In Romania, reports of vote fraud mar election:
After Romanians went to polls to help their country emerge from a political and economic crisis, the election becomes overshadowed allegations of vote fraud.
The complaints of vote fraud were lodged by leading political parties, including the center-left Social Democrats (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the center-right Democrat-Liberals (PD-L).
Meanwhile, certain media outlets reported instances of electoral fraud.
... In what heightened concerns about vote fraud, Romanian police arrested a number of voters who were caught attempting to photograph their marked ballot with mobile phones.
The move is common in vote buying, in which the voter later presents the photo as proof of his vote for the proper candidate. ...
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Slovakia: Claims fly of vote buying - The Slovak Spectator
Claims fly of vote buying - The Slovak Spectator:
AN OPPOSITION party called it the worst machinations with elections in the history of independent Slovakia; the ruling coalition called it simply whining by the opposition to divert attention from what the ruling parties called an election defeat of the right-of-centre parties. These are just two perspectives emerging about suspicions of tampering with election ballots and vote-buying in Slovakia’s regional elections that political observers say must be seriously investigated.
AN OPPOSITION party called it the worst machinations with elections in the history of independent Slovakia; the ruling coalition called it simply whining by the opposition to divert attention from what the ruling parties called an election defeat of the right-of-centre parties. These are just two perspectives emerging about suspicions of tampering with election ballots and vote-buying in Slovakia’s regional elections that political observers say must be seriously investigated.
Why Do People Vote? II | Psychology Today
Why Do People Vote? II | Psychology Today:
The paradox of voter turnout – why do millions of people bother to vote in large national elections when they have virtually no chance of affecting the outcome? – is one of the major theoretical puzzles in the rational choice theory of politics. It’s a theoretical puzzle that I attempted to tackle when I was a rational choice theorist.
The paradox of voter turnout – why do millions of people bother to vote in large national elections when they have virtually no chance of affecting the outcome? – is one of the major theoretical puzzles in the rational choice theory of politics. It’s a theoretical puzzle that I attempted to tackle when I was a rational choice theorist.
Why Do People Vote? I | Psychology Today
Why Do People Vote? I | Psychology Today:
Why millions of people turn out to vote in every national election in the United States and other large democracies is one of the persistent mysteries in the rational choice theory of politics. Why do people vote?
Why millions of people turn out to vote in every national election in the United States and other large democracies is one of the persistent mysteries in the rational choice theory of politics. Why do people vote?
Nearly 27,500 Romanian nationals cast ballots abroad as of 12:00 hrs, GMT | Financiarul
Nearly 27,500 Romanian nationals cast ballots abroad as of 12:00 hrs, GMT | Financiarul:
Nearly 27,500 Romanian nationals abroad cast their ballots in Sunday’s presidential election as of 12:00 hrs, GMT, at the polling centres created for them overseas, which is almost double the turnout in the previous ballot, according to estimates with the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).
Nearly 27,500 Romanian nationals abroad cast their ballots in Sunday’s presidential election as of 12:00 hrs, GMT, at the polling centres created for them overseas, which is almost double the turnout in the previous ballot, according to estimates with the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).
Romania: Vote starts on US East Coast and Canada | Financiarul
Vote starts on US East Coast and Canada | Financiarul:
Voting in the polling stations opened for Romanians living in Canada and the US East Coast began on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Romanian time, whereas three stations in the Far East closed. Voting in the presidential elections and the referendum kicked off at 2:00 p.m. in 17 sections organized for the Romanian diaspora, including Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, New York, Atlanta, Boston and Detroit.
Voting in the polling stations opened for Romanians living in Canada and the US East Coast began on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Romanian time, whereas three stations in the Far East closed. Voting in the presidential elections and the referendum kicked off at 2:00 p.m. in 17 sections organized for the Romanian diaspora, including Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, New York, Atlanta, Boston and Detroit.
