CBC News - Calgary - Province proposes changes to election rules

CBC News - Calgary - Province proposes changes to election rules:

Alberta's Progressive Conservative government is proposing changes to the way elections are run — including turning over the appointment of returning officers to the province's chief electoral officer.

"It is important to balance updated and streamlined processes with maintaining the integrity of the system."

The legislation, known as Bill 7 - The Election Statutes Amendment Act, proposes other changes including:

• Changing the way enumerators are appointed so that constituency associations and political parties are no longer involved.
• Broadening the investigative powers of the chief electoral officer.
• Opening advance polls to anyone who wishes to vote early.
• Giving Albertans who are prisoners the right to vote.
• Improving third-party advertising legislation.
• Requiring campaign deficits to be paid off, with reports sent to the chief electoral officer.
• Increasing safeguards for the list of electors.
• Updating the types of information voters present at polling stations.

The legislation would also open the doors to new voting technologies and allow a pilot project to open by-election polls at 7 a.m., rather than the current 9 a.m.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/02/25/edmonton-electoral-reform-legislation.html#ixzz0geCOBIGv

Alberta may test Internet voting

Alberta may test Internet voting:

The Stelmach government's new electoral reforms reject key recommendations from Elections Alberta -- including adopting fixed voting dates and leadership finance rules -- but allow for testing of online voting and help remove political influence over the process.

Bill 7, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, was introduced Thursday and responds to 182 recommendations made by former elections boss Lorne Gibson following a 2008 election that was plagued by long lineups, record-low 41 per cent turnout, and a voters list missing about a quarter of eligible electors.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Alberta+test+Internet+voting/2614371/story.html#ixzz0ge8JT4Hx

Labour warned by Electoral Commission over postal voting in Glasgow North East byelection | Politics | guardian.co.uk

Labour warned by Electoral Commission over postal voting in Glasgow North East byelection | Politics | guardian.co.uk:

The Labour party has been warned by the Electoral Commission over its handling of postal vote applications after it investigated alleged irregularities in last year's Glasgow North East byelection.

The commission said an unusually high number of last minute postal vote applications were made in Glasgow North East, with 1,800 forms submitted less than three days before the registration deadline – more than a quarter of the total number received.

A spot check of 300 of those forms by the returning officer's staff found that in at least 100 cases these applications had been dated more than a week and in some cases over a month earlier.

Nearly half of the last-minute registrations came from Labour supporters, sparking allegations from the Scottish National party – first reported by The Guardian – that Labour had been deliberately hoarding postal votes to help its campaign.

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Columbia Congressional Elections: 100,000 armed guards will protect polling stations

100,000 armed guards will protect polling stations:

The Colombian Ministry of Defense announced that it will be employing over 100,000 members of the armed forces and national police to stand guard at polling booths on the day of the country's presidential elections in May, reported the ministry's website.

Defense Minister Gabriel Silva told reporters that army and police units will be dispatched around Colombia on the day of the election to maintain security in over 97% of the country's polling stations, with the aim of reaching 100% coverage. ...

Dominion Sues to Stop New York City Contract with ES&S | Bo Lipari – Essays and Images

Dominion Sues to Stop New York City Contract with ES&S | Bo Lipari – Essays and Images:

In a surprise move, Dominion Voting Systems has filed an Article 78 lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court in Albany to stop the New York City Board of Elections from awarding a $70 million dollar contract for new voting machines to ES&S. If a temporary restraining order is granted, it would call into question the city’s ability to deploy new voting systems in the 2010 elections, a schedule already in jeopardy due to the City Board of Election’s long delay in selecting new systems. The competition between the two companies for the New York City contract was intense, and has raised questions of lobbyist influence, possible investigations, and even subpoenas. In court papers, Dominion argues that the New York City Board of Elections failed to comply with New York State and New York City Procurement Laws, Rules and Regulations, and awarded the contract on the basis of illegal criteria. Further, the lawsuit argues ...

Aussies content with electoral system - Politics - NZ Herald News

Aussies content with electoral system - Politics - NZ Herald News:

Australians, like New Zealanders, have been asked to think about changing the way they vote their federal Government into power.

