[EL] Two Lawsuits Challenging Ohio Voting Machines

Mon Nov 5 20:49:21 PST 2012

A little laches problem, no?

Fredric D. Woocher
Strumwasser & Woocher LLP

Sent from my IPad

On Nov 5, 2012, at 7:45 PM, "Rick Hasen" <rhasen at law.uci.edu<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>> wrote:

“Change in Florida voting law is felt at polls”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43506>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:46 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43506> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Herald Tribune<http://politics.heraldtribune.com/2012/11/05/change-in-florida-voting-law-is-felt-at-polls/>: “Changes in the state election law may have reduced the number of Florida voters who participated in early voting this year by an estimated 300,000 votes. That reduction in early voting — from about 2.7 million voters in 2008 to 2.4 million this year — could have consequences in a tight race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in the nation’s largest swing state.”

This whole article is worth a read.  Absentee balloting is up.  It will be hard to tell whether overall decline in Democratic vote in 2012 compared to 2008 is caused (solely) by Florida voting changes as opposed to other factors, such as differences in the level of enthusiasm of Florida voters.

This will be one of the most important empirical questions to disentangle after the election.  I’ve been working on the assumption that these voting changes mostly matter on the margin–so in a tight race they would matter, but in a big blowout they would not—but others have suggested some larger effects.

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voter registration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=37>, voting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=31> | Comments Off
“Two lawsuits challenging Ohio voting machines”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43503>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:36 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43503> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The latest<http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/analysis/index.php?ID=10041> from Moritz.

These are the folks who believe that the Ohio 2004 presidential election was stolen by Republicans.

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Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“California political watchdog names secret $11 million campaign contributors, claims they were ‘money laundering’”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43501>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:35 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43501> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The San Jose Mercury News reports.<http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_21932215/fppc-releases-names-donors-who-made-secret-11>

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Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“The ‘Big’ Day: Is Election Day Still as Huge?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43498>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:25 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43498> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

AP reports.<http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/11/05/us/politics/ap-us-the-not-so-big-event-.html?ref=politics>

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43498&title=%E2%80%9CThe%20%E2%80%98Big%E2%80%99%20Day%3A%20Is%20Election%20Day%20Still%20as%20Huge%3F%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> | Comments Off
“Ethics Panel Will Investigate Gessler Expenses”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43495>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:12 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43495> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

AP<http://www.9news.com/news/article/298105/339/Ethics-panel-will-investigate-Gessler-expenses?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge>: “Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission<http://www.9news.com/news/article/298105/339/Ethics-panel-will-investigate-Gessler-expenses?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge#> will investigate whether Secretary of State Scott Gessler wrongfully used state money to travel to a Republican election law training event and the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August.”

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43495&title=%E2%80%9CEthics%20Panel%20Will%20Investigate%20Gessler%20Expenses%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, ethics investigations<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=42> | Comments Off
“Another election, another legal tangle in Florida”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43493>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:11 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43493> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Sun-Sentinel reports.<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-florida-voting-mess-20121105,0,7621820.story?page=2&track=rss>

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
Federal District Court Rejects 1st Amendment Challenge to Ban on Contributions by Government Contractors<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43490>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:06 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43490> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Summary judgmen<http://www.fec.gov/law/litigation/wagner_dc_memo_opinion2.pdf>t to the FEC.  Expect an appeal.

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43490&title=Federal%20District%20Court%20Rejects%201st%20Amendment%20Challenge%20to%20Ban%20on%20Contributions%20by%20Government%20Contractors&description=>
Posted in campaign finance<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> | Comments Off
“Election Overtime: A Winless Wednesday?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43488>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:05 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43488> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Politico reports.<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83364.html>

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“In Case of a Recount, A Long Wait for Ohio”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43486>
Posted on November 5, 2012 7:03 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43486> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/us/politics/ohio-law-could-bring-long-delays-in-a-recount.html>.

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43486&title=%E2%80%9CIn%20Case%20of%20a%20Recount%2C%20A%20Long%20Wait%20for%20Ohio%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, recounts<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=50>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Obama, Romney campaigns brace for battle after Tuesday’s vote”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43483>
Posted on November 5, 2012 5:21 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43483> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports.<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/obama-romney-campaigns-brace-for-battle-after-tuesdays-vote/2012/11/05/f20b8500-2762-11e2-b4f2-8320a9f00869_story.html>

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Ohio Election Law Quirk Could Play Big Role if Vote Tally Sparks Court Fight”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43480>
Posted on November 5, 2012 4:48 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43480> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

American Lawyer reports.<http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleALD.jsp?id=1202577326795&slreturn=20121005194644>

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, provisional ballots<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=67>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Teams of lawyers for Obama, Romney get ready for Election Day”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43477>
Posted on November 5, 2012 4:40 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43477> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports<http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20121105_Teams_of_lawyers_for_Obama__Romney_get_ready_for_Election_Day.html>.

