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Indiana Election Chief Found Guilty Of Voter Fraud

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Huffington Post - By Charles Wilson - Feb. 04 (News Report) - Indiana's top elections official could lose his job and his freedom after jurors convicted him of multiple voter fraud-related charges on Saturday,

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Global Internet Voting Firm Buys U.S. Election Results Reporting Firm

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Black Box Voting - By Bev Harris - Jan. 13 (News Analysis) - In a major step towards global centralization of election processes, the world's dominant Internet voting company has purchased the USA's dominant election results reporting company. When you view your local or state election results on the Internet, on portals which often appear to be owned by the county elections division, in over 525 US jurisdictions you are actually redirected to a private corporate site controlled by SOE software, which operates under the name ClarityElections.com.

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Rivals' Attacks on Romney's Corporate Record Display Occupy Wall Street's Wide Reach

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Amy Goodman - Jan. 11 (News Analysis) - The New Hampshire primary brought fewer than 50 percent of voters to the polls. The candidates are "addressing issues that aren’t really connecting with a whole bunch of Americans, especially blue-collar Americans," says Dale Kuehne, a New Hampshire political science professor. "I don’t know that they see a whole lot of reason to go out and vote for either Obama or out to vote for Romney or some of the others."

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'Citizens United' Backlash: Montana Supreme Court Upholds State's Corporate Campaign Spending Ban

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Huffington Post - Jan. 05 (News Report) - The Montana Supreme Court has put itself on a collision course with the U.S. Supreme Court by upholding a century-old state law that bans corporate spending in state and local political campaigns. The law, which was passed by Montana voters in 1912 to combat Gilded Age corporate control over much of Montana's government, states that a "corporation may not make ... an expenditure in connection with a candidate or a political party that supports or opposes a candidate or a political party."

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Super PAC Disclosure Requirements Hot Topic Of Conversation Among GOP Candidates

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Huffington Post - By Sam Stein - Jan. 05 (News Report) - The rapid rise and far-reaching impact of super PACs -- the well-financed non-party groups that helped carry former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to victory in the Iowa caucuses -- have persuaded some prominent Republicans that restrictions of some sort on the groups' activities may be in order.

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Voter Photo ID Laws Hit Older Americans Hard

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

AARP Bulletin - By Marsha Mercer - Jan. 05 (News Analysis) - Having a driver's license or photo identification card is commonplace for most Americans, but about 11 percent of adult citizens — more than 21 million people — lack a valid, government-issued photo ID, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

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As States Take on Citizens United, Lawrence Lessig Offers Bold Plan to Get Money Out of Politics

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Amy Goodman - Jan. 04 (News Report) - California and New York City lawmakers are introducing measures today calling for a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United, the controversial 2010 Supreme Court ruling that characterizes political spending as free speech and opened the floodgates for unlimited corporate spending on election campaigns. Similar measures have passed in Los Angeles, Oakland, Albany and Boulder. We speak with Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig, author of a new book that examines how money buys results in Congress and fuels campaigns that put the powerful in office. Lessig argues that both De

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Wave of Restrictive Voting Laws Prompts Federal Probes, Grassroots Activism Ahead of 2012 Elections

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Amy Goodman - Dec. 15 (News Analysis) - "When people move on their fears, they make bad law," says NAACP CEO Ben Jealous, co-author of a new report that argues the new laws amount to a coordinated and comprehensive assault on minorities’ voting rights at a time when their numbers in the population and at the ballot box have increased. Students, former felons and elderly voters may also be impacted. On Saturday, the NAACP helped organize a voting rights march in New York, starting at the offices of Koch Industries in order to highlight how billionaire conservative financiers David and Charles Koch have financed the push for voter ID laws.

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Sanders Files "Saving American Democracy Amendment'

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Op Ed News - Dec. 11 (News) - The first constitutional amendment ever proposed by Sanders during his two decades in Congress would reverse the narrow 5-to-4 ruling in Citizens United vs. the Federal Elections Commission. In that controversial decision almost two years ago, justices gave corporations the same First Amendment free-speech rights as people.

