tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91729438426217303552024-02-18T23:17:48.952-05:00Election Education IncorporatedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-72096719458036526152014-06-18T16:57:00.000-04:002014-06-18T17:36:06.536-04:00June 25, 2014 to Mark the First Anniversary of ‘Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder’ Decision <div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
“And then last March, with the outrage of
Selma still fresh, I came down to this Capitol one evening and asked the
Congress and the people for swift and for sweeping action to guarantee to every
man and woman the right to vote. In less than 48 hours I sent the Voting Rights
Act of 1965 to the Congress. In little more than 4 months the Congress, with
overwhelming majorities, enacted one of the most monumental laws in the entire
history of American freedom.”<o:p></o:p><br />
President Lyndon Baines Johnson</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remarks
on the Signing of the Voting Rights Act, Aug. 6, 1965<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/4034">http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/4034</a><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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June 25, 2014 will mark the one year anniversary
of <i>Shelby County, Alabama vs. Holder</i> (<a href="http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/admin/voting_rights/documents/files/shelby.pdf">http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/admin/voting_rights/documents/files/shelby.pdf</a>)
decision when the Supreme Court made significant changes to the Voting Rights
Act (VRA) that changed “one of the most monumental laws in the entire history
of American freedom” according to President Lyndon Baines Johnson.</div>
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Marcia F. Johnson-Blanco, Co-Director of the
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Voting Rights Project (<a href="http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/">http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/</a>),
explained how the Supreme Court’s decision in <i>Shelby “</i>gutted the most critical parts of the Voting Rights Act” to
a group gathered recently at All Souls Church, Unitarian in Columbia Heights in
Northwest Washington, D.C. </div>
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Organizers for the meeting are members of the Reeb
Project for Voting Rights (<a href="http://www.all-souls.org/voting-rights">http://www.all-souls.org/voting-rights</a>),
which is named for the Rev. James Reeb, a minister of All Souls who was beaten
to death in Selma, Alabama in 1965. He
was there to attend a march for voting rights.
A plaque hangs in his honor at the Church. </div>
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According to the Reeb Project’s Web page, Section 4
of the VRA established a “formula” to identify areas with widespread and persistent
patterns of voter discrimination, which included:<br />
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1. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The presence of some “test” to determine voter
eligibility (such as a literacy test or test of “moral</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> character”); and</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 2. </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Proof that less than 50 percent of the voting
age population was registered to vote in a given area.</span><br />
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Section 5 of the act provided the means for
preclearance to enforce areas covered under Section 4 requiring these
jurisdictions to submit any new voting laws to the Justice Department for
review to ensure these laws complied with the VRA. </div>
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Nine states, 56 counties, and two townships met
these criteria (<a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/covered.php">http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/covered.php</a>)
and required more stringent enforcement.
Those states included Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. </div>
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Under Section 5, any new voting laws proposed in
these jurisdictions were required to be subject to Justice Department
review. If the laws violated the act,
the Justice Department could formally object to the proposed changes and
prevent their enactment, without having to sue in federal court. </div>
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The <i>Shelby
County</i> decision leaves “no formula in place to cover Section 5”, according
to Johnson-Blanco. The coverage formula (<a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/covered.php">http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/sec_5/covered.php</a>)
was put into place to protect voter suppression.</div>
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The Reeb Project posts that for over 40 years the
Justice Department has used the preclearance process to prevent thousands of
potentially discriminatory laws from being enforced by states and counties
across the country.</div>
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Johnson-Blanco distributed the Lawyers’ Committee’s
Map of Shame (<a href="http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/page?id=0057">http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/page?id=0057</a>)
representing the states that have passed restrictive voting laws since the <i>Shelby County </i>decision was issued in 2013. Those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona,
Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. </div>
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North Carolina has reduced early voting,
eliminated same day registration, and a photo ID (the ID requirement is NOT in
effect for 2014). All voting law changes
are currently challenged in court.</div>
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In an effort to counter the impact of the restrictive
voting laws passed in North Carolina, the Reeb Project, which is part of an interfaith
group, seeks to increase voter turnout in Charlotte, North Carolina during the
2014 and 2016 election cycles. They will
be working with local Unitarian Universalists and people of color partner
organizations.</div>
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As we approach the one year anniversary of <i>Shelby County</i>, it is notable that of the nine states that were
covered by Section 5, all but one (Louisiana) has tried to pass restrictive
voting laws since <i>Shelby County</i>. They are joined by an additional six
states. </div>
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Fortunately, there are 12 states that comprise the Map
of Hope (<a href="http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/page?id=0057)featuring">http://www.lawyerscommittee.org/page?id=0057)</a> featuring those states that considered expanding access to voting since <i>Shelby County.</i> </div>
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<i>*In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a member of All Souls Church, Unitarian.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-64147619628308181612011-08-18T21:03:00.000-04:002011-08-18T21:04:35.157-04:00DCBOEE Appoints Permanent Executive DirectorThe DC Board of Elections and Ethics announced today that Paul Stenbjorn has been appointed the new Executive Director of the agency <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_808.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_808.pdf</a>.