Polls put incumbent ahead in Romanian vote; fraud reported - Monsters and Critics
Polls put incumbent ahead in Romanian vote; fraud reported - Monsters and Critics:
Incumbent Romanian President Traian Basescu was leading in his bid for a second term in a poll marred by allegations of electoral fraud according to election forecasts, but not by enough to avoid a run-off.
Incumbent Romanian President Traian Basescu was leading in his bid for a second term in a poll marred by allegations of electoral fraud according to election forecasts, but not by enough to avoid a run-off.
According to voter surveys by polling groups INSOMAR, CURS and CCSB, Basescu had garnered 32.8 per cent to 34.1 per cent of the vote. Socialist Mircea Geoana came in second with 30.9 per cent to 31.7 per cent of the vote.
That would mean a run-off vote on December 6. Final results were not expected until Monday morning.
Hundreds of allegations of voter fraud were filed with Romanian electoral authorities by midday Sunday.
The allegations came in from leading parties, including the centre-left Social Democrats (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the centre-right Democrat-Liberals (PD-L), but also from media outlets and private citizens.
Eyebrows were raised by the fact that, three hours after the start of voting, 6.17 per cent of eligible votes had already been recorded - more than twice the rate at that time of day in the 2004 presidential and parliamentary polls.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Minneapolis elections officials nearing final IRV report | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ
Minneapolis elections officials nearing final IRV report | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ:
The hand count of ballots cast in Minneapolis' first ever election using instant runoff voting is coming to a close and Minneapolis elections officials will soon start to compile a report about the city's new experience.
So far, they say the voting and counting has gone smoothly and they're on pace to finish several weeks ahead of schedule. But some interested observers are not as impressed with the city's performance.
...
The hand count of ballots cast in Minneapolis' first ever election using instant runoff voting is coming to a close and Minneapolis elections officials will soon start to compile a report about the city's new experience.
So far, they say the voting and counting has gone smoothly and they're on pace to finish several weeks ahead of schedule. But some interested observers are not as impressed with the city's performance.
...
New York voting machines hit by malware to lead to allegations of voter fraud and machine failures - SC Magazine UK
New York voting machines hit by malware to lead to allegations of voter fraud and machine failures - SC Magazine UK:
Voting machines in a New York town have been hit by a virus casting doubt on the accuracy of counts retrieved from any of the machines.
According to the Gouverneur Times Cathleen Rogers, the democratic elections commissioner in Hamilton County, claimed that a problem had been found with their voting machines the week prior to the election, and the ‘virus' had been fixed by a technical support representative from Dominion, the manufacturer.
Voting machines in a New York town have been hit by a virus casting doubt on the accuracy of counts retrieved from any of the machines.
According to the Gouverneur Times Cathleen Rogers, the democratic elections commissioner in Hamilton County, claimed that a problem had been found with their voting machines the week prior to the election, and the ‘virus' had been fixed by a technical support representative from Dominion, the manufacturer.
West Virginia: Online Voting Bill Passes During Special Session - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com
Online Voting Bill Passes During Special Session - State Journal - STATEJOURNAL.com:
West Virginia military personnel will soon have an easier way to perform their civic duty while oversees.
House Bill 406 passed during the special legislative session Thursday. The bill gives military and other West Virginia citizens the opportunity to vote online, while outside of the country.
Each participating county will setup an online system. Military and overseas voter will be able to login to the website using a security code, and cast their ballot.
West Virginia military personnel will soon have an easier way to perform their civic duty while oversees.
House Bill 406 passed during the special legislative session Thursday. The bill gives military and other West Virginia citizens the opportunity to vote online, while outside of the country.
Each participating county will setup an online system. Military and overseas voter will be able to login to the website using a security code, and cast their ballot.
West Virginia To Offer Online Voting For Some
West Virginia To Offer Online Voting For Some:
A pilot program to allow West Virginians, serving in the military, the opportunity to vote online passed the Legislature unanimously on Thursday during the special session.
House Bill 406 now needs West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin's signature in order to become law.
The legislation would also extend the online voting option to any West Virginian living abroad.
State officials say there are more than 42,000 West Virginians living overseas that are eligible to vote.
