor is helping to direct. One group, TheRestofUs.org, a nonprofit political watchdog organization, filed a complaint against Citizens to Save California on Monday.
...
Ned Wigglesworth, analyst for TheRestofUs.org, said the lawsuit shows the governor and his allies believe they have a problem with the regulation.

"I guess they took us pretty seriously," Wigglesworth said. "They had eight months to complain about this but didn't until we filed on Monday. The timing suggests they might be in violation."


more
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/02/09/state/n184108S75.DTL


Ned Wigglesworth? Is that a real name? Just kidding.

[dzika]

26. LETTER: Election fraud

Opinion
Wednesday, February 09, 2005

LETTER: Election fraud

Vernell Davis, Zavalla

The elections in Iraq have not stopped the killing of Americans or Iraqis, and the destruction of that county, nor will it. The elections were a farce brought by the warmongers in order to keep the war going and the oil flowing.

Our government sent people like Colin Powell and President Carter all over the world to monitor elections. America has one of the most fraudulent voting systems in the world and the rest of the world knows this. I'm not talking about who won or lost, I'm talking about the voters not counted, the ballots that were supposedly lost, people who were kept away from the voting booths, computers that for one reason or another didn't work at the polling stations and the hanging chads. This is all election fraud, and it took away one of our very basic freedoms.

The elections in 2008 will not be decided by you or me. It will be decided by special interests, warmongers and foreign oil gluts like Saudi Arabia.

http://www.lufkindailynews.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2005/02/09/20050209LDNletter.html

[dzika]

27. Videos - Today's Gannon-Gate News

MSNBC Report on Gannon-Gate - 2/10 @ 5:30 PM



Video in Real Media format (256k stream / 3 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/msnbc_gannon_050210-01.rm

---

Blitzer lobs some "softballs" at Gannon - 2/10 @ 5:50 PM ET



Video in Real Media format (128k stream / 4 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_blitzer_gannon_050210-01.rm

---

Olbermann interviews NPR reporter about "Gannon" - 2/10 @ 8:15 PM ET



Video in Real Media format (256k stream / 5 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050210-01.rm

[dzika]

28. Sims defends election system in King County Washington

Local News: Thursday, February 10, 2005

Sims defends election system

By Keith Ervin

King County Executive Ron Sims has come out swinging at critics who have called the county's management of the contested gubernatorial election either incompetent or corrupt.

In his first news conference on problems with the Nov. 2 election, Sims yesterday said he will ask the County Council for money to create a "state-of-the-art" election facility and to improve worker training.

Sims defended Elections Director Dean Logan and said he was convinced the county "conducted the most accurate count humanly possible with the systems we have today. ...

"I am deeply disappointed that so many have sought to take political advantage of human error and turn it into baseless cries of fraud and corruption."


more
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=election10m&date=20050210

[MelissaB]

29. Democrats.com petition: Special prosecutor to investigate Gannon-Gate!

SIGN THE PETITION * SIGN THE PETITION * SIGN THE PETITION

To: George W. Bush, Alberto Gonzales, Congress, and the Media

We demand the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate the "journalist" using the pseudonym "Jeff Gannon" (James Dale Guckert) who attended daily press briefings at the White House and was regularly called upon by Scott McClellan.

Obviously "Jeff Gannon" is not a bona fide journalist and should never have been given White House press credentials.

In 2003, top White House officials gave "Jeff Gannon" exclusive access to an internal CIA memo that named Joseph Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, as a covert CIA agent.

It is obvious that there was a conspiracy between "Gannon," McClellan, and other top White House officials to run "smear" campaigns against White House "enemies" and to interfere with tough questions by real White House reporters. This is unacceptable in a Democracy.