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Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Takes Early Lead in First Post-Mubarak Elections

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Juan Gonzalez - Dec. 01 (News Report) - Early results from Egypt's first post-revolutionary elections indicate the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party will emerge as the biggest winner. We speak with Democracy Now! special correspondent Anjali Kamat, who has just returned to the United States after reporting in Cairo since the fall of former president Hosni Mubarak. Anjali describes how Egypt's elections take place against the backdrop of economic insecurity and renewed street clashes between pro-democracy demonstrators and security forces that have left more than 40 dead and thousands injured. She also discusses Egypt's use of U.S.-supplied tear gas to quell massive demonstrations, and a photo she took of police dragging protesters injured by rubber bullets and live ammunition, then leaving them in piles of garbage. [includes rush transcript - partial]

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Egypt Holds Historic Election As Military Council Resists Calls To Transfer Power To Civilians

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Democracy Now - By Sharif Abdel Kouddous - Nov. 29 (News Report) - Egypt is in the second day of its first elections since the ouster of longtime president Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. On Monday, Egyptians waited in long lines across the country to choose their first ever democratically elected parliament. The elections are being held in the wake of fierce clashes between protesters and police last week that left at least 42 people dead and more than 3,100 wounded.

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Pro-Recall Group Outs Facebook Page That Boasts About Destroying Signatures

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

patch.com - By Denise Lockwood - Nov. 25 (News Report) - One Wisconsin Now calls on all recall supporters to be vigilant, but only one instance of actual recall destruction found.

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Protesters Are Seeking Change in the Streets Because It Won't Come From the Ballot Box

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Democracy Now - By Naomi Klein - Oct. 06 (News Analysis) - Among the thousands at last night's Occupy Wall Street protest here in New York City was award-winning journalist and author Naomi Klein. She is the author of the bestselling book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.” She also wrote "No Logo," a book that has become a cultural manifesto for critics of unfettered capitalism worldwide. Klein joins us to discuss the Occupy Wall Street movement and why it is being belittled in the corporate media. “My biggest fear was that the Obama presidency was was going to lead this generation of young people into political cynicism and political apathy,” Klein says. “But instead, they are going to where the power is. They are realizing the change is not coming in Washington because politicians are so controlled by corporate interest, and that that is the fundamental crisis in this country.” [Transcript to come. Check back soon.]

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Occupy Wall Street, Powered by Big Labor

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Mother Jones - By Andy Kroll - Oct. 05 (News Report) - In late September, major labor unions mostly watched from the sidelines as the Occupy Wall Street protests grew from a ragtag band of diehards camping in a park into a fledgling movement grabbing national headlines and sparking similar protests around the country. Now, Big Labor is going to work: endorsing the protests, offering manpower and resources, and helping stage a major march in New York City's financial district on Wednesday. They are adding organizing muscle, fresh energy, and greater numbers to the boisterous demonstrations that began in downtown Manhattan more than two weeks ago. Among those now jumping in is the New York State United Teachers, the Empire State's largest union, representing 600,000 educators. In an interview Tuesday, spokesman Carl Korn for the first time publicly offered NYSUT's support for Occupy Wall Street and its message about shrinking income inequality, investing in public education, and making the rich pay their fair share in taxes. "Teachers and public employees represent the other 99 percent; they are not in the 1 percent," Korn said, echoing the theme of an Occupy Wall Street Tumblr gone viral. "We're supportive of that overarching message."

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A War of Voting: Could Redistricting and Voting Law Changes Help Republicans Win in 2012?

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Democracy Now - By Amy Goodman - Oct. 04 (News Analysis) - A new report by the Brennan Center for Justice warns changes to voting laws could strip the voting rights of more than 5 million people -- a higher number than the margin of victory in two of the last three presidential elections. Its findings reveal some 3.2 million people in Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin do not have the state identification they will now need to vote. Others will be kept from the voting booth by tougher restrictions for convicted prisoners and laws requiring proof of U.S. citizenship. In 2012, states that have cracked down on voting rights will account for 63 percent of the 270 Electoral College votes needed for a presidential victory. We speak with Ari Berman, author of the new article in Rolling Stone magazine, â€œThe GOP War on Voting," and with ProPublica reporter Lois Beckett, who co-wrote, "The Hidden Hands in Redistricting: Corporations and Other Powerful Interests," about how money is helping re-shape Congressional districts along partisan lines, a practice known as gerrymandering. [Transcript to come. Check back soon.]

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US presidential candidates raising cash ahead of election season

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

OpenGlobe - By Tempodivalse - Sep. 28 (News Report) - Friday is an important day for the hopefuls in the US presidential race. That's when the third fiscal quarter ends, and candidates are obliged to post their past three months' financial reports. OpenGlobe takes a closer look at where each politician stands financially.