In the 2008 , only about 4,200 cast absentee ballots in the general election.
A pilot program to allow West Virginians, serving in the military, the opportunity to vote online passed the Legislature unanimously on Thursday during the special session.
House Bill 406 now needs West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin's signature in order to become law.
The legislation would also extend the online voting option to any West Virginian living abroad.
State officials say there are more than 42,000 West Virginians living overseas that are eligible to vote.
In the 2008 , only about 4,200 cast absentee ballots in the general election.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Welcome To the World of Cryptographic Voting | Dr. Dobb's | November 19, 2009
Dr. Dobb's | Welcome To the World of Cryptographic Voting | November 19, 2009:
In a recent Takoma Park, Md. election, a new cryptographic voting system that ensures accurate vote counts was used for the first time in a real election. Scantegrity II is an open source election verification technology for optical scan voting systems.
It uses privacy preserving confirmation numbers to allow each voter to verify her vote is counted. The confirmation numbers also allow anyone to verify that all the votes were counted correctly. The system is a variation on conventional optical-scan voting. But instead of filling in a bubble next to a candidate's name, the voter uses a special pen that exposes a code printed inside the bubble in invisible ink. Voters can write down that code, along with the serial number of their ballot, to later verify the results online.
In a recent Takoma Park, Md. election, a new cryptographic voting system that ensures accurate vote counts was used for the first time in a real election. Scantegrity II is an open source election verification technology for optical scan voting systems.
It uses privacy preserving confirmation numbers to allow each voter to verify her vote is counted. The confirmation numbers also allow anyone to verify that all the votes were counted correctly. The system is a variation on conventional optical-scan voting. But instead of filling in a bubble next to a candidate's name, the voter uses a special pen that exposes a code printed inside the bubble in invisible ink. Voters can write down that code, along with the serial number of their ballot, to later verify the results online.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
59 000 Manipulated Votes in Sofia Mayor Elections - Report: 59 000 Manipulated Votes in Sofia Mayor Elections - Report - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency
59 000 Manipulated Votes in Sofia Mayor Elections - Report: 59 000 Manipulated Votes in Sofia Mayor Elections - Report - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency:
The Bulgaria conservative party “Order, Law, Justice” (RZS) leader, Yane Yanev, has stated that 59 000 votes were manipulated in Sunday’s Sofia Mayor elections.
The Bulgaria conservative party “Order, Law, Justice” (RZS) leader, Yane Yanev, has stated that 59 000 votes were manipulated in Sunday’s Sofia Mayor elections.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
CVL starts e-Voting for shareholders
CVL starts e-Voting for shareholders:
CDSL Ventures Ltd (CVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL), on Tuesday launched an e-voting system that would permit a company or its registrar to set up the schedule on the e-Voting website www.evotingindia.com and upload the resolutions and register of shareholders.
CDSL Ventures Ltd (CVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Central Depository Services (India) Ltd (CDSL), on Tuesday launched an e-voting system that would permit a company or its registrar to set up the schedule on the e-Voting website www.evotingindia.com and upload the resolutions and register of shareholders.
CCSB poll: 66pc of Romanians believe elections are rigged
CCSB poll: 66pc of Romanians believe elections are rigged:
As many as 66 percent of Romanian believe elections get rigged and 19 percent believe the contrary, reveal the findings of a poll conducted November 7-11 by the Company for Sociological Research and Branding (CCSB) commissioned by the Pro Democarcy Association (APD), released on Tuesday.
As many as 66 percent of Romanian believe elections get rigged and 19 percent believe the contrary, reveal the findings of a poll conducted November 7-11 by the Company for Sociological Research and Branding (CCSB) commissioned by the Pro Democarcy Association (APD), released on Tuesday.
Cryptographic voting debuts - MIT News
Cryptographic voting debuts:
A new system for ensuring accurate election tallies, which MIT researchers helped to develop, passed its first real-world test last Tuesday.
