A Journalists’ Guide Covering 2008
electionline.org
Director’s Note
he 2008 election cycle is All of this political intrigue is to cast their ballots at different already shaping up to be occurring against the backdrop of times and different places than Thistoric in numerous ways: an election system whose strengths before; and and weaknesses have been • For election trivia buffs, it is the subjected to withering scrutiny • Voting laws and procedures – first presidential election since since the disputed presidential including voter ID, provisional 1924 when neither the sitting election of 2000. The voting voting and access for the president nor the vice president process has changed more in the disabled – are potential is a candidate for the White last eight years, forced in large part battlegrounds as candidates and House; (and funded more or less) by the parties jockey for advantage in a Help America Vote Act enacted by political environment where a • For political junkies, it is the Congress in 2002, than it has in the tiny number of votes has the latest skirmish in the highly past 80. potential to swing an outcome. competitive “Eight Years’ War” between the major parties for Consequently, as American voters All of these factors make the 2008 control of the federal head to the polls in 2008, they will election a moving target that will government which started in be using a system which has been challenge even the most seasoned 2000 and now raged for four buffeted by change and controversy: journalist. This publication is consecutive election cycles; and designed to assist the media and • Voting machines – seen by many other members of the organized • For policy wonks, it is a potential as the culprit in 2000 – are once public with understanding the hot turning point in several again a source of concern and issues, the hot buttons and the hot ongoing debates in this country, skepticism if not outright spots in the 2008 vote. including the war in Iraq, hostility in numerous states; education, health insurance, On behalf of everyone here at among others. • Voter lists are staggering into electionline.org, I hope you find the 21st century as states move this report insightful and useful. We Stir in an intriguing cast of political away from card files and have always believed in the characters – a cast so large that at computer printouts and toward importance of journalists to the one point it appeared that there laptops and high-tech electoral process – helping you to would be more candidates than databases, with mixed success; ask good questions so voters can voters – and a highly compressed get good answers – and this report and front-loaded primary schedule • Neighborhood voting precincts is the latest manifestation of that and the ingredients are there for a are becoming a vanishing breed belief. We’re not alone, however – fascinating election season. as early and absentee voting, a few quick thanks to the people voter centers, vote-by-mail and who made this possible: But wait – there’s more. other innovations enable voters
1 • My electionline.org colleagues Alyson Freedman, Sean Greene, Mindy Moretti, Dan Seligson and Kat Zambon and for their continued brilliance and good cheer;
• Our interns – Joe Pavel and Evan Smith – for their incredible skill and enthusiasm for our little corner of the policy world;
• Mike Heffner, Lucy Pope and the rest of the team at 202design for an inspired look to our publications that makes my colleagues’ work leap off the page;
• Our new colleagues at The Pew Center on the States and its Make Voting Work initiative – Michael Caudell-Feagan, Jeannette Lam, Kent Mitchell Carolynn Race, Sue Urahn – who have not only challenged us to expand our work but have been dedicated and skilled partners in the effort; and
• As always, the Board of The Pew Charitable Trusts and its CEO Rebecca Rimel for their generosity over the years in providing resources for our efforts to raise the level of debate in their field of election reform.
Doug Chapin November 2007
2 Executive Summary
very presidential election deadlock, securing victory for • Paper is back. More than half of cycle is exciting – 1984 and George W. Bush. Concerns about the states require the use of E1996 aside – but perhaps voting machines persist. Voter ID either paper backup systems, none in recent memory has the rules differ from state-to-state, such as voter-verified paper drama of the 2008 race for the prompting lawsuits and partisan audit trails with electronic voting White House. The front-loaded ill-will. Machine breakdowns in machines, or paper-based primary season features neither an Sarasota, Fla. and elsewhere have systems, including optically- incumbent president nor vice rekindled memories of Palm Beach scanned ballots. president. Issues that will County despite substantial determine the winners and losers – investment in new voting systems • Federal efforts to make paper the war in Iraq, education, health and legislation establishing more trails the law of the land have insurance, immigration and trade to uniform procedures. been unsuccessful. Most name a few – have rarely been recently, a bill by Rep. Rush Holt, more vital or hotly contested. The In short, journalists, will have their D-N.J., failed to pass this year electorate continues to be split, hands full. Aside from the horse despite widespread support nearly right down the middle, race between the contenders from from Democrats and some among the two major parties. both parties is the story that is Republicans. Some state and equally compelling – the local election officials strongly Stir in a system of election administration of the vote itself. opposed paper-trail require- administration that has been ments, and “voter integrity” undergoing profound change since groups did the same, on the 2000 and 2004, and the ingredients Voting machines grounds that electronic systems exist for one memorable year. would continue to be used. • While 2000 largely marked the Federal legislation, the Help end of punch-card voting in the America Vote Act of 2002, was United States, concerns about Voter identification designed to cure the ills of voting the replacement – electronic in 2000. New databases, voting voting systems – has raised con- • Only 11 states required all machines, ID requirements and cerns similar to those seen eight voters to show some form of fail-safe rules are in place. years ago. In Sarasota, 18,000 verification before casting missing or un-voted ballots in a ballots in 2000. That number Yet voter confidence in America’s race for the U.S. House led to had risen to 25 by 2006. electoral system has seemingly not legislation that will eventually improved since the U.S. Supreme phase out paperless electronic • Republicans largely support Court ended the 2000 election voting in the Sunshine State. voter ID measures because they
3 say it protects the integrity of historic election approaching and the vote. Democrats largely how the nation votes still very much oppose such measures because in flux, the 2008 primary and they say voter fraud at polling election season provides a wealth places is rare and requiring ID of issues to watch. creates a barrier to participation for some citizens.
• Photo ID requirements are now on the books in three states – Florida, Georgia and Indiana. The mandates have been the subject of lawsuits – all eventually lost by plaintiffs – except for two outstanding cases in Indiana which are expected to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in early 2008.
Registration databases
• Statewide voter registration databases were one of the most complex and expensive requirements of the Help America Vote Act. The deadline for states to establish systems passed at the beginning of 2006. Four states were sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to complete the task on time.
• Challenges continue, as some localities have experienced problems entering and retrieving information on the new systems.
When primary season officially kicks off in New Hampshire (Iowa’s caucus does not entail regular voting procedures) the eyes of the nation will be fixed not only on the results, but the vote itself. The performance of the American electoral system has rarely been as closely watched, and with an
4 Voting Systems and the 2008 Election
At-a-glance • Sarasota County, Florida’s 18,000-plus missing ballots raised suspicion and distrust of electronic voting to new heights • The number of states requiring paper-based verification or paper balloting systems has steadily increased. • Voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs), while popular, are untested in high-stakes recounts. Examinations of VVPATs in previous elections indicate a high number could be unable to be counted, leading to post-election disputes. • When it comes to election problems – and occasionally solutions – Florida leads and the nation often follows.
unshine state voters will the passage of the Help America implementation of accessible return to the polls in January Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002. As part of voting for people with visual and Sto cast ballots in the primaries the legislation, the federal some manual dexterity disabilities. and many in the most populous government offered optional counties will use the third voting punch-card and lever-machine It prevented the possibility of over- machine in as many presidential buyouts for states that wanted to votes, allowed multiple languages cycles. Florida’s experiment with switch to more modern systems to be displayed and offered the touch-screen voting went awry with that would allow detection of over- promise of near-instant reporting thousands of lost votes in Sarasota votes and other potentially ballot- with results that could be during the 2006 mid-term and spoiling errors as well as increased transmitted from polling places to triggered a phase-out with the accessibility for voters with central election offices for counting. governor’s signature in 2007. disabilities.2 Yet in the eyes of advocates, voters Optical-scan voting machines will But suspicions over the systems and some lawmakers, DRE voting be widely used, replacing used in polling places have has not lived up to billing. While electronic machines that had been remained fairly constant. the system generally receives high previously used in much of South marks from the majority of voters Florida, including Miami-Dade, Five years ago, voting on direct- that use them, voter confidence has Broward and Palm Beach counties.1 recording electronic (DRE) or touch- not been restored.3 Poll workers screen machines was supposed to and election officials around the Florida was one among the first in be everything punch-card and lever country struggled with early the nation to switch from paper- systems were not – accessible, implementation of DRE voting based punch-card voting to programmable, flexible, fast, easy, systems. As their use was becoming electronic machines in light of the accurate and trustworthy. The more widespread, computer 2000 election. Since that time, transition from punch-card ballots scientists started to become wary voting machine usage has changed and lever voting machines to of the “black box” nature of the dramatically – particularly in light of electronic systems enabled the systems – a machine produced by a
5 for-profit endeavor, some who were eerily similar to the 2000 election 2007, Democrat Christine Jennings politically connected – that is mess that stemmed largely from a continued to urge Congress to operated by a proprietary code and ballot design problem, an inability throw out the election results.10 without any sort of individually- to determine voter intent and a verifiable system for recounting or high-interest race that was The Government Accountability auditing results. extremely close. Office (GAO), which released a report in early October 2007, Further, interactions between indicated a year later that despite human beings and machines The Sarasota fiasco the assurances by the Florida sometimes resulted in confusion, elections’ division, the mystery is mistakes and occasionally full- About 18,000 under-votes were still officially unsolved. blown melt downs. recorded on ES&S touch-screen machines in the race to replace “GAO’s analysis found that some Problems started to become Rep. Katherine Harris to represent of the prior tests and reviews commonplace, and e-voting failures the 13th District in Congress. The conducted by the State of Florida became well known. under-votes far exceeded the total and Sarasota County provide number of votes separating the assurance that certain components A race to determine North two candidates. Reasons for the of the voting systems in Sarasota Carolina’s agricultural commissioner under-votes have still not been County functioned correctly, but in 2004 was thrown into confusion determined. they are not enough to provide when voting machines failed to reasonable assurance that the record more than 4,000 votes Poor ballot design was considered iVotronic DREs did not contribute to because they had exceeded their one possible cause. The 13th the under-vote,” the report stated.11 ballot capacity.4 Hundreds of votes District race shared the same page separated candidates in that race, with a six-person governor race. Whatever the cause of the vast and it took months for the According to an analysis by the numbers of under-votes in the 13th Democrat to eventually concede.5 Herald Tribune, “when other races District, the event was disturbing were paired on the screen with enough to convince Florida Gov. A 2006 primary in Montgomery governor candidates, under-votes Charlie Crist (R) to do away with County, Md. was thrown into chaos in the other races soared.”7 electronic voting.12 after an election official forgot to include ballot activator cards in Organizations including the ACLU, H.B. 537, a $28 million buyout of packages of materials that went out Voter Action, People for the all existing DREs so every county in to more than 200 precincts. Voters American Way Foundation and the state would be using optical- who managed to endure long lines others challenged the results of the scan systems in time for 2008 was and late-opening polling places election and demanded a re-vote, signed by Crist in May 2007.13 DREs found themselves casting since the audit of the electronic will be in place until 2012, however, provisional ballots or using scraps totals produced the same result.8 a spokesman for the Elections of paper to indicate their choices.6 A test conducted on the machines Division estimated 98 percent of by the state’s Division of Elections voters would cast optical-scan Sarasota County, Fla.’s mysterious found nothing strange, noting there ballots in the 2008 vote.14 non-votes in a race for an open seat was no evidence “to support the in the U.S. House of Representatives position that the iVotronic touch- could turn out to be the defining screen voting system caused the The (re-) introduction moment in the evolution of e-voting votes to be lost.”9 of paper in the country. Florida was catapulted back into the headlines Republican Vern Buchanan was The move away from paperless for a spectacular election failure sworn-in on the appointed day electronic machines to paper-based that, while the players and the despite the outstanding litigation, voting systems was already well voting machines had changed, was and at least in the latter half of underway, however.
6 In 2003, then-California Secretary of allowed voters to see a paper paper trails was influential in State Kevin Shelley mandated the version of their ballot alongside the legislatures around the country, use of voter-verified paper audit electronic version enabling them to Sarasota was most certainly trails (VVPATs) with DRE machines.15 make sure both matched up before affirming, albeit mostly after the fact. casting the vote.16 In 2004, Nevada became the first in Legislatures in 18 states had the nation to employ a statewide If the decision by leaders in already enacted laws requiring voter-verification system that California and Nevada to require VVPATs or paper ballots by 2005.
7 introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., made little headway.21
Holt said in September that confidence in voting systems has only worsened since the passage of HAVA.