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Scott Walker and the GOP Reveal Depth of Their Voter-Exclusion Plan

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

AlterNet - Sep. 17 (News Report) - A new Department of Transportation memo reveals Wisconsin Republicans intend to make the newly imposed voter ID process as onerous as possible for people seeking IDs.

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Outside groups spend $1.65 million on House races in Nevada, New York

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

iWatch News - By Aaron Mehta, Josh Israel - Sep. 14 (Investigative Report) - Outside groups and national party committees spent $1.65 million on the special congressional elections in New York and Nevada, according to an analysis by iWatch News . Just under half the total poured into the races in the final week. In both races, the Democratic Party nominees have led in terms of direct campaign contributions. In Nevada, Kate Marshall (about $748,000 reported) has out-raised Republican Mark Amodei (about $659,000), while in New York David Weprin (about $684,000) has more than doubled the campaign cash of his opponent Bob Turner (about $323,000). But in a possible harbinger of campaigns to come, the two Republican candidates received a huge boost from spending by outside groups, partially making up for what the candidates could not raise in direct contributions. Both Republicans won.

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WI DMV Tells Boy His Bank Account Doesn’t Show Enough “Activity” To Get a Voter ID

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Daily Kos - Jul. 27 (News) - A video has surfaced of a boy trying to get one of the new Wisconsin Voter ID's that were ushered in by the signing of new a voting law in the state. Shot by the boy's mother with the clear intention of indicting the process, the video shows the pair going from station to station at the DMV, asking all of the right questions as to why there are so many hurdles to acquiring this constitutionally guaranteed ID card.

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Teacher Features

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

City Paper - By Edward Ericson Jr. - Jul. 27 (News) - In this year’s Democratic primary election, Kraft faces two challengers, both political newcomers, both schoolteachers. Both say that Kraft is not sufficiently responsive to community concerns and has acquiesced to high property taxes. Neither challenger, however, is so far running the kind of aggressive campaign that shook up the last election.

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Nine in the 9th

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

City Paper - By Andrea Appleton - Jul. 27 (News) - Late last year, City Councilmember Agnes Welch retired after seven terms in office, totaling 27 years. She had not completed her last term as representative for the 9th District, so the Council appointed a temporary successor. It chose her son and longtime aide, William “Pete” Welch, despite complaints of nepotism and without a unanimous vote. Now the end of Welch’s appointed term is nigh, and eight Democrats have filed to run against him in the Democratic primary, more candidates than in any other city race.

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Challenge Stage

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

City Paper - By Van Smith - Jul. 27 (News) - As her first four-year term as an elected member of the Baltimore City Council draws to a close, 57-year-old Sharon Green Middleton (D) is looking to keep her 6th District seat. But two Democratic challengers—Mark E. Hughes, a 39-year-old community organizer from Park Lane who lost two prior electoral outings for state delegate, and 49-year-old Rhonda Wimbish, a realtor from Ashburton who has not run for office before—say Middleton has failed to build a track record of accessible advocacy for the district, and they want to replace her.

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New Court Filing Reveals How the 2004 Ohio Presidential Election Was Hacked

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

truth-out.org - By Bob Fritakis - Jul. 26 (News Report) - A new filing in the King Lincoln Bronzeville v. Blackwell case includes a copy of the Ohio Secretary of State election production system configuration that was in use in Ohio's 2004 presidential election when there was a sudden and unexpected shift in votes for George W. Bush. The filing also includes the revealing deposition of the late Michael Connell. Connell served as the IT guru for the Bush family and Karl Rove.

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Council “Dean” Challenged

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

City Paper - By Van Smith - Jul. 20 (News) - In the 2007 city elections, no one filed to run against City Councilmember Rochelle “Rikki” Spector (D-5th District)—even after she publicly acknowledged that she doesn’t actually live in her Northwest Baltimore district, but in a downtown luxury condominium with her longtime boyfriend, Oscar Brilliant. This time around, though, the 74-year-old Spector faces four Democrats vying to unseat her after 34 years in office, the longest incumbency on the Council.

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Bongino challenge of Sen. Cardin looks crazy, but he has a compelling story

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Maryland Reporter - By Megan Poinski - Jul. 19 (News Analysis) - Dan Bongino concedes that his campaign as a conservative Republican to unseat Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin next year looks pretty crazy. He gave up a 12-year career in the Secret Service, where he had led the protection details for Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, forgoing his government pension. He’s got seven months of savings set aside, his wife is pregnant with their second child and, of course, he’s never run for public office.

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