But unlike New Zealand, the debate has barely pushed itself above the horizon of a green paper on electoral reform released last November, and about 100 submissions that show no inclination to move away from the systems laid down in the Constitution.

Instead, most argue for or against the present requirement of compulsory voting and other refinements within the existing systems: preferential voting for the House of Representatives, proportional voting for the Senate.

Any major overhaul would not be easy in any case: under the Constitution this would involve a referendum requiring a double victory - an overall national majority of voters, and a majority of voters in a majority of states.

Apart from the issue of compulsory voting, there has been no public passion for change.

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University of Massachusetts: Online elections bill passes SGA Senate | The Daily Collegian

Online elections bill passes SGA Senate | The Daily Collegian:

What is now the fourth bill in favor of piloting online elections to reach the University of Massachusetts Student Government Association’s Administrative Affairs committee has now been passed through both committee and on the Senate floor as of Monday and last night, respectively. The bill almost passed unanimously, with one Senator voting in opposition of the bill.

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Alberta’s new chief electoral officer sworn-in - Edmonton Journal

Alberta’s new chief electoral officer sworn-in:

EDMONTON — Alberta’s new chief electoral officer was sworn-in Wednesday morning at the legislature.

It’s Brian Fjeldheim’s second time in the job after previously holding the post from 1998 to 2005.

His predecessor, Lorne Gibson, issued 182 recommendations after the last election for making the vote go more smoothly.

Fjeldheim takes a more limited view of the job — his goal is to not impede Albertans who wish to exercise their democratic right. ...

Alberta readies electoral reforms - Calgary Herald

Alberta readies electoral reforms:

The Stelmach government is set to introduce long-awaited electoral reforms -- in response to more than 180 recommendations from Elections Alberta -- but fixed voting dates and casting ballots in places such as shopping malls won't be included.

...

Wash. House says all elections should be via mail

Wash. House says all elections should be via mail

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The state House says Pierce County should get in line with Washington's other 38 counties and switch to all-mail voting.

On a vote of 57-41, the House approved a measure Monday that would mandate vote-by-mail elections across the state. ...

Alabama: Electronic voting closer to becoming law

Clanton Advertiser | Electronic voting closer to becoming law:

Secretary of State Beth Chapman and the Military and Overseas Voting Task Force have cleared another hurdle in making electronic voting for overseas voters a reality. The Senate Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics and Elections Committees unanimously approved House Bill 30 today.

The bill allows military and overseas voters four additional ways to request their ballots, including commercial carriers like FedEx and UPS, secure fax, e-mail and secure electronic transmission. Currently, voters may only use the U.S. Mail. ...

Disabled score voting victory | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

Disabled score voting victory | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun:

Polio sufferer Peter Hughes is happy that disabled people no longer will be humiliated when they vote at polling stations.

In March 2008, Hughes went to vote in a byelection in Toronto Centre — when Bob Rae was elected — only to find the polling station was in a church basement and not accessible to disabled people.

Determined to vote, he crawled down the stairs on the seat of his pants.

When he had to face the same stairs in the general election of October 2008 he complained to Elections Canada officials who “dismissively said it was not their problem,” Hughes’ lawyer said.

Hughes took his case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and on Friday it ruled in his favour by ordering nationwide improvements to be made by Elections Canada for accessibility to polling stations for the disabled.

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The Online Voter Registration Debate | Parade.com

The Online Voter Registration Debate | Parade.com:

A new bill before Congress would make registering to vote as simple as clicking a mouse. The Voter Registration Modernization Act would require all states to allow voters to register online by 2012. Since Arizona pioneered online registration, states including Washington, Louisiana, and Utah have signed on. New York, New Jersey, and Michigan are considering similar bills.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D., Calif.), who introduced the federal bill, calls online registration “a commonsense approach” that would mean new convenience for would-be voters. But critics worry that elections could be easily manipulated.

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Ivory Coast - Voter Registration Halted - NYTimes.com

Ivory Coast - Voter Registration Halted - NYTimes.com:

Ivory Coast has suspended its voter registration process indefinitely because of rising tensions, the government said, casting doubt on when the long-delayed presidential election will take place. ...