“I shudder to think what would happen with another election where millions of Americans don’t believe the results,” Holt told The Associated Press.22
Yet some experts said the prospect of mandatory paper trails would make elections even more frightening.
Michael Shamos, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, challenged the need and utility of VVPATs during his testimony at a September Perennial election battleground HAVA expansion to 2006 hearing. Ohio followed California mandating include paper trails a VVPAT requirement in the first seem unlikely “The proposed bill, which half of 2004.17 presumes paper is more secure Despite success in state legislatures than electronic, is a proposition Verified Voting, a California-based to introduce paper trails, efforts to shown repeatedly to be wrong organization that advocates amend HAVA in Congress have throughout history. I am in favor of independently verifiable voting failed. voter verification, but H.R. 550 does systems, reported in 2007 that 30 not come close to providing real states will require the use of H.R. 811, the “Voter Confidence voter verification,” he said.23 individually-auditable paper and Increased Accessibility Act of record, either with electronic voting 2007,” had the best chance of machines or paper ballots. They will passage in the latter half of 2007. Most election officials include some of the most populous The bill included mandates for propose paper trails – California, Illinois, Florida, New paper trails and would require that Jersey, North Carolina, New York the paper version of a vote “shall An alphabet soup of leadership and Missouri. Three states employ serve as the vote of record in all groups – including the National VVPATs but do not require them. A recounts and audits.”19 Governors’ Association, U.S. dozen states still employ paperless Conference of Mayors, National DRE machines.18 Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., the chief Conference of State Legislatures, sponsor, had secured the support National Association of Secretaries of most of his partisans in the of State and others – penned a House and a good number of letter to Congressional leaders Republicans as well. In total, 216 outlining their numerous lawmakers co-sponsored the bill.20 objections to Holt’s paper-trail bill The Senate companion bill, S. 559, in September.
8 “The majority of states already Even advocates of verified-voting require a voter-verified paper were horrified. But the blame was record of every voter’s vote. more difficult to assign. H.R.811 would preempt those laws, requiring states to replace “Ten percent is a complete equipment they purchased to disaster and totally defeats the comply with the Help America Vote purpose of a VVPAT,” said David Act of 2002 – even if it already Dill, VerifiedVoting’s founder. “You offers a voter-verified paper trail - can blame it on poll worker with technology that does not exist training, but there are ways to yet,” the letter stated. “As a result, design equipment that makes user it imposes an unfunded federal error less likely.”26 mandate of unknown proportions. In addition, it contains unnecessary In the event of a recount, at least and overly broad requirements for 15 states require that the paper trail many states to enact hasty changes be used as the ballot of record.27 to their voting laws in the 14 The Cuyahoga study indicated that months remaining between now should a recount become possible, and the 2008 presidential the new batch of machines meant election.”24 to cure the ills of earlier forms of voting could end up causing the same old problems. And the The paper-trail potential still exists for the courts, backlash not the voters, to determine the winners and losers.28 While the prospects for passage of a paper trail bill in Congress looked unlikely at press time, VVPATs will still play a potentially significant role in 2008. If recounts become necessary, some early experiences auditing paper trails indicate such a procedure could be difficult.
Researchers from the San Francisco-based Election Science Institute selected a sample of VVPAT spools from the May 2006 primary in Cuyahoga County, Ohio to see if they could get paper-trail ballots to match up with electronic totals. They found just figuring out the VVPAT votes at all was a significant problem.
Tracy Warren, the researcher who led the audit, reported that one out of 10 VVPAT ballots were in some way compromised, damaged or otherwise uncountable.25
9 Voter Identification: Requirements Increase, Impact at Polls Largely Unknown
At-a-glance • Polling place voter ID requirements have risen steadily since 2000, from 11 in the Bush v. Gore election to 25 during last year’s mid-term vote. • Efforts to require government-issued photo ID in Indiana and Georgia spurred lawsuits but were ultimately upheld. A Missouri judge struck down a law that would have required photo ID in 2006. The issue could be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has agreed to deliberate Indiana’s law, with a decision expected in the midst of the 2008 campaign season. • Studies on the issue – as well as the way they have been handled by the government agency that commissioned them – have proven controversial. • The impact in the 2008 election is largely unknown. In states where photo ID is now required, turnout might be affected and/or the number of provisional ballots cast by voters who lacked the requisite ID might increase.
n the five years since the Republicans, however, say such envisioned as part of HAVA has passage of HAVA, whether to measures are necessary. Presenting become something of a slam dunk Irequire voter ID, and more ID is a standard procedure at for supporters of voter ID. The specifically photo-based verification, airports, libraries, schools and number of states requiring all has remained among the most even video stores. voters to show some sort of controversial issues in election verification before casting a ballot administration and is far more likely “By refusing to set a minimum in a polling place has increased to ignite partisan passions. federal standard requiring photo from 11 in 2000 to 25 in 2007.31 Democrats and Republicans have IDs before voting, the Senate failed battled over the requirement in to seize an opportunity to As well as having more states state legislatures, newspaper op-eds safeguard the integrity of elections requiring one of a number of forms and courthouses. for the future. We cannot afford to of identification, three states – be apathetic when faced with an Indiana, Georgia and Florida – Democrats, almost universally, opportunity to strengthen our require all voters to show an ID loathe voter ID rules, viewing electoral system. Voting is the with a photo.32 such measures as attempts to cornerstone of our democracy and disenfranchise voters for no it is our duty to protect the right of In the 36 states that, prior to HAVA logical reason. American citizens to lawfully elect passage, had voters sign their their representatives,” said Sen. names or simply state them as they “They are making it an issue Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., after the checked in at the polls, all now because they want to suppress the Senate rejected his amendment to mandate at least the minimum vote,” said Sen. Chris Dodd, make photo ID national law.30 outlined by the federal law.33 D-Conn., of a federal bill calling for mandatory photo verification at The trend has been toward Just as they have consistently lost polls. Such measures, he said, are requiring more verification – battles in state legislatures when “unacceptable…un-American photo and otherwise – at polling trying to thwart Republican and… just flat-out wrong.”29 places. The compromise that was majorities seeking to introduce
10 universal voter ID or strengthen has their story to tell, neither side incidence of vote fraud, especially on existing ID laws, Democrats have has produced much that could be the kind of vote fraud that could be also had little success in courts. considered definitive. Republicans reduced by requiring more rigorous have not presented much evidence voter identification, is not sufficient to Lawsuits in Georgia and Indiana of polling-place voter fraud, and evaluate those tradeoffs,” O’Neill failed in the last year. Georgia’s Democrats have a hard time said. “The EAC’s recent study of Supreme Court dismissed a producing plaintiffs who have been election crimes found, for example, challenge to the state’s photo- unable to vote because they did that there has never been a only voter ID law in mid-2007, not have necessary verification to comprehensive, nationwide study of stating the plaintiff lacked standing. vote. U.S. District Judge Harold voting fraud and intimidation. The decision came nine months Murphy dismissed a case in Without a better understanding of after a state superior court judge Georgia because the plaintiffs, the incidence of vote fraud and its held that the law was not allowed “failed to uncover anyone” who relationship to voter ID, for now best under the state constitution could not vote because of ID laws.38 practice for the states may be to limit because it would disenfranchise requirements for voter identification voters who lacked ID.34 Two reports commissioned by to the minimum needed to prevent the U.S. Election Assistance duplicate registration and ensure In 2006, a judge struck down a photo Commission (EAC) might have eligibility.”39 ID law in Missouri that would have been envisioned as providing required photo ID in the mid-term more clarity, but did little to change A second report was almost never elections. Gov. Roy Blunt (R) and battle-hardened stances among released at all, at least in its Secretary of State Robin Carnahan Republicans and Democrats, original form, and required (D) have been at odds over voter ID liberals and conservatives. Congressional intervention to since both came into office.35 be available to the public. First, researchers from Rutgers The U.S. Supreme Court could University’s Eagleton Institute Tova Wang, democracy fellow at ultimately decide the fate of voter presented a report to the EAC in the Century Foundation, and Job ID after the justices agreed to hear mid-2006. Their findings, discussed Serebrov, an Arkansas-based two cases – Crawford v. Marion at a February 2007 EAC meeting, attorney, submitted an EAC- County Election Board and the provided recommendations to commissioned paper on voter ID Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita – evaluate future voter ID and fraud in June 2006. According both filed after the state’s photo ID requirements. to Wang, the conclusions in that law was enacted in 2005. It had report were “revised by the EAC, previously been upheld by a The Eagleton report found states without explanation or discussion federal judge and subsequently the with the “maximum requirement for with me, my co-author or the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.36 photo identification had turnout general public.”40 rates nearly 5 percent lower than The Court is expected to hear in states with the minimum The original report, once released, arguments in early 2008 and could requirement – stating one’s name stated that “there is widespread offer an opinion as soon as June at the polls. The data suggested but not unanimous agreement that 2008.37 caution when imposing new there is little polling-place fraud, or requirements at the polls, said at least much less than is claimed, Thomas O’ Neill, one of the including voter impersonation, Data still incomplete, Eagleton researchers, in testimony ‘dead’ voters, non-citizen voting controversial to the EAC. and felon voters.”41
While legislatures have been “We believe… that sound policy on The December report that was actively debating the issue since voter ID should begin with an eventually made public was the passage of HAVA, no new examination of the tradeoffs significantly different than the one research has served to further between ballot security and ballot Wang and Serebrov produced. illuminate the debate. Each side access. The existing evidence on the Wang said she was placed under a
11 gag order by the EAC, not allowed debate over the pervasiveness of “The need for this report is even to mention the original report, its fraud.”43 more clear when we see the way findings or any other details related the Bush administration is carrying to her work for the agency.42 And that caught the ire of some out the electoral process and how Democratic lawmakers in Congress, this system is sliding toward The Wang/Serebov report’s who accused the EAC of selectively corruption,” stated a joint press conclusions – which initially releasing information that would release from Reps. Maurice indicated “little polling place fraud” put voter ID laws in a more Hinchey, D-N.Y. and Jose Serrano, – now read “there is a great deal of favorable light. D-N.Y. “In hiding a draft report that
12 is significantly different from the A mixed impact final version, the EAC has created a lot more questions than it has When polls open for the 2008 answered while stunting debate on primaries, more voters than ever the issue. ….The EAC must never will be required to present some limit discussion and debate.”44 form of identification. And for those casting ballots in Georgia and Eventually, under pressure from Indiana, it marks the first Congress, the EAC released the presidential contest in which photo original report from Wang and ID will be required.49 Data from Serebrov as well as 40,000 pages of previous elections give no documents related to both reports, indication of how the requirements on a series of CD-ROMs. The EAC might have an impact on turnout. launched an internal investigation, and it appears the issue, at least for It is known, however, that rates of the time being, has died down.45 non-precinct voting have been on the rise. Voter ID regimens, even EAC Chair Donetta Davidson, a the most strict, are limited to Republican appointee, said the polling places. The number of commissioners “voted unanimously voters casting ballots from home not to adopt the report citing has risen sharply in recent years. concerns with its methodology.”46 Paul Gronke, head of the Early But the fight over voter ID is far Voting Information Center at Reed from over. Research from the College and a consultant to Pew’s Heritage Foundation offered a Center on the States, notes that, in further analysis – or “reanalysis” the wake of the troubled 2000 vote, of the Rutgers study and had “many states have expanded their markedly different findings than the election systems to include New Jersey-based researchers. convenience options.” Those include both early voting and “Controlling for factors that no-excuse absentee voting.50 influence voter turnout, voter identification laws largely do not Voters in a number of ID-required have the negative impact on voter states, including Georgia, Indiana, turnout that the Eagleton Institute Florida, Texas and North Carolina, suggests. When statistically are increasingly voting before significant and negative relation- election day and not at polling ships are found, the effects are so places. small that the findings offer little policy significance,” the report According to the Center, between a stated.47 quarter to half of all Florida voters will have cast ballots, either early or And with a Supreme Court decision absentee, before election day. expected just months before the 2008 presidential election, voter ID Between 16 and 25 percent of remains as volatile an issue as it Georgia voters and between 6 and was when HAVA was just an idea.48 10 percent of Indiana voters will do the same.51
13 Registration Databases: HAVA’s Most Complex Requirement Tries States
At-a-glance • Despite a mandate requiring certain characteristics of registration databases, the resulting systems have varied significantly from one state to another. • Four states have been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to complete their databases in time for the Jan. 1, 2006 deadline.