More here: http://democrats.com/gannon

Thanks to Liberty Belle here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x322721

[dzika]

30. Some "Jeff Gannon" highlights ... no longer available on Talon News

February 10, 2005

Some "Jeff Gannon" highlights ... no longer available on the Talon News website

Following Jeff Gannon's February 8 resignation as Talon News Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent, Talon News -- which appears to be more of a Republican political advocacy group than a media outlet -- removed all archived news stories from its website. Despite Gannon's claim that he is not "someone who takes a strong position and speaks in support of that issue," a Media Matters for America review of Gannon's catalogue of work for Talon (still available as cached documents via Google) showed that Gannon often used his news articles as a platform to defend the Bush administration and attack its opponents.


"Kerry's Alleged Intern Identified"

On February 12, 2004, The Drudge Report featured an unconfirmed report concerning a supposed extramarital affair between Senator John Kerry and an unnamed woman. In a February 16, 2004, article titled "Kerry's Alleged Intern Identified, Taped Interview With Major Television Network," Gannon advanced the baseless rumor, adding the unattributed claim that the woman in question had taped an interview with "one of the major television networks" in which she substantiated the allegation. However, as Newsday columnist James P. Pinkerton pointed out the following day, "The woman, Alexandra Polier, said that all the allegations were false. And her parents issued a statement supporting not only their daughter, but also Kerry's candidacy for president." Pinkerton specifically addressed Gannon's Talon article: "Walking on the even wilder side, an online news outfit, Talon News, asserted that the woman had 'taped an interview with one of the major television networks at Christmas substantiating the alleged affair.'"


"Kerry Could Become First Gay President"

In an October 12, 2004, article titled "Kerry Could Become First Gay President," Gannon claimed that because of his "support for the pro-gay agenda," Senator Kerry "might someday be known as 'the first gay president' were he to win the White House in November." Gannon was alluding to instances in which Bill Clinton was referred to as "the first black president" for the support and popularity he drew from the African-American community. Republicans attacked Kerry on the issue of gay marriage throughout the 2004 presidential campaign.


Swift Boat Vets focus on "Kerry's bitter legacy that haunts many Vietnam veterans"

Gannon readily embraced the discredited anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (now Swift Vets and POWs for Truth), reporting the group's questionable allegations as fact. In an August 18, 2004, article, he wrote: "Kerry's broad accusations that portrayed American soldiers as 'baby killers' is part of the bitter legacy of the war hero turned antiwar activist. Many veterans that Kerry defamed have never forgiven him and have recently spoken up to oppose his election as commander in chief." In an August 20, 2004, article titled "Kerry Fires Back at Swifties, Claims Bush Behind Ads," Gannon reported a distortion repeatedly echoed by Republicans, that in Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony, Kerry "accused" American soldiers of "committing war crimes":

The group's leader John O'Neill's book, "Unfit for Command," will debut on the New York Times best-seller list at #3 this week and a new ad will begin to air on Friday. It is likely to focus on the testimony Kerry gave before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971.

His testimony is part of Kerry's bitter legacy that haunts many Vietnam veterans. Kerry's accusations of American soldiers committing war crimes cast a stain on all who served. The dashing war hero turned antiwar activist gave a boost to the movement that undermined U.S. will to continue involvement in Southeast Asia and resulted in the communist takeover of Vietnam.

Gannon again repeated the allegation in an August 25, 2004, article, writing: "The latest ad being run by the 'Swifties' centers on Kerry's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 where he accused American soldiers of committing war crimes."

As Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted, in his 1971 Senate testimony, Kerry simply related the testimony of other Vietnam veterans who came home and spoke about their personal experiences at the Winter Soldier Investigation hearing in Detroit earlier that year. Testifying in his capacity as spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War, which organized the Winter Soldier hearing, Kerry focused blame on the leaders at that time -- not the soldiers -- for the atrocities they claimed to have committed or witnessed.

Media Matters has revealed that Gannon has lifted excerpts from Republican documents verbatim and without attribution for his "news reports," lobbed softball questions during White House press briefings and presidential press conferences, and repeatedly served as a "lifeline" for Scott McClellan. In Gannon's own words: "It's hard to say with Scott but he usually knows what he's going to get from me."


more
http://mediamatters.org/items/200502100008

[Wilms]

31. Backup system wanted to prevent repeat of Carteret lost-vote fiasco

Backup system wanted to prevent repeat of Carteret lost-vote fiasco

MARK JOHNSON Charlotte Observer 10 February 2005

RALEIGH - A special committee of citizens and legislators approved proposed legislation Wednesday that would require all voting machines in North Carolina to produce a paper copy of ballots so voters can see and verify them.