Feds probe city's selection of new voting machines - NYPOST.com

Feds probe city's selection of new voting machines - NYPOST.com:

Federal prosecutors have opened an investigation into how the city's Board of Elections awarded a $50 million contract for electronic voting machines, The Post has learned.

Two sources said US Attorney Preet Bharara has served subpoenas to determine if there was anything irregular in the deal landed by Election Systems and Software of Omaha, Neb., one of the leading companies in the industry. The subpoenas were sent "all over the place," a source said.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/machine_politics_Twa2UNqLYO6kzDkTenkZ5K#ixzz0fKDcXrki

The Korea Herald : Parties push overseas Koreans' voting

The Korea Herald : The Nation's No.1 English Newspaper:

Parties push overseas Koreans' voting

Over the past year since an election law was revised to permit overseas Koreans to vote in the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections, a greater pool of voting methods -- air-mail and internet systems -- are being demanded by different groups.

...

Electoral Reform Society: The beginning of the end of first-past-the-post - politics.co.uk

Electoral Reform Society: The beginning of the end of first-past-the-post - politics.co.uk:

The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed news of a convincing vote in the Commons in favour of a referendum on the Alternative Vote.

MPs voted 365 votes to 187 in favour of supporting the proposed amendment to the the Constitutional Reform bill. The Bill now faces further tests in the Lords.

The Electoral Reform Society’s Chief Executive Dr Ken Ritchie said:

“Tonight’s vote marks the beginning of the end of First-Past-the-Post. A clear majority of parliamentarians have shown they are willing to break with the past and build a better politics."

MPs back voting reform referendum - Telegraph

MPs back voting reform referendum - Telegraph:

The Commons has voted to allow a referendum that could herald the end of Westminster’s traditional first-past-the-post system of electing MPs.

Any Labour rebellion faded away as most of Gordon Brown’s MPs, allied with the Liberal Democrats, passed a vote with an overwhelming majority.

It means if Labour is elected there is likely to be a referendum next year on whether a new method of returning MPs should be brought in.

The Prime Minister has argued that the new Alternative Vote system could help reform Parliament in the wake of the expenses scandal. Under AV voters rank the candidates in preference which means the winner must secure at least 50 per cent of the vote to be returned to Westminster.

Former Ivory Coast Rebels Warn of Civil War | Voice of America, Africa | English

Former Ivory Coast Rebels Warn of Civil War :

Ivory Coast's former rebel faction in the North, the New Forces, warn that election-related violence and tensions over alleged fraud in the voter list could once again plunge the country into civil war. ...

Campaigns & Elections' Politics Magazine launching a Canadian edition

Politics Magazine:

Campaigns & Elections' Politics Magazine today announced that it will be launching a Canadian edition beginning next month. The magazine will be a state-of-the-art digital edition and will be distributed electronically.

This launch, along with the recently unveiled Latin American edition, joins the U.S. flagship publication in broadening the reach of Campaigns & Elections by tens of thousands of political and public affairs professionals throughout the hemisphere.

...

BBC News - Nigeria Anambra state election 'gravely flawed'

BBC News - Nigeria Anambra state election 'gravely flawed':

An election for governor of Anambra state in Nigeria's oil-rich Delta region has been condemned amid reports of vote-buying and ballot-box theft. ...

Ivory Coast election boss denies voter fraud - Taiwan News Online

Ivory Coast election boss denies voter fraud - Taiwan News Online:

Ivory Coast's electoral commission chief is refusing to resign over allegations that he added almost half a million fake names to voter rolls ahead of this year's presidential election.

Robert Beugre Mambe says he did not commit fraud and on Saturday assured voters that the computer systems used by election offices are tamper-proof. Government investigators on Friday accused him of padding electoral rolls in the West African country's rebel-controlled north. ...

Let non-citizens vote in city election - thestar.com

Let non-citizens vote in city election - thestar.com:

Councillor Adam Giambrone kicking off his campaign for the Toronto mayoralty:

"Let's bring democracy into the digital age by allowing Internet voting.