ore than hanging chad, federal mandate for improved voter the state. The computerized list butterfly ballots or registration lists. The states, not shall serve as the single system for MKatherine Harris, the localities, would be ultimately storing and managing the official scandal that had perhaps the most responsible for who was on them. list of registered voters throughout significant impact in potentially Links to other governmental the state.”54 altering the outcome of the 2000 agencies would ideally be improved, election was a Georgia database and communication between HAVA’s chief Republican sponsor in company that was hired by the localities – and someday perhaps Congress said the databases would state of Florida to rid registration even states – would be streamlined, simultaneously reduce fraud and rolls of duplicate registrants, felons offering real-time or at least once-a- protect voters. and dead voters. day updates of voter status. “The current system in many Counties were provided The new lists would address the states creates inefficiencies and information from ChoicePoint, a weaknesses inherent in local duplications, as voters often move contractor that analyzed the state’s control, namely a lack of central from one jurisdiction to another list. Many chose to scrub their authority, poor communication within a state without notifying the databases using the information as between agencies and localities jurisdiction that they used to live in their guide. The problem was that and an inability to share before they made the move… more than 50,000 people who were information across county lines.53 These statewide systems will make legally registered and qualified it possible for states to more voters, were removed from voter As of Jan. 1, 2006, states were effectively maintain voter rolls. Salon Magazine estimated required to have statewide registration information, as they nearly 80 percent of those removed registration databases systems that, should. States will have more from rolls would have voted and per the Help America Vote Act, accurate systems to protect voters nine out of 10 for Al Gore.52 were “single, uniform, official, from being mistakenly removed centralized, interactive from the list, while ensuring that Whether the outcome of the computerized statewide voter costly duplicates that invite voter election would have been altered registration list defined, fraud are quickly removed,” without the Florida purge or not, the maintained, and administered at stated former Rep. Robert W. Ney, database debacle in the Sunshine the state level that contains the R-Ohio.55 State prompted lawmakers from name and registration information both political parties to embrace a of every legally registered voter in
14 Start-up troubles effect on cost. In Pennsylvania, the control of what they considered Statewide Uniform Registry of superior local lists to join on to the Completing the lists has been Electors is an election management new statewide system. difficult in some places. Officials in system that can send out voter ID Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming cards, manage the absentee ballot Pennsylvania’s Accenture-built initially selected the same vendor – process and provide numerous database is in place but faced Bermuda-based Accenture. All reports on voter.61 troubles during its initial rollout three eventually severed their with complaints from county relationships with the firm and officials that it was both slow and hired other companies to develop Missed deadlines difficult to use.65 Similar complaints the systems after missed deadlines and lawsuits have been heard in Wisconsin, and functionality problems.56 where the database is up and A dozen states missed HAVA’s Jan. running but not yet 100 percent Accenture also developed 1, 2006 deadline, and at press time, HAVA-compliant.66 Pennsylvania’s database, which several states were still struggling despite some glitches, was to finish the job. Some Texas counties have opted completed and is currently to drop off the state’s election operating in the state.57 Alabama, Maine, New Jersey and management database stemming New York were sued by the U.S. from problems during a May 2007 Both Colorado and Wyoming Department of Justice (DOJ) for election. Leaders in Henderson missed the Jan. 1, 2006 deadline. non-compliance and entered into County approved leaving the state Wyoming’s system, built by Salem, agreements to extend the HAVA system and purchasing their own Oregon-based Saber Corporation, deadline.62 California entered into locally-run replacement in the latter is scheduled to be complete by an agreement with DOJ before half of 2007.67 December 2007 while Colorado’s, 2006 and currently has an interim also built by Saber, is expected to system in place with a final Questions about the security of be operational by May 2008.58 database slated to be completed systems have also arisen. in 2009.63 Advocates and academics have Colorado officials have expressed pointed out that these systems, their satisfaction with Saber so far. New York also has an interim which contain detailed voter “They have a proven track record system in place while New Jersey information, need to have strict of success. All-in-all, we are very has completed its HAVA-compliant security protocols in place on how satisfied with the relationship we database. they are managed and who has have built with them,” said access to them. Jonathan Tee, spokesman for After missing a new court- Secretary of State Mike Coffman mandated Aug. 31, 2007 deadline, An audit that included an (R). “We’re confident we are on the Alabama received a two-month examination of the Florida’s voter right path with the right vendor.”59 extension to complete the system.64 registration system issued in June 2006 found a number of potential Saber now has the largest chunk of security holes, including poorly- the registration system business in Deadlines not the only documented logs recording access, the country, having developed or challenge lag times in revoking permission for taken over development of systems ex-employees to enter the system in 11 states.60 Meeting federal requirements to and other problems.68 have systems up and running by Costs have ranged from under the start of 2006 was only half the $1 million in South Dakota to battle. Election officials in a number around $20 million in Pennsylvania. of states have had problems with The scope and functionality of the the new systems, and some local database is one factor that has an registrars have been loath to cede
15 Matching records ‘1976’ instead of ‘1975’ (the year Two states have moved into the written on her registration form), digital age and now offer online While acknowledging the potential and when no matching record voter registration. Arizona for statewide voter registration could be found, her registration introduced online voter registration databases to increase the efficiency form was rejected.”69 in 2002, and by 2006, more than and accuracy registration process half of its new voter registrations and lists, some advocacy In New York City, Brennan were completed online.72 In late organizations oppose matching researchers found, “if the right to 2006, Washington Secretary of criteria that they say has unfairly vote were conditioned on a State Sam Reed (R) introduced a prevented eligible citizens from proper match, up to 20 percent of measure to allow online registration having their names on voter rolls. new voter registrations would in the state beginning in January have been rejected solely because 2008 and received overwhelming The problem has occurred when of data entry errors. Similar support from the measure in the voter information supplied on the “matching” error rates of 20-30 state legislature.73 registration form is matched with percent were discovered in information from other databases Washington State. And the Social such as the department of motor Security Administration has vehicle database or federal Social reported a 28.5 percent failed Security database. In several states, match rate nationwide.”70 if the data does not match exactly certain information in other The Center’s lawsuit was successful databases, such as name, Social in Washington in 2006, and is Security number, drivers’ license pending after it was filed in number and birth date, the Florida in August 2007. application can be rejected.
Florida and Washington have been Other voter registration sued over matching protocols. The developments Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law, which was a While HAVA has transformed the plaintiff in both cases, detailed their behind-the-scenes management of concerns: voter records, there are other aspects of the registration process “Database matching can be it did not address. unreliable…All large databases contain mistakes – typos or The voter interaction with the transposed fields, for example, that so-called “front-end” of the would prevent records from process – how, when and where matching even when they represent they register to vote – has not seen the same person. Also, databases any radical shift. While there has record information inconsistently, been some state-level change since which makes it even more difficult 2002 in how potential voters get on to find proper matches: ‘William’ registration rolls, the process is may not match ‘Will’ or ‘Billy;’ a much the same as it was 10 years name may be spelled ‘Mohammed’ ago – voters filling out paper forms or ‘Muhammad;’ a maiden name and mailing them in or completing may not match a married them at a department of motor name….In Washington State, for vehicles office.71 example, one woman’s birth date was entered into the system as
16 Provisional Voting: A Controversy that Wasn’t in 2004
At-a-glance • Policies requiring voters to be in the correct precinct to have their provisional ballots eligible for counting were challenged in lawsuits but ultimately upheld. • Provisional ballots were anticipated by some experts to be “the hanging chad” of 2004, but were not as the margin of victory exceeded the margin of litigation in Ohio, Florida and other battleground states. But the potential for post-election lawsuits around provisional ballot verification rules in the event of a razor-thin margin of victory in a nationally important race remains.
eginning in 2004, no person county, his provisional ballot would foolproof way of directing voters on who believed he or she was be counted, assuming voter A was Election Day to their correct Ba registered voter could be a properly registered voter.74 polling places,” stated a New turned away from a polling place York Times editorial published without being offered a provisional In contrast, 28 states required three months before the 2004 ballot. that voter A find the right polling election.76 place and cast a provisional ballot The ballots, which are segregated there to be eligible to have it Courts disagreed, and upheld from regular ballots, are only counted. Meaning, if voter A was provisional-counting rules in counted if the eligibility of the a properly registered voter and Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, person as a voter can be accidentally left off the rolls, voter Florida and Ohio.77 determined. While a number of A was still required to find the states had similar programs in correct place to vote in order to The impact of provisional ballots place – fail-safe ballots, challenged vote in the election.75 in close races could be significant voter ballots or affidavits – the in 2008, but certain conditions federal mandate for provisional The precinct requirement must be met. The race must be ballots created a national mandate troubled advocates as well as extremely close, the office must which every state had to follow. some Democratic Party officials be vitally important and the in the states. The media was procedures varying from one In the 2004 election, provisional involved as well. locality to another or else ballots were forecast by some to susceptible to scrutiny because the “new hanging chad.” State laws “The wrong-precinct rule serves of shortcomings, oversights or led to different interpretations of no legitimate purpose, and it negligence. what represented an eligible denies eligible voters the right to provisional ballot. In 17 states, vote. States should not wait for a Edward Foley, an election law ballots would be eligible for court to tell them that rule is professor at The Ohio State verification if they were cast in the unacceptable. At the very least, University’s Moritz College of Law, correct jurisdiction. Meaning, if election officials who intend to said a lack of standardization voter A went to the wrong polling throw away ballots cast in the between localities exists in place, but was still in the correct wrong locations must have a provisional ballot counting.
17 “In some places, the tie goes to the provisional ballots and others are But of course, as Foley notes, you runner, in others, the other way,” sticklers for the rules and need a really close race. Foley said. “The need is still there procedures. In a statewide race [for uniformity] and, anecdotally, worth fighting over, it might be there is considerable disparity from possible to develop an equal county to county in terms of protection claim around this practices. Some counties bend variation and the lack of specific over backwards to try and validate standards on the books.”78
18 Early Primary States
Below are details of election administration procedures in states holding primaries up to and including “Super- Duper Tuesday,” or February 5, 2008. Pennsylvania is likely to hold its primary during the period; however at print time, the date was not yet established.
Alabama PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEM: Optical scan and ballot-marking /hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory. Voters without ID can cast a provisional ballot unless they are identified as a voter by two poll workers. REGISTERED VOTERS: 2,469,80779 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 10 days before election day
What’s the Story? • The state was one of four to be sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to comply with the Help America Vote Act mandate for a statewide voter registration database by the Jan. 1, 2006 deadline. The state secured an additional extension after it again failed to meet a deadline of Aug. 31, 2007 for completion. The new database was scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2007, and should be implemented in time for the 2008 primaries.80
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
19 Arizona PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEM: Optical scan, DRE with VVPAT and ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory. Those without ID are issued provisional ballot and must present ID within five days of the election.81 REGISTERED VOTERS: 2,649,367 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: January 10 – February 1 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 7, 2008
What’s the Story? • Secretary of State Jan Brewer (R) has threatened to sue the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for the refusal of the federal overseers to tell voters that they must include proof of citizenship on their Federal Voter Registration Form. If Brewer follows through on her threat, it would be the first time the agency has been involved in litigation from a state’s chief election official.82 • Past allegations of security breakdowns have prompted Pima County to install security cameras at vote- processing centers, new data transmission protocols as well as require the presence of multiple election division staffers when accessing tabulating software.83
Arkansas PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEM: Optical scan and DREs both with and without VVPAT VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory. Those without ID may cast provisional ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 1,610,94084 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: 15 days prior to election day until February 4. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 5
What’s the Story? • While most of the state has moved to optical-scan voting machines or DREs with VVPAT capabilities, three counties, Union, Columbia and Ouachita continue to use older-generation DREs without paper trails.