A new system for ensuring accurate election tallies, which MIT researchers helped to develop, passed its first real-world test last Tuesday.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Poll: 56% of voters prefer instant runoff voting | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ
Poll: 56% of voters prefer instant runoff voting | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ:
A new Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota poll shows Minneapolis residents are divided over the city's new instant runoff voting system.
Those who turned out to vote in this year's election tend to prefer the new system, but many of those who stayed home wish the city would go back to the old way of voting.
A new Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota poll shows Minneapolis residents are divided over the city's new instant runoff voting system.
Those who turned out to vote in this year's election tend to prefer the new system, but many of those who stayed home wish the city would go back to the old way of voting.
Overseas Absentee Voting Faces Uncertain Future - Korea Times
Overseas Absentee Voting Faces Uncertain Future:
Considerable work needs to be done in order to prevent the Korean presidential and general elections in 2012 from becoming “disasters” in light of the introduction of overseas ballots.
The Constitutional Court overruled a decision to restrict suffrage to Korean nationals living abroad in 2007, paving the way for some 2.5 million citizens to vote from overseas.
Considerable work needs to be done in order to prevent the Korean presidential and general elections in 2012 from becoming “disasters” in light of the introduction of overseas ballots.
The Constitutional Court overruled a decision to restrict suffrage to Korean nationals living abroad in 2007, paving the way for some 2.5 million citizens to vote from overseas.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
CBC News - Toronto - Toronto Board of Trade tries to raise interest in city politics
CBC News - Toronto - Toronto Board of Trade tries to raise interest in city politics:
The Toronto Board of Trade launched a campaign Tuesday to get residents interested in municipal politics.
With less than a year to go until the 2010 municipal election, the business-oriented group says this is the time to start pushing ideas and getting voters engaged.
The Toronto Board of Trade launched a campaign Tuesday to get residents interested in municipal politics.
With less than a year to go until the 2010 municipal election, the business-oriented group says this is the time to start pushing ideas and getting voters engaged.
Convenient voting options, exciting races entice voter turnout | northumberlandnews.com / indynews.ca
northumberlandnews.com / indynews.ca | Convenient voting options, exciting races entice voter turnout:
...
Cobourg leads the Northumberland County pack when it comes to embracing non-traditional voting methods to help increase voter participation. In the 2006 election, Cobourg offered voters three options to cast their ballots: by phone, on the Internet, or at a traditional polling station. The experiment was a success and saw voter turnout jump sharply from 36.47 per cent in 2003 to 44.91 per cent in 2006. For next year’s municipal contest, the town will eliminate paper ballots entirely, and although it’s not likely the total switch to electronic voting will be a huge money-saver, convenience for the voters and engaging younger voters is the main focus, said Cobourg clerk Lorraine Brace.
To help pump-up voter participation in neighbouring Port Hope, the municipality is looking to strike a happy balance between providing more flexibility and opportunities for voters while holding the line on costs. Clerk Sue Dawe said folks are “very busy, very stressed,” especially in bedroom communities where many people work out of town.
...
...
Cobourg leads the Northumberland County pack when it comes to embracing non-traditional voting methods to help increase voter participation. In the 2006 election, Cobourg offered voters three options to cast their ballots: by phone, on the Internet, or at a traditional polling station. The experiment was a success and saw voter turnout jump sharply from 36.47 per cent in 2003 to 44.91 per cent in 2006. For next year’s municipal contest, the town will eliminate paper ballots entirely, and although it’s not likely the total switch to electronic voting will be a huge money-saver, convenience for the voters and engaging younger voters is the main focus, said Cobourg clerk Lorraine Brace.
To help pump-up voter participation in neighbouring Port Hope, the municipality is looking to strike a happy balance between providing more flexibility and opportunities for voters while holding the line on costs. Clerk Sue Dawe said folks are “very busy, very stressed,” especially in bedroom communities where many people work out of town.
...
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Student elections to move online | theVARSITY.ca
Student elections to move online | theVARSITY.ca:
Come next year, voting in student elections could be just one click away. U of T hopes to launch a website in the spring to allow student clubs and societies to hold their elections online. Students will be able to see current and upcoming elections they can vote in, as well as past election results.
