The Daily Voting News is compiled by John Gideon of Voters Unite for the Brad Blog.
The Daily Voting News is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of the Illinois Ballot Integrity Project, Voters Unite or the Brad Blog.
For more Daily Voting News, (January - December 2007 & January - May 2008) see the ARCHIVE.
January 21, 2008. Chicago How to protect your votes from going AWOL The Illinois Ballot Integrity Project offers this advice to voters:
DON'T VOTE EARLY, DON'T VOTE ABSENTEE,
AND DON'T TOUCH THAT TOUCH SCREEN
1) Vote on paper, not on a touch-screen.
2) Vote in person, not by mail.
3) Vote on election day, not earlier.
4) Report election abuses. (See the list of hotlines and
Blog the election by following the links in the right-hand column of this page.)
Ballots cast on paper, on election day, in your own precinct, under the watchful eyes of your fellow citizens are less subject to loss, damage, or alteration than
ballots that spend more time out of public view.
Touch-screen machines are particularly prone to malfunction. Though they are
designed to produce a paper receipt for backup, this safeguard is deficient.
- Receipts rarely get used to check the machine count.
- Most voters do not confirm their receipt.
- Many receipts turn out to be defective.
- A machine's data and receipts can be replaced wholesale once the machine is
out of sight.
Protect your votes from going AWOL. Vote in person, and ask for a paper ballot.
May 25, 2007. IBIP Opposes National Voter ID Law.
Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO have introduced an amendment to the current immigration bill before the Senate which attaches a pernicious photo ID requirement to the present bill.
This amendment, unrelated to the basic purpose of the proposed immigration legislation, would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to impose a nation-wide requirement for restrictive photo voter Identification for all Federal Elections. Specifically, the amendment calls for a renumbering of §§ 304 and 305 and insertion of a new § 304 to provide for such ID by January 1, 2008 - effective for the next presidential primaries and general election:
SEC. 304. IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS AT THE POLLS
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 303(b), each State shall require individuals casting ballots in an election for Federal office in person to present a current valid photo identification issued by a governmental entity before voting.
(b) Effective Date.--Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2008.
Here's what Mary G. Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters had to say in their press release:
“Senator McConnell’s amendment represents a cheap political trick to keep legal, eligible voters out of the electoral process. Photo ID requirements disproportionately stifle the voices of people of color, the elderly, young people, and others. By tying a photo ID requirement to an already-contentious immigration bill, Senator McConnell is merely attempting to rouse the fears of the American people right before the beginning of one of the most patriotic American holiday weekends.”
“This type of political manipulation has absolutely no place in American democracy.”
“This amendment demonstrates that some lawmakers have become shameless in their efforts to manipulate the election process AND the hearts and souls of the American people for political gain. Our nation has spent most of the last century breaking down barriers to citizen voter participation and the right to vote,” concluded Wilson. “League members will continue to do what it takes to protect eligible voters from new, discriminatory obstacles in the 21st Century and we hope that the silent majority in this country will join us in denouncing tactics such as this.”
IBIP has written to both Senator Dick Durbin and Senator Barak Obama opposing the legislation. A copy of the letter to Senator Obama, setting forth IBIP's arguments against Photo ID, is here
IBIP urges all members and interested parties to write to Members of the Senate and House opposing this legislation. Here is a generic form of IBIP's letter which you can modify and adapt to your own views on Photo ID.
April 14, 2007. IBIP Opposes HR 811 as Currently Written - Proposes Amendments.
The Illinois Ballot Integrity Project has adopted a position in opposition to the current "Holt Bill" (HR 811 - Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007). IBIP's amendments call for the banning of Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines and for permanent paper ballots marked by hand or non-tabulating ballot marking devices, the abolishment of the Federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC),
10% audits of all Federal races conducted on election night, paper ballots for Military and Overseas voters and the banning of tallying system connections to the Internet.
A copy of the letter sent to the Chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald, CA-37, and each Member of the Committee, is HERE.
IBIP Members and others are urged to write to their elected representatives. A draft copy of a letter in MSWord is HERE.
Here is a list (with contact information) of Illinois Members who have co-sponsored HR 811.
The IBIP Advisory Committee and Board also approved IBIP's endorsement of the Voters Unite Essential Revisions to HR 811 statement.
April 5, 2007. Illinois Ballot Integrity Project Announces Internet Blog for April 17th Election Problems
"Blog the Election" at the Illinois Election-Problems Clearinghouse.
Voters are urged to share their experiences on IBIP's blog.
March 27, 2007. IBIP DuPage Chapter presents a Report and Recommendations to the DuPage County Board
The Report which details numerous deficiencies in the election process in Dupage County was presented to the DuPage County Election Commission
more than six weeks ago, but no response has been received. The IBIP DuPage
Chapter decided to approach the DuPage County Board in an attempt to get the Commission to act on IBIP's recommendation to improve the
election process in DuPage County. Click here for IBIP's News Release.
February 7, 2007. IBIP Warns of Possible Errors Arising From Bar Codes on DRE Paper Trails
LINK. Relying on bar-coded vote tallies in Chicago and Cook County could alter audit outcomes and violates the Illinois Election Code
For more news - Jump to the Resources page. Click here for a special report on Illinois Primary Problems.
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