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
20 California PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEM: Optical scan, DRE with VVPAT and ballot- marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 15,682,35885 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: Begins 29 days before election day REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 21, 2008
What’s the Story? • Most DRE machines being used in the state – even those with VVPATs – were decertified by Secretary of State Debra Bowen (D) in August 2007. Only two counties, San Mateo and Yolo, will continue to use electronic voting machines which were re-certified after new procedures were put in place.86 • In all, 19 counties will have to make the switch to paper-based voting systems, causing what some county clerks say will be a scramble. Steven Weir, county clerk for Contra Costa County, told the San Diego Union Tribune that Bowen did “a great disservice to voters” with her decision. San Diego’s clerk told the paper the process of replacing one voting system for another in her county will be “tumultuous.”87 • Bowen has been an outspoken critic of some voting systems in use in parts of the state, particularly electronic machines deployed in populous Riverside and San Bernardino counties. A top-to-bottom review of voting systems Bowen ordered in May was conducted over the summer by experts at the University of California. Problems were found with Sequoia, Diebold and Hart InterCivic systems.88
Colorado PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, DRE with VVPAT89 VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory.90 REGISTERED VOTERS: 2,851,021 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 7, 200891 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: Starts 10 days before an election92
What’s the Story? • Electronic poll book crashes led to long lines at vote centers throughout Colorado but particularly in Denver County, leading to the eventual resignation of the county clerk and recorder and Denver Election Commission’s executive director.93 An investigation following the election found that Denver’s technology chief had padded his resume.94 • Colorado is in the process of testing voting systems that were purchased by counties after May 28, 2004. On August 29, Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman warned voting system vendors Premier Election Systems (formerly Diebold Election Systems), Hart InterCivic, Sequoia Voting Systems and ES&S that failure to submit hardware and documentation for their systems may result in decertification. Vendors must comply by November 16 to avoid decertification.95
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
21 Connecticut PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, vote-by-phone VOTER ID: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory. REGISTERED VOTERS: 1,989,81396 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Application must be postmarked by the fifth day before a primary election. Voters may also register in person until noon on the last business day before an election.97 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A
What’s the Story? • In November 2006, voters and election officials in 25 Connecticut towns and cities made a relatively smooth transition from antiquated lever machines to casting ballots using new optical-scan systems. Now the rest of the state is in the process of switching to electronic voting. On September 26, the town of Darien approved the switch to the new machines.98 To help those working on the new machines, the New Britain Common Council approved pay raises for poll workers in September.99 • With a state law requiring a hand audit for 10 percent of precincts in an election, 11 precincts statewide were chosen randomly for auditing after the state’s September primary. The auditing rules will be used for the first time in a federal election in the 2008 cycle.100
Florida PRIMARY DATE: January 29 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, DRE for voters with disabilities VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Photo ID required. Some non-governmental forms are acceptable. Those lacking requisite ID can cast provisional ballots.101 REGISTERED VOTERS: 10,433,849102 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: 15 days to two days prior to election REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Dec. 31, 2007
What’s the Story? • Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed H.B. 537 in May 2007, ridding the state of touch-screen voting systems that had been used in more than a dozen counties since the 2002 elections. The state invested more than $30 million to purchase new precinct-based optical scanners, making the state’s elections entirely paper-based.103 • For a number of South Florida counties, including Miami-Dade and Broward, the switch from touch-screen systems to optical scan ballots marks the third voting system change in as many presidential election cycles. For more information, visit www. edssurvey.com. • Florida is one of three states in the country that requires voters to present a photo ID before casting a ballot at a polling place. Voters lacking the requisite ID can cast a provisional ballot. See chart, p. 12, for more information. • Citizens who are not yet registered to vote will need to do so before New Year’s Day. With the state’s early primary, the registration deadline falls in 2007 for a 2008 vote.104
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
22 Georgia PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: DRE105 VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Photo ID required (government-issued). Voters without ID are issued a provisional ballot and must present ID within two days.106 REGISTERED VOTERS: 4,306,371107 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 7, 2008108 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: One week before election day.109
What’s the Story? • A federal judge in September ruled in favor of a law requiring that all voters show photo ID at the polls, marking the defeat of repeated challenges from a coalition including the NAACP, ACLU and League of Women Voters. Judge Harold Murphy ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the law placed “an undue or significant burden” on the right to vote.110 • State election officials reported that only eight voters in 22 counties during the September primary election lacked ID at the polls and needed to cast provisional ballots.111 Others charged that there were few complaints because those without ID simply didn’t show up to vote. State Democratic Party chair Jane Kidd said that she expects the real test of the law to come during the presidential preference primary.112 • Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) signed two election bills into law, one increasing the penalty for election fraud and the other allowing election officials to begin counting absentee ballots at the beginning of election day.113 • In April, a voter reported that he had found what appeared to be voter registration cards dumped in a garbage bin in south Atlanta. It turned out that in moving from one storage facility to another, Fulton County trashed 93,000 voter registration cards. The state could fine Fulton County $5,000 per card – or more than $465 million – for the error.114
Idaho PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, punch card, hand-counted paper ballot, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 693,965115 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Election-day registration.116 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: In-person absentee voting ends at 5 p.m. the day before an election.117
What’s the Story? • Ada County is in the process of switching to an optical scan system from punch cards.118 • Inspired by their counterparts in Washington and Oregon, the Idaho County Clerks and Recorders Association and the Idaho Association of Counties are encouraging the state legislature to consider supporting vote-by-mail legislation.119 Two vote-by-mail bills, H.B. 94 and H.B. 95, failed to pass. • Idaho is the only state in the nation still using punch-card balloting. The punch-card voters represent 0.2 percent of registered voters nationwide.120
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
23 Illinois PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, DRE with VVPAT, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 7,263,969121 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 30 days before election EARLY VOTING PERIOD: 22 days to five days before an election
What’s the Story? • The U.S. Department of Justice sued Kane County for failing o provide enough bilingual poll workers in November 2006. The county has formed an advisory board to help recruit enough Spanish-speaking poll workers for the February 5 primary.122
Michigan PRIMARY DATE: January 15 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Photo ID required (affidavit must be signed if no ID is presented)123 REGISTERED VOTERS: 7,180,778124 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Dec. 17, 2007
What’s the Story? • As of early October, most of the major Democratic candidates had dropped out of the Michigan primary, objecting to what they said was a violation of national party rules for choosing the mid-January date.125 • Since Michigan conducts an open primary – meaning voters can cast ballots for either party regardless of registration – disaffected Democrats could factor heavily in the Republican primary if they choose to cast ballots in that race instead.126 • The state’s Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that voters must either present a photo ID or sign an affidavit confirming their identity. The law, originally enacted in 1996, was never enforced because of a ruling issued by the state’s attorney general. Acceptable forms of photo ID include state and federally-issued picture ID, tribal ID or school ID from a high school or accredited higher education institution.127
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
24 Minnesota PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan and ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not includeinclude verificationverification withwith theirtheir applicationapplication mustmust presentpresent IDID (photo(photo oror non-photo)non-photo) atat aa pollingpolling placeplace thethe firstfirst timetime they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 3,118,515128128 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Election-day registration EARLY VOTING PERIOD: In-personIn-person absenteeabsentee votingvoting startsstarts 3030 daysdays priorprior toto election day.
What’s the Story? • After voters in Minneapolis approved a plan for instant runoff voting in 2005 for use in the 2009 city election, the attorney general issued an opinion arguing that the plan may be unconstitutional. The attorney general compared the plan to a plan in Duluth that was ruled on in a 1915 state Supreme Court decision which is slightly different from the Minneapolis plan.129129
Missouri PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: DRE with VVPAT, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters (photo not required). Voters without requisite ID can cast a ballot if two election judgesjudges –– oneone fromfrom eacheach partyparty –– attestattest thatthat theythey knowknow them.130130 REGISTERED VOTERS: 4,007,174131131 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 9, 2008 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A
What’s the Story? This marks the first presidential election in which Missouri voters will be required to show ID at the polls. An effort to require photo ID, approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Roy Blunt in 2006 was struck down by a judge. Blunt and Secretary of State Robin Carnahan have been at odds over voter ID requirements since she took office.132132
New Hampshire PRIMARY DATE: To be announced VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan and vote-by-phone VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place that first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 850,836 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Election-day registration
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
25 New Jersey PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: DRE VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 4,848,956133 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 21 days prior to election day EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A
What’s the Story? • A superior court judge ruled in September that the state had made a good-faith effort to add printers to their existing voting machines and allowed the attorney general to petition the state legislature for an extension on a deadline that required the attachment of printers to all 10,000 voting machines. Over the summer, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) found flaws in the printers that election officials considered adding to their current voting machines to comply with a state law requiring that the voting machines produce a paper ballot by January 2008.134 As such, voting machines will not have paper trails for the presidential preference primary. • A report released in September by state public advocate Ronald Chen found that only 20 percent of the state’s polling places are accessible to voters with disabilities.135 The report examined 121 of the state’s 3,500 polling places and only 24 polls were accessible. Seventy one of the 97 deficient polls had physical barriers that could prevent a voter with disabilities from casting a ballot, such as narrow doorways, heavy doors or steep ramps.136 • The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Foundation (AALDEF) is lobbying the state to provide ballots in Korean, Chinese and Gujarati. Bergen County alone has more than 40,000 Koreans and Glenn Magpantay, a staff attorney with AALDEF said that more than 75 percent of Koreans in towns including Fort Lee and Palisades Park identified themselves as having limited English proficiency.137
New Mexico PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan and ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Voter ID not mandatory. Voters without ID can cast provisional ballots.138 REGISTERED VOTERS: 1,077,318139 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 28 days before election day EARLY VOTING PERIOD: 28 days pre-election until the Saturday before election day
What’s the Story? • After the state completed a conversion from electronic to paper-based ballots, researchers from the California Institute of Technology, MIT, University of New Mexico and University of Utah found that more than eight in 10 voters in New Mexico’s 2006 election reported that their experience was either good or excellent. Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said that the report is proof that states can successfully transfer from an electronic voting system to a paper-based system within less than one year.140
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
26 New York PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Lever, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 11,222,042141 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 25 days before election day EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A
What’s the Story? • The state elections board requested an extension from the U.S. Department of Justice in September to delay the installation of new voting machines until 2009. The state needs to replace more than 20,000 lever machines with accessible voting systems to comply with a federal court order. State election board members disagree over the best way to accommodate voters with disabilities before they can replace all of the lever machines, with some members lobbying for one accessible voting machine in each polling place and others arguing that those machines may be junked soon after purchase if the state opts to implement a different system.142
North Dakota PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan, ballot marking/hybrid device VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo not required. Those without ID can vote if their identity is verified by a poll worker or they complete an affidavit.143 REGISTERED VOTERS: N/A (no voter registration) REGISTRATION DEADLINE: N/A EARLY VOTING PERIOD: 15 days prior to election
Oklahoma PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan and vote-by-phone VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 2,075,561144 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 24 days prior to election EARLY VOTING PERIOD: Friday, Saturday and Monday before election day
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
27 South Carolina PRIMARY DATE: January 19 (Republicans); January 29 (Democrats) POLLING PLACE VOTING SYSTEMS: Direct recording electronic (DRE) without voter-verified paper audit trail; optical scan VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: A state-issued photo ID or voter registration certificate.145 REGISTERED VOTERS: 2,495,750146 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: N/A REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 19 (Republicans); December 29 (Democrats)
What’s the Story? • According to a spokesman for the state, the two primaries – if they are kept as originally scheduled – will cost the same as one, since there will be half as many poll workers necessary and precincts can be combined for the race. The cost is estimated to be between $2.1 million to $2.4 million.147 • All counties use paperless touch-screen electronic voting machines without voter-verified paper audit trails. A bill to require VVPATs died in the state senate in January 2007.148
Tennessee PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: Optical scan and DRE VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: Required of all voters. Photo ID not mandatory. Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.150 REGISTERED VOTERS: 3,305,881151 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 30 days prior to election EARLY VOTING PERIOD: January 16 to 31
Utah PRIMARY DATE: February 5 VOTING SYSTEMS: DRE with VVPAT152 VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS: First-time voters who register by mail and do not include verification with their application must present ID (photo or non-photo) at a polling place the first time they cast ballots. REGISTERED VOTERS: 1,474,483153 REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Jan. 7, 2008 for mail-in forms, January 22 for in-person registration.154 EARLY VOTING PERIOD: January 22 to February 1155
Unless otherwise cited, information was collected by electionline.org using state and local election resources including Web sites and primary-source documents.
