Electronic Voting Forum

I have received the following announcement:

INFORUM and The Commonwealth Club present

THURSDAY OCTOBER 7

E-VOTING: PROBLEMS EXPECTED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION?

DAVID L. DILL, Ph.D., Founder and Board Director, VerifiedVoting.org
DANIEL TOKAJI, Professor of Law, Ohio University; Author, "Equal Vote" Blog
MARC CARREL, Assistant Secretary of State, California
DAN BURK, Registrar of Voters, Washoe County, Nevada
HENRY BRADY, Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley
KIM ZETTER, Senior Reporter, Wired News; Moderator

Heard some disturbing stories about electronic voting machines and the companies that make them? A significant portion of the electorate will vote electronically using ATM-like voting machines in November. The viability of the systems is still in question - a number of incidents have eroded confidence that the systems can ensure every vote is counted fairly. Could this year's Presidential election have balloting snafus like those in Florida in 2000? Find out from the experts.

6:30 p.m., Program | 7:30 p.m., Wine & Hors d'oeuvres Reception | Club Office, 595 Market St, 2nd floor, San Francisco | $12 for Members, $20 for Non-members, $7 for Students.

For reservations call 415/597-6705 or register online here.

"Stealthy Groups Keep Donors Secret as they Push Political Agendas"

Cox News Service offers this report.

"Kerry Accuses GOP of Suppressing Voting"

A.P. offers this report.

"Campaigns Spending Little on Web Ads"

The Washington Post offers this report.

"More Troubles for Diebold"

The New York Times offers this editorial.

"As Deadlines Hit, Rolls of Voters Show Big Surge"

The New York Times offers this report.

"Prop. 62 Puts Party Line on the Line"

The Sacramento Bee offers this report. [Disclosure: I am a lawyer for the proponents of Prop. 62.]

"Enduring Anachronism: Electoral College Distorts System"

The Sacramento Bee offers this editorial.

"Tax Rules Boost Interest Groups"

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution offers this report.

"In Florida, An Early Skirmish Over '04 Vote"

The Wall Street Journal offers this report. Thanks to Steven Sholk for the link.

"Major Parties Already Honing Recount Strategy"

The Los Angeles Times offers this report.

"Registrars Assail Shelley's Handling of Voter Funds"

The Sacramento Bee offers this report.

Two New York Times Articles on Election Administration Issues

See Democrats Voice Concern About Overseas Vote and Voter Registrations Hit Snag Over Citizenship Box.

Tokaji on Electronic Voting and Democratic Values

Dan Tokaji has posted The Paperless Chase: Electronic Voting and Democratic Values on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

The 2000 election ignited a fierce controversy over the machinery used for voting. Civil rights advocates have called for the replacement of outdated paper-based voting equipment, like the infamous "hanging chad" punch card. Yet the introduction of paperless technology, especially electronic "touchscreen" machines, has induced widespread concern that software might be rigged to alter election results. This article examines the debate over electronic voting, which raises fundamental questions about the democratic values that should guide the administration of elections. It frames the debate by defining four equality norms embodied in federal voting rights laws and the Constitution. Electronic voting has the potential to advance racial equality, disability access, and multilingual access. At the same time, there are legitimate concerns surrounding the implementation of present-generation technology. The proposed "voter verified paper audit trail" is unlikely to resolve these concerns, though other measures may be taken to promote security and transparency. The article concludes that legislatures and courts have important roles to play in the transformation of voting technology, but that the most important decisions lie in the hands of state and local election officials. It suggests a legal structure that will protect basic voting rights while allowing for innovation and experimentation. Most important, the article urges that election reform no longer be viewed as a once-in-a-generation occurrence, but as an ongoing process that should proceed for as long as voting technology continues to improve.

Brennan Center Sues to Require Same Day Voter Registration in Connecticut

See this press release. This lawsuit is brought very close to election day. It is not clear from the press release whether this is intended to apply to the upcoming election. If it is, it would not surprise me to see a court refuse to consider it given that this suit could have been broughter earlier.