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<br />Stenbjorn had been serving as the Acting Executive Director since July 26 upon the departure of Rokey Suleman who held the position. According to the Board’s media release, Stenbjorn had served as the agency’s Chief Technology Officer since 2005 and had worked with the Virginia State Board of Elections and as a consultant.
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-64026220552615299212011-02-20T17:50:00.000-05:002011-02-20T17:51:40.804-05:00Nominating Petition Challenge Period Underway for the April 26 Special ElectionThe challenge period to the nominating petitions for the April 26, 2011 Special Election for at-Large Member of the Council is underway at the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE). The challenge period runs from yesterday, Saturday, February 19, through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 28.<br /><br />According to the DCBOEE http://www.dcboee.org/newsroom/showASPfile.asp?cat=News Releases&id=648&mid=2&yid=2011 and The Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021706884.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021706884.html</a>, eleven out of the 19 individuals who picked up nominating petitions have filed the requisite 3,000 signatures needed for ballot access for the special election. Those who filed petitions are: Sekou Biddle (D), Tom Brown (D), Dorothy Douglas (D), Calvin H. Gurley (D), Arkan Haile (IND), Joshua Lopez (D), Patrick Mara (R), Vincent Orange (D), Alan Page (STG), Jacque Patterson (D), and Bryan Weaver (D).<br /><br />Challenges to their nominating petitions can be filed by any D.C. registered voter on the grounds that a circulator is not a registered voter, the petitioner (signer) is not a registered voter, or the signatures on the petition are in the same hand or do not match those of the registered voters in the Board’s file. (DCBOEE has the authority to and should refer those for criminal prosecution.) Also, petitioners may be challenged because they were not registered at the address on the petition at the time it was signed; however, D.C. law allows those individuals to file a change of address within 10 days of the date that a challenge is filed. <br /><br />After the challenge period closes, DCBOEE has two weeks to resolve any and all challenges and then we will have a better idea of the names of the candidates on the ballot. However, a challenger or any person named in a challenge may apply within three days of the DCBOEE decision to the D.C. Court of Appeals for review. There is a potential that we may not know the final list of candidates on the ballot until March 18 when the entire ballot access process concludes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-78997971716609665992011-02-13T14:28:00.000-05:002011-02-13T14:29:18.498-05:00Abysmal Voter Turnout in DC’s Special ElectionsThere has been a lot of discussion in recent weeks about voter turnout for special elections since the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) will conduct a citywide Special Election on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The election will be held for voters to choose an at-Large Member of the D.C. City Council created when Councilmember Kwame Brown won the office of Chairman of the Council last year. <br /><br />Between 1993 and 2000, the BOEE conducted four citywide special elections with abysmally low voter turnout of 5.5% to a high of 25.7%. The turnout for the September 14, 1993, Special Election for Council Chairman was the highest with 25.7%. The July 22, 1997, Special Election for Council Chairman resulted in the lowest voter turnout of the four at 5.5%. The December 2, 1997 Special Election for at-Large Councilmember rose slightly to 7.5%. And the June 27, 2000, Special Election on Proposed Charter Amendment III garnered 12.2%.<br /><br />As was the case with these elections, the BOEE will open all voting precincts citywide on April 26. According to the DCBOEE’s testimony before the D.C. Council, it will cost District taxpayers approximately $828,731.02 to open all 143 precincts in the eight wards operating with skeletal staffing. It sounds like a high cost to taxpayers, but to do anything differently this close to the election could end up disenfranchising voters. <br /><br />Going forward special elections could be conducted differently at lower costs, but that can not happen until there has been a change in the District’s election laws, election regulations, and voter education procedures are in place.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-22349934027575511122011-01-02T22:28:00.000-05:002011-01-02T22:29:18.875-05:00April 26, 2011, Special Election for At-Large Member of the D.C. City CouncilThe D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) will hold a city-wide Special Election on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, to fill a vacancy for at-Large Member of the D.C. City Council created when Councilmember Kwame Brown successfully beat back his opponents to win the office of Chairman of the Council in last year’s Primary and General Elections.<br /><br />According to the DCBOEE Web site at http://www.dcboee.org/newsroom/showASPfile.asp?cat=News Releases&id=648&mid=12&yid=2010, eight candidates have picked up nominating petitions to qualify for ballot access on April 26. They are Ward 1 Democrat Stanley Mayes; Ward 4 Democrats Leo Alexander, Sekou Biddle, and Joshua Lopez; Ward 5 Democrat Vincent Orange; Ward 6 Independent Arkan Haile; Ward 6 Democrat Kelvin Robinson; and Ward 8 Democrat Jacque Patterson.