28 Selected Sources
The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
Voter registration/ Program, Weiser works on a range of Demos: A Network for Ideas databases litigation, scholarship, and advocacy and Action matters concerning voting rights, Subject: Voter Registration Databases – Association for Computing election reform, and fair courts. She is a Administration/Policy Machinery – Committee on co-author of Making the List: Database Miles Rapoport, president Guidelines for Implementation Matching and Verification Processes for (212) 633-1405 of Voter Registration Databases Voter Registration, a Brennan Center [email protected] Subject(s): Voter Registration publication detailing best practices for www.demos.org Databases – Technical states to use in designing and Prior to assuming the helm at Demos, Paula Hawthorn, Ph.D, co-chair implementing registration lists that Rapoport served for 10 years in the usacm.acm.org/usacm/VRD/ match voter records against other Connecticut legislature. As a state Hawthorne is a database and statewide databases and identifying the legislator, he was a leading expert on information privacy consultant and a possible negative voting rights electoral reform, chairing the Committee former executive at Hewlett-Packard. implications of matching. Weiser has on Elections. In 1994, he was elected as She recently chaired the ACM study testified before the U.S. Election Secretary of the State of Connecticut. commission for Voter Registration Assistance Commission (EAC) regarding His articles have appeared in national Databases, which provided a set of eight their voluntary guidance on registration magazines and newspapers, and he is recommendations for local and state databases. the founder of Northeast Action, a election officials as they implement the leading political reform organization in HAVA database requirements. Hawthorn California Voter Foundation New England. remains active in developing solutions Subject: Voter Registration Databases – for technical and organizational Privacy, Voting Technology League of Women Voters challenges facing election officials Kim Alexander, president and founder Subject: Voter Registration Databases – around the country. (916) 441-2494 Security www.calvoter.org Jeanette Senecal, director – Brennan Center for Justice – Alexander is the president and founder Elections/E-Democracy Democracy Program of the California Voter Foundation, (202) 429-1965 Subject: Voter Registration Databases – which is dedicated to “advancing the www.lwv.org Policy, Voting Rights responsible use” of technology in the Senecal is director of election and e- Wendy R. Weiser, deputy director voting process. She is co-author of the democracy programs for the League of (212) 998-6730 CVF publication, Voter Privacy in the Women Voters, including research and [email protected] Digital Age, which assesses the data advocacy on issues of registration www.brennancenter.org/subpage.asp?key gathering and dissemination policies of database security. Senecal was co- =38&proj_key=76 election officials from all 50 states. author of the 2004 League report, As deputy director of the Democracy “Helping America Vote: Safeguarding
29 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
the Vote,” which identifies challenges Overseas Vote Foundation Voting technology and solutions to security and voter Subject: Voter registration requirements, privacy issues facing states as they overseas voters, absentee voting. ACCURATE – Center for Correct, implement their new registration Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, President Usable, Reliable, Auditable, and databases. and CEO Transparent Elections (202) 470-2480 Subject: Voting Technology/Security – Michigan Department of State – www.overseasvotefoundation.org Research Bureau of Elections Overseas Vote Foundation assists Avi Rubin, director/professor of computer Subject: Voter Registration Databases; overseas American citizens and science, Johns Hopkins University Professional Associations, uniformed services voters in registering [email protected] Organizations, and Agencies faster, more easily and more accurately. www.accurate-voting.org Chris Thomas, Director of Elections Software designed to simplify the www.cs.jhu.edu/~rubin/ (517)373-2540 registration process for overseas voters Avi Rubin is professor of computer www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127- was supported by The Pew Charitable science at Johns Hopkins University, 1633—-,00.html Trusts. teaching courses in computer security As Michigan’s Director of Elections, and privacy. Rubin’s primary research Thomas has been instrumental in United States Elections Project focus is the security of electronic voting. implementing HAVA requirements in Subject: Voter Registration - Analysis He maintains a blog on election Michigan, and in selecting a new optical Michael McDonald administration issues (avi-rubin.blogspot scan voting system for the state of 703-993-4191 .com). Rubin and several colleagues Michigan. He has testified before the [email protected] were recently rewarded an NSF grant to EAC and other organizations, and has elections.gmu.edu establish the ACCURATE Center, and served on many panels and discussions McDonald is an associate professor of Rubin recently published a new book, on election administration and reform government and politics at George Brave New Ballot, on electronic ballot over the past few years. Mason University’s Department of security. Rubin also serves as an Public and International Affairs. In election judge in Baltimore County, Md. Oregon Secretary of State’s addition to studying the wide variety of Office – Elections Division state registration procedures and American Association for People Subject: Voter Registration Databases – turnout, he also analyzed data for the with Disabilities – Disability Vote Administration/Implementation, Election Assistance Commission’s 2004 Project Election Administration Election Day Survey. McDonald has Subject: Voting Technology – John Lindback, elections director served as a consultant for the Pew Accessibility (503) 986-1518 Center on the States. Jim Dickson, vice president for [email protected] governmental affairs www.sos.state.or.us/elections/ Voting Industry News (202) 457-0046 Lindback has served as the Elections Subject: Voter Registration Databases – [email protected] Director for Oregon since 2001, and has Administration/Implementation www.aapd.com/dvpmain/dvpindex.php overseen the development and Chris Wilson, founder The AAPD Disability Vote Project implementation of the Oregon [email protected] promotes the full participation in Centralized Voter Registration Project. Phone: 614-425-2074 democratic participation on an equal and He was appointed as a member of the www.votingindustry.com independent basis for all voters with EAC Standards Board and served as a Wilson has worked in election disabilities. The project provides member of the focus group developing administration for 13 years for voting information and research on accessible the EAC’s Guidance on Voter technology companies and for local voting systems to voters with disabilities Registration Database design and boards of election. The site provides and the general public. Dickson leads the implementation. He has testified information on voter registration systems Association’s Disability Vote Project, a numerous times before the EAC and and is currently focusing on emerging coalition of 36 national disability-related other bodies on various issues related to technology in the field. organizations, that focuses on election registration databases and election reform, polling-place access, voter administration. registration and education and get-out- the-vote drives.
30 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
Brennan Center for Justice – Computer Professionals for Social The Election Technology Council is an Democracy Program Responsibility – Voting association of voting equipment vendors Subject: Voting Technology – Research, Technology supporting policies that help voters Voting Rights Subject: Voting Technology – exercise their right to vote and have Lawrence Norden, associate counsel Research/Advocacy their votes counted accurately. Current (212) 998-6730 (415) 839-9355 membership includes Sequoia Voting [email protected] [email protected] Systems, Election Systems & Software www.brennancenter.org/subpage.asp?key www.cpsa.org (ES&S), Hart Intercivic, Premier =38&init_key=105 Computer Professionals for Social Election Solutions (formerly Diebold As associate counsel at the Brennan Responsibility have been studying Election Systems). Center, Norden primarily works in the voting machines and the human- areas of voting technology, voting rights, machine interface of voting for twenty Everyone Counts and government accountability. He was years. They provide occasional reports, Paul DeGregorio, chief operating officer also the project director and principal submit amicus briefs in court cases 858-427-4673 author of the Brennan Center’s 2006 regarding voting technology, and in www.everyonecounts.com/index.php/home report on voting technology, The 2004 partnered with the Verified Voting In June 2007 DeGregorio was named Machinery of Democracy: Voting System Foundation (see below) on the Election chief operating officer of Everyone Security, Accessibility, Usability, and Incident Reporting Project. Counts, a company that provides and Cost. supports technology for Internet voting, Election Data Services polling and surveys. From 2003-2007 CalTech/MIT Voting Technology Subject: Voting Technology – Research he served as a member of the U.S. Project Kimball Brace, president Election Assistance Commission. Subject: Voting Technology – Research [email protected] Previously, he spent 10 years at IFES, a www.votingtechnologyproject.org Phone: 202-789-2004 non-governmental organization that Michael Alvarez, CalTech, co-director www.electiondataservices.com/home.htm supports the building of democratic (626) 395-4422 Founded 30 years ago, Election Data societies across the world and eight [email protected] Services provides voting equipment years as director of elections for St. Jonathan Katz, co-director, CalTech maps and reports. The reports detail Louis County, Mo. (626) 395-4191 voting equipment usage nationwide. [email protected] Brace has collected the data for both the Hart Intercivic Ron Rivest, MIT 2004 and 2006 Election Assistance Subject: Voting Technology – Vendors (617) 253-5880 Commission’s Election-Day Survey and Peter Lichtenheld, media relations [email protected] has also testified before the EAC on a (512)252-6578 Ted Selker, MIT variety of election administration topics. [email protected] (617) 253-6968 www.hartic.com [email protected] Election Systems & Software Hart Intercivic is one of the largest voting Charles Stewart (ES&S) machine suppliers in the country. (617) 253-3127 Subject: Voting Technology – Vendors Suppliers of both direct recording [email protected] Amanda Brown, media relations electronic (DRE) and optical-scan The CalTech/MIT Voting Technology (314) 982-7718 systems, Hart machines are currently used Project (VTP) was established in www.essvote.com/HTML/home.html in California, Colorado, Texas, Virginia December 2000 to provide the ES&S is one of the primary voting and Washington, among other states. policymaking community with sound, machine suppliers in the country. As a academic research of issues regarding manufacturer of both touchscreen and Kennesaw State University – voting technology. The VTP includes optical scan systems, ES&S machines Center for Election Systems more than a dozen academic researchers are currently used in nearly 1,700 Subject: Voting Technology - Research that produce occasional papers and jurisdictions in 43 states. Merle King, Executive Director reports on issues of voting technology, [email protected] election management, election fraud, Election Technology Council elections.kennesaw.edu/index.html threats to elections, and convenience Subject: Voting Technology – Vendors The Center for Election Systems was voting. David Beirne, executive director established in 2002 as a partnership (713) 896-9292 between Georgia’s Secretary of State and [email protected] Kennesaw State University to assist in www.electiontech.org/ the acquisition, installation, and
31 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
maintenance of a uniform, statewide Diebold machines were used in Georgia, maintain a blog on election voting system. Mr. King is an associate Maryland, Mississippi, Utah among administration professor of Information Systems at other states. (electionupdates.caltech.edu) and Kennesaw State University and has coauthored the book, Point, Click, and served as Executive Director of the Sarasota County Supervisor of Vote: The Future of Internet Voting. Center for Election Systems since 2002. Elections Office Subject: Voting Technology – Voter verifiable paper Leon County Supervisor of Administration/Accessibility, Election audit trails/voting Elections Office Official system accuracy, Subject: Voting Technology – Kathy Dent, Supervisor of Elections – reliability Administration, Election Official Sarasota County, Fla. Ion Sancho, Supervisor of Elections – (941)861-8600 Black Box Voting Leon County, Fla. www.srqelections.com/ Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit (850)606-8683 Dent is currently serving her second Trails www.leoncountyfl.gov/elect/index.asp term as Supervisor of Elections for Bev Harris Sancho is currently serving his fifth Sarasota County, Fla., having been first [email protected] term as Supervisor of Elections for Leon elected in 2000. She is also currently www.blackboxvoting.org County, Florida, having first been serving as President of the Florida State Harris is the founder of Black Box elected to the post in 1988. During his Association of Supervisors of Elections. Voting, a nonpartisan elections years of service as Leon County’s In her time as Supervisor of Elections, watchdog group. She popularized the Supervisor of Elections, Sancho has Dent has worked hard to ensure that term “Black Box Voting” while devoted special attention to modernizing elections in Sarasota County are authoring a book of the same title. the county’s voting system and accessible and has developed programs Harris and her organization were invited increasing the participation of citizens to involve elementary, middle, and high to conduct a series of tests on voting in the democratic process. school students in the elections process. systems in Leon County, Fla. and has been invited to test systems elsewhere National Institute of Standards Sequoia Voting Systems in the United States. Her work is and Technology (NIST) Subject: Voting Technology – Vendors featured in the HBO documentary Subject: Voting Technology – Michelle Shafer, media relations Hacking Democracy. Research/Standards/Certification (800) 347-4702 Gail Porter, media relations [email protected] Carnegie Mellon University (301) 975-3392 www.sequoiavote.com Subject: Voting Technology – Research [email protected] Sequoia Voting Systems is one of the Michael Shamos vote.nist.gov/index.htm primary voting machine suppliers in the (412) 268-8193 NIST is tasked by the Help America country, and a manufacturer of both [email protected] Vote Act (HAVA) to help the Election touchscreen and optical scan systems. Shamos is distinguished career Assistance Commission (EAC) create Over the past 14 years, Sequoia voting professor in the School of Computer voluntary voting system guidelines, to machines have been used in fourteen Science at Carnegie Mellon University. establish an accreditation program for states. Shamos studies ecommerce and election labs conducting voting machine voting systems. He has served as an certification testing, and to include University of Utah examiner of electronic voting systems, voting system software in its National Subject: Voting Technology – Research including as a consultant to the Software Reference Library. Thad Hall, assistant professor, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Department of Political Science Pennsylvania, the Texas Attorney Premier Election Solutions [email protected] General and the Secretary of State of Subject: Voting Technology – Vendors Hall is an assistant professor in the Nevada. He has also testified before Chris Riggall, media relations Department of Political Science at the numerous state legislatures, the United (800) 433-8683 ext. 1112 University of Utah. His primary States House of Representatives, and [email protected] research interest is in election the Election Assistance Commission. www.premierelections.com administration and implementation of Premier Election Solutions, formerly voting technologies. Hall is currently known as Diebold Election Systems, is the principal investigator of the U.S. one of the primary voting machine Election Assistance Commission’s Vote suppliers in the country. In 2006, Count and Recount Study. He also helps
