Bulgaria's Greens party has officially requested the annulment of the election results

Bulgaria's Greens party has officially requested the annulment of the election results in the capital Sofia by submitting a claim with the Sofia Administrative Court.

The move came in the aftermath of another claim, submitted with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on Election Day, which was left without a response.

The left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) also announced they were considering a similar claim. --->>>

Online Voting: Security Issues Remain A Major Hurdle - The Hartford Courant

Online Voting: Security Issues Remain A Major Hurdle

Allowing citizens to cast ballots online would increase participation in elections and make democracy more accessible.

But don't expect to vote on your iPhone in Connecticut anytime soon; the technology just isn't there to ensure secure elections, said several experts who participated in a panel discussion at Central Connecticut State University Thursday night hosted by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. --->>>

Chaos Reported at Bulgaria's Voting Polls on Election Day

Chaos Reported at Bulgaria's Voting Polls on Election Day

Utter chaos and confusion have ruled a large number of voting polls across Bulgaria Sunday, which was the day of presidential and local elections.

The Bulgarian National Television, BNT, reported about disarray, long lines and people passing out at voting sections in the capital Sofia. The same information has arrived from the Black Sea city of Burgas.

BNT also aired a video showing members of electoral commissions in Sofia going home with ballots that they did not account for. They have explained it with outrage from poor organization on the part of the Regional Electoral Commission making them stay until 3 am in voting polls and then wait for hours to sign off and deliver their protocols. They have also threatened that they would not return to work next Sunday when runoff elections are to be held at many locations. --->>>

Bulgaria: Why do citizens sell their vote?

Why do citizens sell their vote?

This weekend Bulgaria holds its presidential and local elections. Diana Kovatcheva, Executive Director of Transparency International Bulgaria, writes about their new report that has been making waves with concerns that vote-buying is an all too common practice.

Transparency International Bulgaria has been monitoring the transparency of election campaigns for ten years (see our last report here). During this time we have seen that attempts to manipulate elections’ results through vote buying, corporate pressure over voters and other illicit tactics are all too common. The survey we carried out this October and published this week shows that many Bulgarians also feel that their elections are tarnished by corrupt practices. --->>>

Widespread claims of vote-buying in Bulgaria

Widespread claims of vote-buying in Bulgaria

SOFIA, Oct 24 - Widespread allegations of vote-buying and pressure on minorities, even if largely unproven, marred Bulgaria's presidential and local elections, international observers said Monday.

"Vote-buying is extremely difficult to observe and to prove and we do not have any true evidence," OSCE mission chief Vadim Zhdanovic told a press conference.

"But regardless of the veracity of the allegations of vote-buying, the fact that they are so persistent and widespread concerns us because it undermines public trust in the election process," he added. --->>>

Vancouver online voting pilot nixed by province: CBC News

Vancouver online voting pilot nixed by province: CBC News

A pilot program for online municipal election voting in Vancouver won't get off the ground in time for the upcoming civic election.

Earlier this year, Vancouver city council passed a resolution to set up online voting for the advance polls of this year's municipal election on Nov. 19, which would have allowed eligible voters to cast a ballot by home or mobile computer.

However, the city needed provincial approval to get the program up and running — and the province says there's not enough time to ensure a fair and accurate process is in place. --->>>

Also see: No e-voting for Vancouver, at least until 2014

"E-voting, as you know, was a no-go this time around," Mackenzie notes. "The city was quite keen on it. The whole purpose was to increase votes. But it hinged on approval from the province and Victoria didn't feel comfortable enough to proceed." --->>>

Military voting increased last year, report finds

Military voting increased last year, report finds

Buoyed by a new law that requires states to make absentee ballots more accessible to military personnel serving overseas, troops voted at a higher rate than the general population in last year’s midterm elections, according to a new report.

Overall, 46 percent of the military cast ballots, a 21 percent increase from the 2006 midterms and slightly higher than the 45.5 percent of the general population that voted last year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Voting Assistance Program. --->>>

Voting system affects outcome, simulation finds

Voting system affects outcome, simulation finds

A simulated election that examined different voting methods during last week's Ontario election shows that for at least some voters, how they cast their ballot depends on the voting system presented to them. --->>>

The alarming decline in voter turnout - Globe and Mail

The alarming decline in voter turnout

This year’s spate of federal, provincial and territorial elections has made one thing abundantly clear: Turnout virtually everywhere is dropping like a stone. --->>>

Addressing voter indifference

Premier considering implementing e-balloting to boost turnout in provincial elections.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is vowing to do what he can to improve voter turnout in provincial elections and he is casting his eyes towards the World Wide Web.
A week after he led the NDP to a fourth consecutive majority government, Selinger says turnout in the 2011 provincial election was just not high enough and he wants to do something about it.
"We have to undertake something," said Selinger. "We're going to take a look at e-voting."

Survey: Widespread Internet voting still far from reality

Survey: Widespread Internet voting still far from reality

A federal survey of early Internet voting programs in developed countries around the globe may have raised more questions than it provided answers.

The survey by the Voting System Testing and Certification Division of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, released in September, found a wide range of processes and methodologies in locales attempting Internet voting. Most of the projects reviewed were limited, short-term tests of technologies and risks. --->>>

Download Survey Report

Voting alternatives discussed as Ontario election approaches

Voting alternatives discussed as Ontario election approaches

U of M researchers' virtual election simulation examines alternative and proportional models, excludes mixed-member proportional

TORONTO (CUP) — As the Ontario provincial election approaches, a team of researchers are offering alternatives to the current voting system in an online election simulator. --->>>

New voting restrictions affect millions

New voting restrictions affect millions

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- More than 5 million Americans will face new restrictions on voting passed by more than a dozen states, a study released Monday said.

The restrictions will have the greatest impact on young, minority, low-income and disabled voters, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law found. --->>>

Setting the record straight on internet voting

Setting the record straight on internet voting

OTTAWA, ON, October 2, 2011/Troy Media/ – There is a lot of negative talk surrounding Internet voting. While some of these concerns are genuine and should be taken very seriously, others are a consequence of misinformation and a lack of research. This is a response to Phil Elder’s recent column outlining a case against Internet ballots. --->>>