Daily Voting News For December 18, 2008
Guest Blogged by John Gideon of VotersUnite.org
“Pennsylvania voters challenging the continued use of unverifiable electronic voting machines in their state won another
major round on Tuesday when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing their case to proceed toward trial.
The state’s highest court, in a one-sentence order, denied the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s petition seeking
permission to appeal a lower court ruling decided in the voters’ favor. In April 2007, the Commonwealth Court of
Pennsylvania had ruled that voters have a right under the Pennsylvania Constitution to reliable and secure voting
systems and can challenge the use of electronic voting machines “that provide no way for Electors to know whether their
votes will be recognized” through voter verification or independent audit. Following that ruling, Pennsylvania Secretary
of State Pedro Cortés filed his petition before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and further proceedings in the case,
Banfield v. Cortés, had been suspended pending the outcome of the petition. The order issued on Tuesday gives a green
light for the voters to pursue their claims.”...
Featured - PA: Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Allows Voting Rights Case To Proceed LINK
Colorado: GOP push for voter ID
Opponents say the measures would block eligible voters LINK
Connecticut: Refining Connecticut’s Elections LINK
Florida: Hillsborough County - No show, no $2.3-million for Hillsborough elections chief LINK
Florida: Hillsborough County - Where's Buddy Johnson? LINK
Florida: Hillsborough County: Elections Boss Defends Not Attending Commission Hearing LINK
Maryland: State approves new voting services contract
Questions remain about who will run City of Frederick election LINK
Maryland: Frederick County - County board to rethink dropping city elections LINK
Minnesota: Joe Quinn: Just count the ballots, not the possibilities
Having ruled on a recount, my advice is to keep it simple. LINK
Minnesota: Court weighs absentee ballots LINK
Minnesota: Canvassing board puzzles over more challenged ballots LINK
Minnesota: Recount update: No official recount result until at least next week LINK
Minnesota: Coleman's lead down to 2 votes in Minn. canvass LINK
Minnesota: Minnesota Supreme Court: Count rejected absentee ballots LINK
Ohio: Ohio House shrinks early voting period LINK
Ohio: The Wrong Approach to Election Reform LINK
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Allows Voting Rights Case To Proceed LINK
Pennsylvania: Voting-machine challenge back on track LINK
South Carolina: Charleston County - Voting officials hear ideas LINK
West Virginia: Straight-ticket voting remains force in West Virginia elections LINK
**"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 VotersUnite.Org or Scoop.**
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John Gideon
Co-Executive Director
VotersUnite.Org
www.votersunite.org
"To encourage citizen ownership of transparent, participatory
democracy." The Creekside Declaration March 22, 2008