December 22, 2009

"Significant court victory" in Banfield v. Cortés

John Bonifaz, legal director of VoterAction.org, December 21, 2009:
The voters (petitioners) challenging the continued use of electronic voting systems in Pennsylvania won a significant court victory last week in their ongoing litigation, Banfield v. Cortés. A Pennsylvania state court ordered the major voting systems companies in the state (Election Systems & Software-Diebold, Sequoia, Hart Intercivic, Danaher) to produce the source codes and electronic voting machines for an independent expert examination by the petitioners. The companies, as well as the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, had fought to stop the petitioners from gaining access to these source materials, even under a protective order preserving any alleged trade secrets. The court's order can be found here:

http://www.voteraction.org/files/Banfield%20Order%20121509.pdf

Other filings in this case, including briefing in connection with the motion to compel that led to this court order, can be found here:

http://www.voteraction.org/case/banfieldvcortes

December 19, 2009

"U.S. opens probe of Diebold unit sale--report"

Reuters, December 19, 2009: "The U.S. Department of Justice and 14 states have opened investigations into the sale of Diebold Inc's (DBD.N) voting machines business to Election Systems & Software that could lead to the unwinding of the September sale, the New York Post said on Saturday. . . ."

December 17, 2009

"Florida AG Probing ES&S/Diebold Merger for Anti-trust Violations"

"Demon coupling will result in company counting 92% of Sunshine State votes, at least 70% nation wide..." by Brad Friedman, BradBlog.com, December 17, 2009, quoting Florida's Herald/Times.

"NH Voting Technology Committee to release report"

By Nancy Tobi, opednews.com, December 16, 2009: ". . . They *might* announce intention to work with Harri Hursti, who is in fact back in America to launch his own new company developing and selling software-based voting systems. . . ."

December 14, 2009

"Disgraceful: Discredited E-Voting Vendor VP Appointed to U.S. EAC Advisory Panel"

By Brad Friedman, BradBlog.com, December 14, 2009: "Federal body tasked with overseeing U.S. certification of e-voting systems appoints scammer Edwin Smith, VP of e-voting companies Sequoia, Dominion, Hart-Intercivic. . . ."

December 8, 2009

"Aspen's slippery slopes"

Bev Harris, BlackBoxVoting.org, December 8, 2009: "Black Box Voting is now formally involved in a crucial public policy fight in Aspen, Colorado. Part of our role is to educate the public on the necessary argumentation to protect our rights. . . ."

December 5, 2009

"Pair of disputed ballots awarded to McGahan"

By Freda R. Savana, Intelligencer, December 5, 2009:
Republican Ed McGahan can now say he won last month's race for Solebury supervisor by two votes, not just one.

A county judge ruled Friday that two disputed absentee ballots should go in McGahan's column, affirming his victory over Democrat Dennis Mankin.

Judge Clyde W. Waite reversed the Bucks County Board of Elections decision to discount one absentee ballot for McGahan and affirmed the board's decision not to count another ballot for Mankin. . . .

See also "Judge Favors Solebury Republican Candidate in Two Decisions . . ."

"Ruling expected in supervisors race hanging on one vote"

By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, December 4, 2009: "The question is how to count disputed absentee ballots cast. . . ."

December 3, 2009

"ACORN suit over voter registration settled in Ohio"

By Gabriel Baird, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 30, 2009: "Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has agreed to a legal settlement that will result in more low-income residents being registered to vote. . . ."

Solebury: "Absentee ballots at center of latest appeals"

By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, December 1, 2009: "The supervisors election pitting Republican Ed McGahan and Democratic incumbent Dennis Mankin still hangs on a single vote. . . ."

"U.S. Judge Opposes Republicans on Elections"

By John Schwartz, New York Times, December 2, 2009: "The Republican National Committee will not be able to use election tactics that have been linked to suppression of voting by racial minorities without court supervision, a federal judge in New Jersey has ruled. . . ."

December 2, 2009

"Phila. judge Lazarus confirmed as election winner"

By Amy Worden, Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau, December, 2, 2009: "Pennsylvania's first-ever statewide recount has confirmed that Democrat Anne E. Lazarus of Philadelphia won the last of four open seats on Superior Court in the Nov. 3 election, state officials said yesterday. . . ."