32 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
Center for Election Integrity Congress should support electronic the use of permanent paper records. –Cleveland-Marshall College means of verifying a voter’s selections, of Law as well as fund research into new secure Voters Unite Subject: Voting Technology/ Audits – cryptographic voting protocols. Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Research Trails S. Candice Hoke, director League of Women Voters – John Gideon, co-director [email protected] Democracy Program [email protected] http://urban.csuohio.edu/cei/ Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit www.votersunite.org Hoke’s research focuses on integrity and Trails – Advocacy Gideon is co-director and information transparency of elections. She was Jeanette Senecal, director – manager for VotersUnite. He maintains appointed to the three-person Cuyahoga Elections/E-Democracy current news links on the VotersUnite Election Review panel, which (202) 429-1965 website and compiles news articles for investigated the causes of the May 2006 www.lwv.org activists, attorneys, election officials, primary fiasco. The panel produced more Senecal is director of election and e- elected officials and others interested in than 300 recommendations for reform. democracy programs for the League of election reform. Gideon has been Hoke has been sought for counsel several Women Voters, including advocacy for effective in lobbying legislators in election law issues, including recounts the use of voter verified paper audit trails Washington State to introduce and pass and provisional ballots. (VVPATs). Through open letters, legislation requiring voter verifiable testimony before state and national paper audit trails. Common Cause legislatures, and publication by the Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit national office and local chapters, the Voter ID Trails – Advocacy League promotes providing a permanent Susannah Goodman, director of Voting paper record of all votes cast in Barnard College and Election Reform American elections. Subject: Voter ID (202) 736-5777 Lori Minnite www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dk Stanford University 212.854.4385 LNK1MQIwG&b=228625 Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit [email protected] Common Cause is an advocacy Trails – Advocacy Minnite is an assistant professor of organization promoting the use of voter David Dill, professor political science. She is the author of verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) (650) 725-3642 “The Politics of Voter Fraud,” which on all direct recording electronic (DRE) [email protected] finds that “fraudulent voting, or the machines used in American elections. Dill is the founder of the Verified Voting intentional corruption of the voting As director of election reform efforts for Foundation, a national organization that process by voters, is extremely rare. Yet, Common Cause, Goodman promotes the promotes the inclusion of a paper record false or exaggerated claims of fraudulent use of VVPATs through national and for all votes cast in American elections. voting are commonly made in close local lobbying efforts, occasional He is a professor of computer science at electoral contests, and later cited by reports, and frequent blog posts. Stanford University and is the author of proponents of laws that restrict voting.” the “Resolution on Electronic Voting,” Information Technology and calling for paper trails and supported by Brennan Center for Justice (NYU Innovation Foundation many computer scientists, legislators School of Law) Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit and activists nationwide. Subject: Voter ID Trails – Research Susan Lehman, director of Daniel Castro, senior analyst Verified Voting Foundation communications and strategy (202) 449-1351 Subject: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit (212) 998-6730 [email protected] Trails – Advocacy [email protected] www.itif.org/index.php?id=79 Courtenay Strickland Bhatia, media www.brennancenter.org Castro recently authored a report for the relations The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan Information Technology and Innovation (415) 487-2255 public policy and law institute. It Foundation that questions the necessity [email protected] actively opposes “burdensome ID or of voter verifiable paper audit trails www.verifiedvoting.org proof of citizenship requirements.” The (VVPATs). The report, “Stop the The Verified Voting Foundation is an center engages in advocacy and Presses: How Paper Trails Fail to educational and lobbying organization litigation and works with federal and Secure e-Voting,” recommends that that promotes the full verifiability of all state election officials to craft policy. rather than mandating VVPATs votes cast in American election through
33 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
The Century Foundation – commentary on election reform and National Voting Rights Institute ReformElections.org voting rights issues, with special Subject: Voter ID Subject: Voter ID attention to the impact of changes in our Stuart Comstock-Gay, executive director Tova Wang, democracy fellow election system on the voting rights of (617) 624-3900 ext. 16 [email protected] people of color, non-English speaking [email protected] www.reformelections.org voters, and people with disabilities. www.nvri.org The Century Foundation’s informational The National Voting Rights Institute Web site on election reform policy, George Washington University (NVRI) focuses on opposing, through ReformElections.org provides resource Law School litigation and other means, election guides and policy developments about Subject: Voter ID practices that disenfranchise poor and election reform. Tova Wang is a Spencer Overton minority voters. NVRI opposes photo ID Democracy Fellow at the Century 202-994-9794 requirements. Foundation. She is a nationally known [email protected] expert on election reform, In 2001, Overton is a professor of law at The People for the American Way Wang was a staff person to the national George Washington University. He has Foundation – Election Protection Commission on Federal Election Reform researched and written extensively, Subject: Voter ID (Carter-Ford Commission). She has opposing photo identification Peter Montgomery, media relations authored several election reform reports requirements at the polls. His written (202) 467-4999 and wrote the U.S. Election Assistance work includes the book "Stealing [email protected] Commission’s report on voter fraud and Democracy: The New Politics of Voter www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx intimidation. Suppression." He was also a ?oid=6782 commissioner on the Jimmy Carter- People for the American Way is a Election Law Blog James Baker Commission on Federal progressive organization that aims to Subject: Voter ID, Voting Rights, Election Reform. decrease political polarization through Election Reform research and publication. People for the Rick Hasen The Heritage Foundation American Way opposes photo ID 213-736-1466 Subject: Voter ID requirements for voters on the basis that [email protected] David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D, senior it will disenfranchise many potential electionlawblog.org policy analyst voters. Hasen is a professor at Loyola Law (202) 675-1761 School, Los Angeles and writes a well- www.heritage.org Project Vote read blog covering election reform. He The Heritage Foundation is a research Subject: Voter Rights has written numerous op-ed and institution that promotes conservative Mike Slater, deputy director commentaries about election public policies. Heritage supports voter [email protected] administration issues and is co-editor of ID laws on the basis that they help www.projectvote.org the Election Law Journal. reduce voter fraud. Muhlhausen co- Slater has thirteen years of community, authored an analysis of voter ID laws and labor, and faith-based organizing Election Law at Moritz – Ohio turnout and found that voter ID laws do experience. Project Vote works to State University not have the negative impact on turnout engage low-income and minority voters Subject: Voter ID, Voting Rights, that other studies have suggested. in the civic process. Project Vote also Election Reform works to protect the rights of those Dan Tokaji, Associate Professor of Law League of Women Voters communities by conducting research (614) 292-6566 Subject: Voter ID and engaging in litigation. [email protected] Jeanette Senecal, director – moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty/bios.php?ID=52 Elections/E-Democracy Provisional ballots, Tokaji is an Associate Professor of Law (202) 429-1965 voter rights at the Ohio State University’s Moritz www.lwv.org College of Law and the Associate The League of Women Voters is a The Advancement Project Director of Election Law @ Moritz. His nonpartisan political organization that Subject: Voter Rights areas of expertise include the law of seeks to improve systems of government Eddie Hailes, senior attorney democracy, civil rights, freedom of through education and advocacy. The [email protected] speech, disability rights, federal courts, League opposes voter ID laws on the www.advancementproject.org and civil procedure. Professor Tokaji basis that they are inherently (202)728-9557 also maintains the “Equal Vote” blog, discriminatory, especially to older Hailes is an experienced civil rights which provides analysis of and voters. 34 attorney. He is former general counsel The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041 for the U.S. Commission on Civil Election Law at Moritz – Ohio “Convenience” voting Rights. While there, he directed the State University agency’s investigation of voting Subject: Provisional Ballots American Enterprise Institute irregularities in Florida during the Edward B. Foley, Distinguished Subject: Early and Absentee Voting November 2000 election. Professor of Law (614) 292-4288 Norm Ornstein Brennan Center for Justice (NYU [email protected] (202) 862-5893 School of Law) moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/faculty/fol [email protected] Subject: Provisional Ballots ey.php Ornstein is a resident scholar at the Susan Lehman, director of Foley is one of the nation’s preeminent American Enterprise Institute and co- communications and strategy experts on election law. As director of director of the Election Reform Project. (212) 998-6318 the Election Law @ Moritz program he Ornstein serves as an election analyst [email protected] is well versed in numerous aspects of for CBS News and has written for Roll www.brennancenter.org election law. His primary area of Call, the New York Times, Washington The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan expertise includes provisional voting. Post, Wall Street Journal, and Foreign public policy and law institute. The Affairs. center engages in advocacy and FairVote litigation and works with federal and Subject: Provisional Ballots Brennan Center for Justice (NYU state election officials to craft policy. Paul Fidalgo, communications director School of Law) The Brennan Center supports efforts to (301) 270-4616 Subject: Election-day Registration reduce the need for provisional ballots. [email protected] Susan Lehman, director of www.fairvote.org communications & strategy Common Cause FairVote works to transform elections (212) 998-6318 Subject: Provisional Ballots and secure universal access to [email protected] Susannah Goodman, director of Voting participation. FairVote promotes www.brennancenter.org and Election Reform consistent standards for provisional The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan (202) 736-5777 voting across the country. public policy and law institute. The www.commoncause.org Brennan Center supports election-day Common Cause is a nonpartisan Project Vote registration as a means to increase voter advocacy organization that aims to allow Subject: Voter Rights turnout and reduce the dependence on citizens to “make their voices heard in Mike Slater, deputy director provisional ballots. the political process.” Common Cause [email protected] supports the use of provisional ballots www.projectvote.org Center for the Study of the as a “safety net” and advocates for Slater has thirteen years of community, American Electorate – American uniform provisional balloting standards. labor, and faith-based organizing University experience. Project Vote works to Subject: Voter Registration Demos engage low-income and minority voters Curtis Gans, director Subject: Provisional Ballots in the civic process. Project Vote also [email protected] (212) 633-2015 works to protect the rights of those (202) 885-6295 [email protected] communities by conducting research Gans is director of the Center for the www.demos.org and engaging in litigation. Study of the American Electorate at Demos is a non-partisan research American University. Gans was co- and advocacy organization. Demos Yale Law School founder of the non-partisan Committee takes the position that there should be a Subject: Voter Rights for the Study of the American fail-safe in place, but provisional ballot Heather Gerkin, professor of law Electorate, where he was director for rules are too varied across the states, [email protected] nearly 30 years. The Committee’s work and they are often not applied correctly Gerkin is professor of law at Yale has since been undertaken by the newly by poll workers. University. She specializes in election created center at American. Gans and law, and is one of the country’s leading the Center study voter participation and experts on voting rights. She is the issues surrounding voter turnout. published in several law journals, with articles concerning election law and voter rights.