Come next year, voting in student elections could be just one click away. U of T hopes to launch a website in the spring to allow student clubs and societies to hold their elections online. Students will be able to see current and upcoming elections they can vote in, as well as past election results.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
E-voting system lets voters verify their ballots are counted
E-voting system lets voters verify their ballots are counted:
A new electronic voting system being used today for the first time in a government election in the U.S. will allow voters and elections auditors in Takoma Park, Md. to go online and verify whether votes have been correctly recorded.
The voting system is called Scantegrity and was developed by independent cryptographer David Chaum, along with researchers from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, the George Washington University, MIT, the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo. It uses cryptographic techniques to let both voters and election auditors check whether votes have been cast and counted accurately.
...
A new electronic voting system being used today for the first time in a government election in the U.S. will allow voters and elections auditors in Takoma Park, Md. to go online and verify whether votes have been correctly recorded.
The voting system is called Scantegrity and was developed by independent cryptographer David Chaum, along with researchers from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, the George Washington University, MIT, the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo. It uses cryptographic techniques to let both voters and election auditors check whether votes have been cast and counted accurately.
...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Romania: MAE to use Twitter to quench suspicion of ballot box fraud abroad
Romania: MAE to use Twitter to quench suspicion of ballot box fraud abroad:
Bucharest, Nov 2 /Agerpres/ - Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) will present on Twitter the organisation abroad of the November 22 presidential election, and this initiative is sought as an exercise in transparency over the election, Director General of the MAE Public Diplomacy Department Oana Marinescu told a news conference on Monday.
She added that for the smooth running of the election and the referendum on single-chamber Parliament, communication with the polling stations abroad is essential.
Marinescu added that using Twitter for communication is an exercise in transparency meant to quench any suspicion of ballot box fraud.
...
There will be 294 polling stations opened all over the world for the November 22 presidential election, which is more then 100 over the 190 stations opened for the Romanians abroad in the previous presidential election of 2004.
Bucharest, Nov 2 /Agerpres/ - Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) will present on Twitter the organisation abroad of the November 22 presidential election, and this initiative is sought as an exercise in transparency over the election, Director General of the MAE Public Diplomacy Department Oana Marinescu told a news conference on Monday.
She added that for the smooth running of the election and the referendum on single-chamber Parliament, communication with the polling stations abroad is essential.
Marinescu added that using Twitter for communication is an exercise in transparency meant to quench any suspicion of ballot box fraud.
...
There will be 294 polling stations opened all over the world for the November 22 presidential election, which is more then 100 over the 190 stations opened for the Romanians abroad in the previous presidential election of 2004.
Queensland's Electoral Commissioner Backs Online Voting
Queensland's Electoral Commissioner Backs Online Voting:
Queensland's online voting revolution looms
Queensland's online voting revolution looms
The days of the cardboard polling booth, the worn-out pencil and the ballot paper are numbered, according to Queensland's Electoral Commissioner.
David Kerslake believes universal online voting is an inevitable initiative on the democratic horizon and argues that first cab off the rank should be voters with disabilities at the next state election.
"With the necessary changes to the Electoral Act I would be confident that we could develop a system to provide internet and telephone voting options for people with disabilities - if not for the next state election then certainly for the election after that," he said.
Mr Kerslake, who submitted his report on the 2009 state election to State Parliament last week, said online voting for the whole community was now a matter of "when" not "if".
CBC News - Saskatchewan - Regina considers online voting
CBC News - Saskatchewan - Regina considers online voting:
The city of Regina is considering an online system for voting, following a sharp decline in voter turnout in Wednesday's election.
The city of Regina is considering an online system for voting, following a sharp decline in voter turnout in Wednesday's election.
Results from the city's returning officer released Friday show just 35,986 people in Regina voted on Wednesday, which represents a voter turnout of 25 per cent.
Three years ago, the turnout in Regina was 36 per cent.
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