The legislation, which is only a recommendation at this point, marks the first steps by lawmakers to respond to foul-ups in last fall's election, including the embarrassing loss of more than 4,000 votes in Carteret County by a malfunctioning electronic voting machine.

-snip-

The committee included computer experts, lawyers, elections officials and voting reform advocates, who presented, and sometimes sparred over, differing proposals. They wound up with an overwhelming majority supporting several key provisions, including:

• Requiring voting machine manufacturers to divulge the source code, the computer language blueprints of how their machines work, for the state board of elections to review.

-snip-

<http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4835>

[dzika]

32. Public Hearing on Provisional Voting, to take place in Columbus Feb. 23

February 10, 2005

Public Hearing on Provisional Voting, to take place in Columbus, Ohio,
February 23, 2005, at 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Federal Register: February 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 26)
Notices
Page 6850
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
wais.access.gpo.gov
DOCID:fr09fe05-40

ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Notice

AGENCY: Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 23, 2005, 1 p.m.-5p.m.

Place: Michael E. Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University, 55 W. 12th Ave., Saxbe Auditorium, Columbus, OH 43210-1391.


Agenda:

The Commission will conduct a public hearing to identify the successes and problems involved with the use of provisional voting.

The following witness panels will be presented: Election Officials, Advocacy Organizations/Non-government Sector and Academics.

All public comments will be taken in writing via e-mail at [e-mail], or at the meeting or via mail addressed to the U.S.

Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New York Ave., NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Whitener, Telephone: [phone].


Ray Martinez III,
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
(FR Doc. 05-2563 Filed 2-7-05; 9:02 am)

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/02/public-hearing-on-provisional-voting.html

[dzika]

33. Video - Daily Show on Bush Press Conference (with a Gannon softball)

Given this week's Gannon-Gate scandal, a video clip from tonight's re-run of the Daily Show is appropriate.

In the video clip you can even hear one of Gannon's softball questions.



Video clip in Real Media formation (256k stream / 3 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/daily_show_press_conf_050210-02.rm

[dzika]

34. More vote reforms can wait, says Ohio Republican Ney

February 10, 2005

More vote reforms can wait, says Ohio Republican Ney

By Brian DeBose
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Congress should not introduce new legislation to improve the elections process or change the Help America Vote Act, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration said yesterday.

Rep. Bob Ney, Ohio Republican, said that despite rumors and conjecture about problems in the 2004 election cycle, the process was, for the most part, fair and successful. Mr. Ney said Congress now must wait to see results and study HAVA's effectiveness in 2004 again when it is fully implemented and all states reach full compliance next year.

...

The committee also invited six secretaries of state to share their perspectives on voting issues, but two secretaries, J. Kenneth Blackwell of Ohio and Glenda E. Hood of Florida — the two states where the largest number of irregularities were reported — did not attend the hearing.

...

In only a few instances, said [Bush appointed] EAC Commissioner Paul DeGregorio, were mistakes made in which an eligible voter's provisional ballot was not counted.


more
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050210-123409-6838r.htm

[Wilms]

35. County registrar's office relieved by secretary of state's resignation

County registrar's office relieved by secretary of state's resignation

By Les Mahler
San Joaquin News Service
Last updated: Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005 - 08:00:23 am PST

STOCKTON -- When Kevin Shelley resigned from his office as secretary of state Friday, there was a great sigh of relief from San Joaquin County's Registrar of Voters Deborah Hench.

The resignation "was the best thing that's happened to the state since he took office," Hench said Monday.

The resignation allows Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a chance to appoint someone who will cooperate with all 58 registrars in the state, Hench said.

-snip/more-

<http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2005/02/09/news/07_hench_050209.txt>

What's in a name, eh, Dzika?? Hench.