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off
“Which of the voting ‘conspiracy theorists’ are doing the most harm, in your view, and how?”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43474>
Posted on November 5, 2012 4:32 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43474> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Joe Hall:<http://www.theawl.com/2012/11/the-truth-about-voting-machines>

Maria: Which of the voting ‘conspiracy theorists’ are doing the most harm, in your view, and how?

Joe: Well, Fitrakis and Bello really seem to be getting widespread play this year for some reason. I can’t tell you how many otherwise smart and discerning people have asked me about both their two recent stories on “Romney owns voting machines in Ohio” and this new “scary last-minute software update” one. The frustrating part is that in other times of the year people like myself would have time to carefully debunk this well-manufactured drivel, but at the moment I’m too concerned with real issues, like making sure voters on election day and volunteers in the field have the information they need, however mundane or technical, to make sure all registered, eligible voters can cast a ballot. Luckily, in the case of the “Romney owns voting machines” story, the reliable fact-checking site Snopes.com<http://snopes.com/> has really hit it out of the park<http://www.snopes.com/politics/romney/votingmachines.asp>.

As to who’s doing the most damage… chalk up Naomi Wolf in that category as she seems to think that getting rid of the secret ballot would solve all our problems<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/03/cure-america-corruptible-voting-system>.

What an amazingly stupid idea! She probably doesn’t know—why would she?—that voting before we instituted the secret ballot in the US (around 1900 for most states) was a payday for most voters, and that when we instituted the secret ballot voter turnout dropped like a rock since vote buyers could no longer be assured that they were getting what they paid for.

Also, I’m not a big fan of the Brad Blog<http://www.bradblog.com/>, as he can be very sensational and ego-driven. However, he often has good facts and original analysis, so while I don’t visit his site, I don’t immediately write-off what he has to say, just his tone and likely his policy recommendations.

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43474&title=%E2%80%9CWhich%20of%20the%20voting%20%E2%80%98conspiracy%20theorists%E2%80%99%20are%20doing%20the%20most%20harm%2C%20in%20your%20view%2C%20and%20how%3F%E2%80%9D&description=>
Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voting technology<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40> | Comments Off
“Oregon: Clackamas County/County Clerk facing recall petitions after temporary worker accused of tampering with ballots’<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43471>
Posted on November 5, 2012 3:34 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43471> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

This item<http://recallelections.blogspot.com/2012/11/oregon-clackamas-countycounty-clerk.html> appears at the Recall Elections Blog.

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43471&title=%E2%80%9COregon%3A%20Clackamas%20County%2FCounty%20Clerk%20facing%20recall%20petitions%20after%20temporary%20worker%20accused%20of%20tampering%20with%20ballots%E2%80%99&description=>
Posted in chicanery<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>, election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, recall elections<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11> | Comments Off
“Displaced New Yorkers Can Vote Anywhere in State”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43468>
Posted on November 5, 2012 3:18 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43468> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT reports.<http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/28/nyregion/hurricane-sandy.html#sha=b21c2d617>

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, provisional ballots<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=67> | Comments Off
“Pentagon unit pushed email voting for troops despite security concerns”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43465>
Posted on November 5, 2012 2:53 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43465> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

McClatchy reports<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/04/3644032/pentagon-unit-pushed-email-voting.html>.

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, military voting<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=48>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>, voting technology<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=40> | Comments Off
Stop with the Free Stuff for Voting!<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43462>
Posted on November 5, 2012 2:30 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43462> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

You need<http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/election_law_blogger_responsible_for_free_ben_jerrys/> to give to EVERYBODY<http://dcist.com/2012/11/quick_reminder_you_cant_give_people.php>.

Don’t turn civic duty into an unintended felony.

<share_save_171_16.png><http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D43462&title=Stop%20with%20the%20Free%20Stuff%20for%20Voting%21&description=>
Posted in vote buying<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=43> | Comments Off
“New Evidence Shows Poll Watching Efforts Target Minority Precincts”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43459>
Posted on November 5, 2012 2:26 pm<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=43459> by Rick Hasen<http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Froomkin<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/poll-watching_n_2078563.html>.

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Posted in election administration<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>, The Voting Wars<http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> | Comments Off

--
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org
Now available: The Voting Wars: http://amzn.to/y22ZTv

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