35 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
Common Cause Rice University IFES (formerly International Subject: No-excuse absentee, early Subject: Vote Centers Foundation for Election Systems) voting, vote-by-mail Robert Stein Subject: Organizations Susannah Goodman, director of Voting 713-527-4824 Laura Ingalls, press officer and Election Reform [email protected] 202.350.6700 (202) 736-5777 Stein is a professor of political science www.ifes.org www.commoncause.org at Rice University. He is one of the first [email protected] Common Cause is a nonpartisan political scientists to undertake detailed IFES is a nonprofit democracy advocacy organization that aims to allow research of vote centers, where voters development organization that works to citizens to “make their voices heard in can cast a ballot at any center in their give people a voice in the way that they the political process.” Common Cause jurisdiction rather than at an assigned are governed. In the United States, IFES supports election-day registration, no- precinct polling place. has assisted localities in recruiting, excuse absentee voting, early voting, training and retaining poll workers, vote-by-mail and other reforms that Professional deployed delegates to observe elections would make it easier to people to vote. associations, and polled voters on election initiatives. organizations, and Demos agencies International Association of Subject: Election-day registration Clerks, Recorders, Election (212) 633-2015 Election Center – National Officials, and Treasurers [email protected] Association of Election Officials (IACREOT) www.demos.org Subject: Professional Associations, Subject: Professional Associations, Demos is a non-partisan research and Organizations, and Agencies Organizations, and Agencies advocacy organization. Demos supports Doug Lewis, executive director Tony J. Sirvello, III, executive director election day registration on the basis (281) 293-0101 (800) 890-7368 that it improves turnout and reduces [email protected] [email protected] fraud. The Election Center also serves as the www.iacreot.com/index.html National Association of Election International Association of Clerks, Early Voting Information Center Officials and provides information and Recorders, Election Officials, and Subject: Early and Absentee Voting resources to election administrators to Treasurers is a professional organization Paul Gronke, director enable them to improve the methods of that advocates for and serves the 503- 517-7393 operation and efficiency of U.S. interests of local officials, including [email protected] elections. They also provide a national election administrators. IACREOT www.earlyvoting.net professional certification program based occasionally produces reports to assist Gronke, who provides consulting on a nationally standardized curriculum. its members in administering elections, services to Pew’s Center on the States, is As executive director, Lewis testified the most recent of which is “Voter Fraud a professor of political science at Reed numerous times before Congress and the Prevention.” College. He has been researching early EAC on behalf of the election voting since the 1990s and is one of the administration community. Make Voting Work nation’s leading authorities on the issue. Subject: Organizations FVAP – Federal Voting Assistance Michael Caudell-Feagan, project FairVote Program director Subject: No-excuse absentee Subject: Organizations 202-552-2142 Paul Fidalgo, communications director (800) 438-VOTE www.pewcenteronthestates.org (301) 270-4616 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] FVAP, operated under the aegis of the Make Voting Work is an initiative of www.fairvote.org U.S. Department of Defense, serves the Pew’s Center on the States focused on FairVote works to transform elections more than six million eligible overseas improving the accuracy, convenience, and secure universal access to voters abroad covered under the efficiency and security of U.S. elections. participation. FairVote supports no- Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Make Voting Work, along with the JEHT excuse absentee voting. Absentee Voting Act. It provides Foundation, has offered more than $3.5 nonpartisan information and assistance million in grants to help diagnose how to facilitate participation in the well U.S. election are run and fund pilot democratic process. projects to be conducted in 2008 to improve election administration.
36 The experts below are frequently-used sources for electionline.org reports, inquiries and panels. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is, however, designed to provide a variety of experts with diverse opinions on a number of issues of interest in election reform. As always, call electionline.org directly for story assistance or for more ideas for sources.
Doug Chapin, project director, 202-552-2000 Dan Seligson, project manager for publications, 202-552-2039 Sean Greene, project manager for research, 202-552-2041
NACo – National Association of officials around the country. It also administrators, oversee voting machine Counties honors election officials for innovative certification, and administer HAVA Alysoun McLaughlin, associate approaches to election administration funds, among other things. Wilkey is legislative director with an annual Best Practices award. former state election director of New (202) 942-4254 York. www.naco.org National Conference of State [email protected] Legislators – Redistricting and NACo represents the nation’s 3,066 Elections Committee county governments, providing essential Subject: Professional Associations, services and a unified voice before the Organizations, and Agencies federal government. The organization Tim Storey, senior fellow published an overview of the U.S. [email protected] election processes and systems just after www.ncsl.org/standcomm/scredist/scredist the 2000 presidential election and since .htm “urged restraint” in consideration of Chaired by Rep. Richard Gallot of federal legislation that would impose Louisiana and Senator Jeff Wentworth of further mandates on state and local Texas, the Redistricting and Elections election practices. Committee of NCSL focuses on redistricting, election law and campaign NASED – National Association of regulation. State Election Directors Subject: Professional associations, National Association of organizations and agencies Secretaries of State Brad Bryant, president; election Subject: Professional Associations, director, State of Kansas Organizations, and Agencies 281-752-6200 Todd Rokita, President; Secretary of [email protected] State of Indiana http://nased.org/index.htm (317) 232-6531 The National Association of State Leslie Reynolds, executive director Election Directors (NASED) is a (202) 624-3525 professional organization of state www.nass.org election directors that serves as an The National Association of Secretaries exchange of best practices and ideas for of State (NASS) provides information election administrators. and support on election administration issues to secretaries of state around the National Association of County country. NASS also serves as an Recorders, Election Officials, and advocacy organization that promotes the Clerks – Election Administration interests of state election administrators Committee to Congress, state legislatures, the EAC, Subject: Professional Associations, and other organizations. Organizations, and Agencies Beverly Kaufman, co-chair; clerk, U.S. Election Assistance Harris County, Texas Commission (713) 755-6411 Subject: Professional Associations, [email protected] Organizations, and Agencies Mark Von Nida, co-chair; county clerk, Tom Wilkey, executive director Madison County, Ill. (866) 747- 1471 (618) 692-6290 www.eac.gov [email protected] The U.S. Election Assistance The National Association of County Commission (EAC) was created by Recorders, Election Officials, and Clerks (NACRC) Election HAVA to serve as a clearinghouse for Administration Committee provides information on election reform, develop news and resources to local election guidelines to assist state election
37 Endnotes
1 Press release: “November 2006 13 Crist, The Honorable Charlie. Press 30 McConnell, The Honorable Mitch. Voting Equipment Usage by County,” release: “Gov. Crist signs legislation Press Release: “McConnell: Voting is Election Data Services, Oct. 2, 2006. creating paper trail for Florida votes,” the cornerstone of our democracy,” 2 The Help America Vote Act, P.L.107- Office of Gov. Charlie Crist, May 21, Office of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R- 252, 2002. 2007. Ky., June 5, 2007. 3 A survey released by the University of 14 Telephone interview Sterling Ivey, 31 For more information, see Utah, the California Institute of spokesman, Florida Department of electionline.org/Default.Aspx?tabid= Technology and the University of State Elections Division, Oct. 12, 364. Last updated Sept. 18, 2007. Southern California’s Annenberg 2007. 32 Ibid. Center found that while the majority 15 Shelley, The Honorable Kevin. 33 “Election Reform Briefing: Voter of respondents were confident in “Secretary of State Shelley Identification,” The Election Reform electronic voting, there has been “a Announces Directives to Ensure Information Project, April 2002. decline in confidence among voters Confidence in Electronic Systems,” from 2005-2006 that their vote in Press release, Office of the Secretary 34 Haboubi, Gabriel. “Georgia Supreme 2004 was counted accurately.” of State of California, Nov. 21, 2003. Court dismisses voter ID lawsuit for Further, the study found that African lack of standing,” The Jurist Legal 16 Testimony of Thad Hall, University of News and Research, June 11, 2007. Americans were less confident than Utah, before the Georgia State Board whites that their votes were counted of Elections, Dec. 19, 2006. 35 Press release: “Carnahan statement accurately, and nearly 40 percent of regarding photo ID bill signing,” those surveyed said they agreed with 17 Verified Voting: “Voter-Verified Paper Office of the Secretary of State of the statement that “electronic voting Record Legislation,” Missouri, June 14, 2006. increases the potential for fraud.” For VerifiedVoting.org, site last visited the full survey, see Sept. 24, 2007. 36 Sherman, Mark. “Supreme Court to hear Indiana Voter ID case,” The www.vote.caltech.edu/reports/2006- 18 “Verified Voting: Mandatory audits of Voter-Confidence-Survey.pdf. Associated Press as published in The voter-verified paper records,” Indianapolis Star, Sept. 25, 2007. 4 Jonsson, Patrik. “Voting Errors Linger VerifiedVoting.org, site last visited Five Weeks After Election,” The Sept. 7, 2007. 37 Stout, David. “Supreme Court to Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 9, Hear Case on Voter ID Law,” The 19 Holt, The Honorable Rush, D-N.J., New York Times, Sept. 25, 2007. 2004. H.R. 811. The Voter Confidence and 5 “Cobb Cocedes Defeat,” Goldsboro Increased Accessibility Act of 2007,” 38 Civil Action File No 4:05-CV-0201- News-Argus, Feb. 4, 2005. 110th Congress, 1st session, 2007. HLM, Sept. 6, 2007. 6 Davenport, Christian and Miranda 20 Ibid. 39 O’Neill, Thomas M. Testimony before the U.S. Election Assistance Spivack. “Election board worker’s 21 Nelson, The Honorable Bill, D-Fla., error hinders voting,” The Commission, Washington, D.C., Feb. “S.559: Vote Integrity and Verification 8, 2007. Washington Post, Sept. 13, 2006. Act of 2007,” 110th Congress, 1st 7 Tamman, Maurice and Matthew Doig. Session. 40 Press release: “Tova Andrea Wang, “Experts see flaws in design of co-author of the Voter Fraud and 22 Abrams, Jim. “Controversy arises Intimidation Report for the Election ballot,” The Sarasota Herald Tribune, over election reform,” The Nov. 15, 2006. Assistance Commission, calls for an Associated Press, Sept. 6, 2007. end to the censorship,” Arnold & 8 Press release: “Revote Rally in 23 Ibid. Porter, April 26, 2007. Sarasota,” People for the American Way, Dec. 3, 2006. 24 National Governors’ Association, 41 Wolf, Richard. “Report refuses fraud National Association of Secretaries of at poll sites,” USA Today, Oct. 11, 9 Royse, David. “Expert: Sarasota State, et. al. Letter to the Honorable 2006. Undervote Unlikely,” The Associated Nancy Pelosi, speaker, U.S. House of 42 Op.-Cit., Wang. Press as published in The Ledger, Representatives, and the Honorable Dec. 20, 2006. Steny Hoyer, majority leader, U.S. 43 The reports mentioned were 10 “Congress Asked to Probe Fla. House of Representatives, Sept. 18, removed from the U.S. Election House Race,” CBS News Now, Dec. 2007 Assistance Web site. The quoted text 23, 2006. is from the Union of Concerned 25 Seligson, Dan. “News Analysis: The Scientists Web site. For more 11 “Further Testing Could Provide Coming Paper-Trail Debacle?” information, see: “Reports and Increased but Not Absolute electionline Weekly, Aug. 17, 2006. Research: Election Panel Delays, Assurance That Voting Systems Did 26 Ibid. Edits Reports on Voter Fraud,” The Not Cause Undervotes in Florida’s 27 Ibid. Union of Concerned Scientists, 13th Congressional District,” “GAO ucsusa.org, last visited Oct. 3, 2007. Highlights,” The U.S. Government 28 Electionline.org Briefing 12: Accountability Office, Oct. 2, 2007. “Recounts – From Punch Cards to 44 Serrano, The Honorable Jose E. and The Honorable Maurice Hinchey. 