Making voting accessible and convenient for an increasingly busy and connected population makes sense. There's an easy way to do this – other jurisdictions already have. This will help engage with city building and I want to lead this cause."

Delvinia - Canada is a leader in implementing Internet Voting – Let’s celebrate and bring it to every Canadian «

Delvinia - Canada is a leader in implementing Internet Voting – Let’s celebrate and bring it to every Canadian «:

"I recently returned from Ottawa participating in my second speaking event in 3 days. I was invited to sit on a panel at a policy workshop at Carleton University put on the Canada-Europe Transatlantic Dialogue, a strategic knowledge cluster.

The workshop was titled, “Internet Voting: What can Canada Learn”. The hosts of the event, Joan DeBardeleben, Jon Pammett and Nicole Goodman did a great job bringing out some heavy hitting election officials, scholars on Internet Voting and even some MP’s . They also did a good job structuring the day where we heard from individuals from around the world who have either extensively studied or implemented Internet Voting. A high quality group to say the least."

"After hearing some engaging presentations from ... (read full article)

Man in wheelchair has trouble voting in Toronto Centre byelection | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun

Man in wheelchair has trouble voting in Toronto Centre byelection | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun:

Just a stone’s throw away from Queen’s Park — where legislators passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act just a few years ago — Elections Ontario set up a polling station that could only be accessed by going down a flight of stairs.

Local resident John Wood told the Toronto Sun that he had to abandon his wheelchair and struggle with help down the stairs to cast a ballot in the Toronto Centre byelection Thursday.

...

The Canadian Press: Thousands of Afghan election staff banned from future poll duties

The Canadian Press: Thousands of Afghan election staff banned from future poll duties:

Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission has banned thousands of election staff from working this year's parliamentary polls.

A spokesman for the electoral body said Thursday the ban stemmed from an internal investigation into last year's flawed presidential election, which saw Hamid Karzai returned to power amid allegations of fraud.

Noor Mohammad Noor told The Canadian Press that 6,000 of the 165,000 contract staff who worked for the presidential election will not be allowed on future votes.

...

First IAM election at Delta Air Lines underway - IAM Air Transport District 143

First IAM election at Delta Air Lines underway :

The National Mediation Board (NMB) yesterday mailed telephone and Internet voting instructions to nearly 100 Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines flight simulator technicians, opening a three week voting period in the first IAM election since Delta acquired Northwest. Pre-merger Northwest Sim Techs are IAM members, while their Delta counterparts are currently non-union. Voting will end at 2pm ET on February 25, 2010.

"Voter participation is critical in this election," said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. "NMB rules count any eligible voter who chooses not to participate in the elections - for whatever reason - to have voted against union representation."

Once Sim Tech voters receive their Personal Identification Number (PIN) and Voter Identification Number (VIN) from the NMB, they can vote by calling 1-877-NMB-VOTE, or visiting www.nmb.gov and clicking red link that says "Click Here to Vote in a Representation Election."

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On the lighter side ...

Election Judges Removed for Boozing | NBC Chicago:

Guess the vote's on us.

Four judges at Chicago polling precincts were removed for drinking alcohol or abandoning their posts, Chicago Election Board spokesman Jim Allen said.

'We are a village of 15,000 on election day, and for the most part they do their job very well. We always have a handful of miscreants,' he said.

According to Allen: Lawanda Smith was removed for being intoxicated, Carolyn Morris was removed for taking a two-hour break during the midday hours, Darlene Smith was removed for intoxication, being unruly and causing a voter to leave the polling place without casting a ballot and Martha Dapin was removed for causing a disturbance and repeatedly leaving the polling place to take naps.

All were replaced.

Election judges are responsible for the conduct of the election in the precinct polling place. After going through a training process and successfully providing service on Election Day, they're paid $170.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago

Philippines: Comelec makes last-minute changes on ballot design - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs

Comelec makes last-minute changes on ballot design - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News:

Just a few days before the printing of the official ballots begin, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said that they have decided to change the layout of the ballots to make it shorter.

