"Some States Making It Harder to Vote"

[in_cog_ni_to]

Some States Making It Harder to Vote
By DEBORAH HASTINGS, AP National Writer



<snip> MUCH MORE at link.


After the 2004 debacle in Ohio, a law was passed mandating one machine for every 175 registered voters. But it is not enforceable until 2013.

The study contained some good news. Many states have aggressively recruited young people to serve as poll workers _ an effort to correct poorly staffed precincts and aging volunteers not familiar with new electronic technology.

But overall, of the studied states, "none have come close to addressing in full the major problems that plagued the system during the last federal election," the survey concluded.

The states were Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.<end>

http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2006/10/12/497646.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Speaking of Washington State...

As Election Day approaches, elections chief goes on vacation

SEATTLE - Some King County voters are upset to hear the interim elections director is taking a long vacation as the November election approaches, the Seattle Times will report in Thursday's editions.

Interim Director Jim Buck's absence comes during a crucial time for an office that's already faced plenty of criticism in the past.

The Times reports Buck is on a three-week European vacation.

That's fine for some, but it's surprising to others that the key figure in the elections office is gone during such a critical time.

The full article continues at http://www.king5.com/news/specials/politics/stories/NW_101106WABelectionsJK.2d2525f2.html

What kind of elections director goes on three week vacation outside of the country one month before the election? (He's a Democrat, lest anyone is tempted to scream, "Typical Repug.")

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. That is unbelievable, actually. It makes one go

Hmmmm. I wonder what's up with that? Quite odd especially during THIS important election.