12 Press release: “Governor Crist Paper Trails, electionline.org, October 2005. Press Release: “Serrano, Hinchey urge Announces Plan for Paper Trail Voting nonpartisanship, greater transparency Machines,” Office of Gov. Charlie 29 Stevenson, Margaret. “Democratic at Election Assistance Commission,” Crist, Feb. 1, 2007. Senators Denounce Vote ID Bill,” Office of Congressman Jose E. 38 New London Day, Sept. 27, 2006. Serrano, D-N.Y., April 11, 2007. 45 Press Statement: “EAC Requests 65 Op.-Cit., Hall 85 “February 10 Report of Registration,” Review of Voter ID, Vote Fraud and 66 Johnson, Anysa and Marley, Patrick. Office of the California Secretary of Voter Intimidation Research “Voting system tallies trouble,” State, www.sos.ca.us/elections/, last Projects,” U.S. Election Assistance Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, March 4, visited Oct. 10, 2007. Commission, April 16, 2007. 2007. 86 Bishop, Shaun. “County readies for 46 Ibid. 67 Flowers, Rich. “New voting system e-voting trial,” Palo Alto Daily News, 47 Muhlhuasen, David. B and Keri approved,” Athens Review, Sept. 7, Oct. 5, 2007. Weber Sikich. “New Analysis Shows 2007. 87 Gustafson, Craig. “County must find Voter Turnout Laws Do Not Reduce 68 “Department of State - Help America new way to vote,” San Diego Union Turnout,” Center for Data Analysis, Vote Act (HAVA) and the Florida Tribune, Aug. 5, 2007. The Heritage Foundation, Sept. 11, Voter Registration System (FVRS) - 88 DeArmond, Michelle and Kimberly 2007. Operational Audit,” June 16, 2006. Trone. “Electronic voting 48 Greenhouse, Linda. “Justices agree 69 “Using Databases to Keep Eligible decertified,” Inland News, Aug. 4, to hear case challenging voter ID Voters Off the Rolls,” The Brennan 2007. laws,” The New York Times, Center for Justice at NYU School of 89 Secretary of State Approved Voting September 26, 2007. Law, September 2006. System Vendors, Colorado Secretary 49 Eckenrode, Vicky. “Federal judge 70 “Washington Association of of State Elections Center, dismisses voter ID challenge,” Churches v. Reed,” The Brennan www.elections.colorado.gov/DDefaul Savannah Morning News, Sept. 7, Center for Justice at NYU School of t.aspx?tid=499, last visited Oct. 10, 2007 and; Schneider Grace. “Justices Law Web site, 2007. to rule on Indiana’s voter ID law,” www.brennancenter.org/stack_detail. 90 Election FAQs, Colorado Secretary of Courier-Journal, Sept. 26, 2007. asp?key=102&subkey=36414, last State Elections Center, 50 Rosenbaum-Galanes, Eva. “An visited Sept. 20, 2007. www.elections.colorado.gov/DDefaul Introduction to Non-Precinct Voting,” 71 Electionline.org Briefing 13: “Holding t.aspx?tid=549, last checked Oct. 10, Early Voting Information Center, Form: Voter Registration 2006,” 2007. October 2007. electionline.org, July 2006. 91 Election FAQs, Colorado Secretary of 51 Ibid. 72 Ibid. State Elections Center, www.elections.colorado.gov/DDefaul 52 Palast, Gregory. “Florida’s flawed 73 “Senate OKs online voter ‘voter-cleansing’ program,” t.aspx?tid=549, last visited Oct. 10, registration,” The Associated Press as 2007. Salon.com, Dec. 4, 2000. published in the Seattle Post- 53 “Voter Registration and Intelligencer, Apr. 9, 2007. 92 Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 1 Elections, General, Primary and Identification,” Building Confidence 74 “The National Picture: Provisional in U.S. Elections: Report of the Congressional Vacancy Elections, Voting,” Election Preview 2004: Article 8 Mail-In and Early Voting, Commission on Federal Election What’s Changed, What Hasn’t and Reform, September 2005. http://198.187.128.12/colorado/lpext. Why, electionline.org, October 2004. dll?f=templates&fn=fs-main.htm&2.0, 54 Help America Vote Act of 2002, P.L. 75 Ibid. last visited October 10, 2007. 107-252, sec. 303. 76 Editorial: “The New Hanging Chads,” 93 Merritt, George. “Denver’s Election 55 Testimony of Rep. Robert Ney, The The New York Times, Aug. 19, 2004. Head Resigns,” The Denver Post, Congressional Record, p. H7836, Oct. Dec. 6, 2006. 10, 2002. 77 Op-cit., electionline.org. 94 Gathright, Alan and Lou Kilzer, 56 “Companies have problems in other 78 Telephone interview with Edward “Rainey padded work history,” Rocky states,” Indianapolis Star, June 18, Foley, professor of law, Moritz Mountain News, Nov. 14, 2006. 2006. College of Law, Ohio State University, Oct. 11, 2007. 95 Washington, April M. “Sec. of state 57 Hill, Douglas E. “Testimony on the cautions voting machine firms,” Statewide Uniform Registry of 79 “Statewide Voter Turnout,” Elections Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 30, 2007. Elections, House State Goverment Division, Alabama Secretary of State, Committee, Commonwealth of www.sos.alabama.gov, last visited 96 Party Enrollment in Connecticut, Pennsylvania,” March 21, 2005. Oct. 10, 2007. www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/el ection_results/statistics/enrolhst.pdf, 58 See electionline.org’s “Statewide 80 “Alabama Gets More Time,” The last visited October 11, 2007. Active Voter Registration Database Status,” Associated Press as published on registered voters as of Oct. 19, 2004. www.electionline.org/Default.aspx?ta www.WTOK.com, Sept. 18, 2007. bid=288. 97 State of Connecticut Mail-In Voter 81 “Procedure for Proof of Identification Registration, 59 Greene, Sean. “Colorado Looks to at the Polls,” Office of the Arizona www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/el Complete Tardy Voter List by May Secretary of State, www.azsos.gov, ectforms/ed671.pdf, last visited Oct. 2008,” electionline Weekly, March 8, last visited Oct. 10, 2007. 11, 2007. 2007. 82 Pitzi, Mary Jo. “Brewer threatens suit 98 Amoroso, Austin. “Out with the 60 Email correspondence with Paddy against U.S. election panel,” The levers, in with the high-tech,” The McGuire, vice president for elections, Arizona Republic, Oct. 5, 2007. Darien Times, Sept. 27, 2007. Saber Corp., May 7, 2007. 83 Duffy, Garry. “Election Security tab 99 Guinness, Rick. “Council approves 61 Op.-Cit., Greene for county could be $10 million,” raises for poll workers using new Tucson Citizen, Oct. 24, 2007. 62 Press release: “Justice Department technology,” The Herald, Sept. 30, Announces Agreement to Protect 84 Registration records as of Feb. 1, 2007, 2007. Voting Rights in Maine,” U.S. www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/, 100 Hladky, Gregory B. “New voting Department of Justice, July 28, 2006. Last visited Oct. 10, 2007. system to be audited in 11 63 “Request for Offer, RFO #06-030, precincts,” New Haven Register, VoteCal Statewide Voter Registration Sept. 14, 2007. System (VoteCal), Independent 101 “Frequently Asked Questions,” Project Oversight Consulting,” Florida Department of State, Division Office, Oct. 30, 2006. of Elections, last visited Oct. 10, 64 “Judge gives Alabama more time to 2007. complete voting project,” The Associated Press as published in The Huntsville Times, Sept. 17, 2007. 39 102 “County voter registration by party,” 119 Ruth, Rob. “County clerks push vote- 139 “New Mexico Voter Registration Florida Department of State, Division by-mail measure,” Weiser Signal Statistics Report,” Office of the of Elections, Oct. 10, 2006. American, Feb. 7, 2007. Secretary of State of New Mexico, 103 Crist, The Honorable Charlie. Press 120 “November 2006 Voting Equipment Sept. 20, 2007. Release: “Gov. Crist signs legislation Usage by County,” Election Data 140 “New report gives paper ballot creating paper trail for Florida votes,” Services, October 2006. system high marks,” New Mexico Office of Gov. Charlie Crist, May 21, 121 “Primary Election Voter Registration Business Weekly, Aug. 21, 2007. 2007. and Percentage Turnout,” Illinois 141 “NYS Voter Enrollment Statistics,” 104 “Voting Information,” Florida State Board of Elections, 2006. New York State Board of Elections, Department of State, 122 United States of America v. County of April 1, 2007. election.dos.state.fl.us. Kane, Illinois, U.S. District Court, 142 Spector, Joseph. “State’s switch to 105 Frequently Asked Questions, Northeastern District of Illinois, C.A. new voting machines faces 2-year Secretary of State Karen Handel, No. 07-C-5451. delay,” The Ithaca Journal, Oct. 4, http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elect 123 Land, The Honorable Terry Lynn. 2007. ronic_voting/faqs.htm, last visited “Picture Identification at the Polls: 143 “I.D. Requirements,” Office of the Oct. 11, 2007. Questions and Answers,” Michigan North Dakota Secretary of State, last 106 Voting on Election Day, Voting Department of State, Sept. 2007. visited Oct. 12, 2007. Information, Secretary of State Karen 124 “2008 Voter Registration Totals,” 144 “Registration by Party as of January Handel, Michigan Department of State, last 15,” Oklahoma State Election Board, http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/Voti updated Oct. 10, 2006. Jan 15, 2007. ng_information.htm#Voting%20on%2 0Election%20Day, last visited Oct. 11, 125 “Clinton sole top Democrat in 145 “Voter ID laws,” www.electionline. 2007. Michigan primary race,” Reuters, Oct. org, last visited Oct. 10, 2007. 9, 2007. 107 Georgia Secretary of State Voter 146 “South Carolina Voter Registration Registration System, 126 Kolp, Stephanie. “Impact of Dem Demographics,” South Carolina State http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/vote pullout from Michigan,” WLNS.com, Election Commission, www.scvotes. r_registration/DocumentDirect%20SS Oct. 10, 2007. org, last visited Oct. 10, 2007. VRZ188.pdf, last visited Oct.r 11, 127 Selweski, Chad. “Voters to be carded 147 Telephone interview with Chris 2007. at the polls,” Macomb Daily, Oct. 28, Whitmire, spokesman for the South 108 2008 Election Events, 2007/2008 2007 Carolina State Election Commission, Election Events, Secretary of State 128 “Minnesota registered voters by Oct. 10, 2007. Karen Handel, county, Nov. 1, 2006,” Office of the 148 Status Information: S 256, South http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elect Secretary of State of Minnesota, Nov. Carolina General Assembly, ions_events.htm, last visited Oct. 11, 2006. www.scstatehouse.net, last visited 2007. 129 Brandt, Steve. “Minneapolis’ instant- Oct. 10, 2007. 109 Ibid. runoff voting plan may be 149 Boyanoski, John. “South Carolina’s 110 Dewan, Shaila. “Photo IDs for Voters unconstitutional,” Star Tribune, Sept. native son: Edwards or Colbert,” are Upheld,” The New York Times, 19, 2007. Campaigns and Elections, Oct. 29, Sept. 7, 2007. 130 “Missouri Voter ID Requirements,” 2007 111 “Few lacked photo ID in Georgia’s Missouri Secretary of State, 150 “Identification Requirements of First- Sept. 18 election,” The Associate d www.sos.state.mo.gov/elections/vote Time Voters That Registered by Press, Sept. 26, 2007. rid/, last visited Oct. 12, 2007. Mail,” Office of the Tennessee 131 “Registered voters in Missouri, 2000- Secretary of State, 112 Stirgus, Eric. “Voter Photo,” Atlanta www.state.tn.us/election/IDRequirem Journal-Constitution, Sept. 22, 2007. 2006,” Missouri Secretary of State, www.sos.mo.gov/elections/, last entChart.pdf, last visited Oct. 12, 113 “Elections Legislation Signed Into visited Oct. 12, 2007. 2007. Law,” The Weekly, May 30, 2007. 132 Press release: “A Statement from 151 “Six Month Summary Report,” Office 114 Bennett, D.L. “What’s the Secretary of State Carnahan of the Tennessee Secretary of State, punishment for throwing out 93,000 Regarding Photo ID Ruling,” Office www.state.tn.us/election/, last visited voter registration cards?”, Atlanta of the Missouri Secretary of State, Oct. 12, 2007. Journal-Constitution, Sept. 25, 2007. Sept. 14, 2006. 152 Voting Systems 2007, electionline.org, 115 2007 Change in Registration – Voting 133 “Total Number of Registered Voters, http://electionline.org/Default.aspx?ta Statistics – by county, Idaho Secretary Ballots Cast, Ballots Rejected,” New bid=1099, last visited Oct. 11, 2007. of State Election Division, Jersey Department of Elections, Dec. 153 Voter Information, Voter Statistics, www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/RESULTS/ 6, 2006. State of Utah Elections Office, 2006/general/2007cnty_vot.htm, last http://elections.utah.gov/voterstatisti visited Oct. 11, 2007. 134 Coughlin, Kevin. “Judge: No printers for voting machines before primary,” cs.html, last visited Oct. 11, 2007. 116 Frequently Asked Questions The Star-Ledger, Sept. 17, 2007. 154 2008 Western States Primary Regarding Voter Registration, Idaho 135 “Polling places 20% handicap February 5 Important Dates, Votes, http://elections.utah.gov/WesternStat www.idahovotes.gov/VoterReg/REG_ accessible,” The Associated Press for Asbury Park Press, Sept. 28, 2007. esPrimary.htm, last visited Oct. 11, FAQ.HTM, last visited Oct. 11, 2007. 2007. 136 Livio, Susan K. “Polling sites still 117 Absentee Voting, Idaho Voters’ 155 Ibid. Guide, Registration and Voting inaccessible to disabled,” The Star Information for the Idaho Citizen, Ledger, Sept. 28, 2007. 11, 2007. www.idahovotes.gov/VoterGuide/vot 137 Hsu, Eric. “Asian-language ballots e.htm#AbsenteeVoting, last visited needed, rights groups say,” North Oct. 11, 2007. Jersey Media Group, June 8, 2007. 118 New Voting System, Ada County, 138 “Answers to Frequently Asked www.adaweb.net/departments/Clerk Questions,” Office of the Secretary of AuditorRecorder/NewVotingSystem.a State of New Mexico, sp, last visited Oct. 11, 2007. www.sos.state.nm/Main/Elections/FA Q/, last visited Oct. 12, 2007.
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