In an interview with reporters, Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said the Comelec en banc has approved a proposal to group the names of the candidates in the ballot by position horizontally, instead of listing them vertically as earlier recommended.

...

BBC News - Brown to ask MPs to vote on electoral reform referendum

BBC News - Brown to ask MPs to vote on electoral reform referendum:

MPs are to be asked to vote next week on holding a referendum on electoral reform, the BBC has learnt.

Gordon Brown is backing a plan for a referendum on replacing the 'first past the post' system of electing MPs with an 'alternative vote' system.

Under an AV system, voters are asked to rank candidates by preference rather than putting a cross by a single name.

...

York electoral drama could be dashed (From York Press)

York electoral drama could be dashed (From York Press):

OFFICIALS in York are considering postponing this year’s General Election count until the Friday, in a move that has angered candidates.

City of York Council, which will administer the polls for the new York Central and York Outer seats, has still to decide whether to carry out the traditional Thursday night count, or whether to wait until the Friday.

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Using iPhones to sign initiative petitions | Fox & Hounds Daily

Using iPhones to sign initiative petitions | Fox & Hounds Daily:

Can you use your iPhone to sign an initiative petition? A northern California-based company, Verafirma, has developed an application that makes it possible. But is it legal? Is it secure? These are the questions that remain unanswered. Election officials will need to start figuring it out soon, though, because the proponents of an initiative seeking to legalize marijuana use in California have submitted their petitions for verification, and the batch includes a smattering of signatures submitted not on piece of paper, but on thumb drives that display the initiative petition along with an image of a voter's signature captured when the voter wrote that signature on his or her iPhone screen using the Verafirma app.

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Philippines: Election technology provider to also supply new transparent ballot boxes

BusinessWorld Online: Election technology provider to also supply new transparent ballot boxes:

THE TECHNOLOGY provider for the poll automation contract will also produce transparent ballot boxes in a contract that would be signed today.

'We shall sign the contract most probably Monday,' Smartmatic/Total Information Corp. (Smartmatic/TIM) President Cesar Flores said in a chance interview on Friday.

He said the estimated P250-million contract is an 'add-on' to the P7.2-billion poll automation deal signed by the two parties last July.

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Vote center concept could cut cost of elections :: Local News :: Post-Tribune

Vote center concept could cut cost of elections :: Local News :: Post-Tribune:

... Vote centers allow election officials to staff fewer polling places on Election Day. Many voters like the convenience of being able to cast a ballot at a church near their house, at a downtown building on their lunch break or at a supermarket before grocery shopping.

But some caution that the concept may not work everywhere. With fewer polling places, many people have to travel farther to vote, which is a problem for those without transportation. Under the state's vote center pilot program, counties are required to have at least one vote center for every 10,000 active voters.

The report stresses vote centers can produce greater efficiency. Currently, the state operates 5,000 precincts with a minimum of five poll workers at each one, along with expensive voting machines, estimated to cost about $5,000 each.

A vote center consolidation eases that burden, the report says.

eGov monitor - DRS and Electoral Reform Services Join Forces To Launch A Unique Election Services Joint Venture

DRS and Electoral Reform Services Join Forces To Launch A Unique Election Services Joint Venture

Press Release:

Building on a long-standing relationship, two of the world’s leading election specialists, DRS and Electoral Reform Services are joining forces. This month they will be launching a totally unique integrated election services joint venture for the public sector.

This new joint venture – which brings together a huge wealth of experience and expertise in election services – will focus on the delivery of consultancy, technology and management services for high volume, mission critical, electronically counted, public elections in the UK, as well as international voter registration and election projects.

Online voting won't hike youth turnout, but 'it grows on you,' forum told | The Hill Times - Canada's Politics and Government Newsweekly

Online voting won't hike youth turnout, but 'it grows on you,' forum told | The Hill Times - Canada's Politics and Government Newsweekly:

MPs and party officials joined a group of academics and election administrators at Carleton University last Tuesday, to learn from Canadian municipalities and other countries who have already implemented internet voting (i-voting).

The symposium brought together experts from Estonia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, California, and officials from three Canadian municipalities, all of whom have included some form of online voting in...

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