<br /><br />To qualify for ballot access each candidate is required to file 3,000 signatures of registered D.C. voters on their nominating petition with the DCBOEE no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, which are subject to a ten day challenge period. The challenge period will run from Saturday, February 19, through Thursday, February 28, 2011.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-46567491841487605262010-11-28T23:32:00.000-05:002010-11-28T23:36:03.542-05:00D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics and the November 2nd General ElectionThe D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics will hold a special meeting tomorrow, November 29, at 5:30 p.m. to certify the results of the November 2nd General Election. The open meeting will be held in Room 280-North of the One Judiciary Square Building at 441 Fourth Street, N.W. For more information the public is instructed to call the Board’s General Counsel’s office at 727-2194.<br /><br />And the next day, Tuesday, November 30, at 10:00 a.m. the City Council’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment chaired by Councilmember Mary Cheh will hold a public oversight roundtable on the administration of the November Election. According to the Committee’s public notice, roundtable topics will include the adjustments made by the Board in poll worker training and functioning of precincts, technological fixes, and the handling of electronic media, between the September Primary Election and the November General Election. The public notice further states that there will be a discussion about how those adjustments ameliorated problems experienced during the September Primary Election and what further adjustments are still necessary to improve voting in the District of Columbia. The roundtable will be held in room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building at 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Anyone wishing to testify should contact Committee staff at 724-8062.<br /><br />It will be enlightening to hear about the “adjustments” made by the Board to “ameliorate” the problems experienced in September. Will they be the same or some of the same problems that the public brought to the attention of the Board’s Chairman Togo West and Councilmember Cheh? Or do those problems remain?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-59355684209347756702010-09-27T12:22:00.005-04:002010-09-27T13:06:28.262-04:00More Room on the Outside in the RoundupOn the night of the September 14 Primary Election, I was a guest along with journalist Pete Tucker on <em>More Room on the Outside</em> hosted by Dr. Baruch and Toussaint Tingling-Clemmons.<br /><br /><a href="http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=562458784c&view=att&th=12b106eafc5b0311&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=7d4fd4c574aec6b9_0.1&zw" target="_blank"></a>The program was about observations that Pete and I made while vis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-uFRXY8t-UhIdtzr8e0RRjy5loeL98noEnzuFZQRoxl_Df-XUu0deFokP2BUG-37wPfgglQYsQVuLHGlRj5pRtQSxZT7SYgoQgImDdWKmMbfENuqWsmI8DjTC6BnAncZKpyNU0iwSLEC/s1600/_Device+Memory_home_user_pictures_IMG00060.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521635702423813666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-uFRXY8t-UhIdtzr8e0RRjy5loeL98noEnzuFZQRoxl_Df-XUu0deFokP2BUG-37wPfgglQYsQVuLHGlRj5pRtQSxZT7SYgoQgImDdWKmMbfENuqWsmI8DjTC6BnAncZKpyNU0iwSLEC/s200/_Device+Memory_home_user_pictures_IMG00060.jpg" /></a>iting polling places during the day. As Election Education Inc. observers, we were joined by former DC Board of Elections and Ethics’ Precinct Captain Kenlee Ray, who is seen here with me in a photograph taken by Pete. In total we visited and surveyed 20 polling places distributed among the District’s eight wards. A report of our findings will be made available on October 8.<br /><br /><em>The Fight Back</em> has posted the <em>More Room on the Outside</em> interview on their website at <a href="http://thefightback.org/2010/09/more-room-on-the-outside-on-dctv-tuesday-september-14-2010-election-day/">http://thefightback.org/2010/09/more-room-on-the-outside-on-dctv-tuesday-september-14-2010-election-day/</a>. When you get there, move the time bar to 31:00.<br /><br /><em>More Room on the Outside</em>, which airs on public television, can be seen on DCTV on Comcast channels 95 and 96; RCN channels 10 and 11; and Verizon FIOS Channels 10, 11, and 28.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-79389138178414490612010-09-24T11:16:00.002-04:002010-09-24T11:30:34.479-04:00News Roundup of Primary Election ProblemsVoters, candidates, elected officials, election observers, and pollworkers reported problems at the polling places for the Primary Election held last week on Tuesday, September 14.<br /><br />I have pasted below a roundup of news articles and television broadcasts of the problems reported in the local media. I am interviewed in the first three posted below.<br /><br />You will find that some of the 20 articles contain information that is repetitive; however, I believe it is important to see the breadth of the reporting. And I am sure there is more from other media outlets that I have missed. If you know of any, feel free to send a message to me with the link to <a href="mailto:wofield@gmail.com">wofield@gmail.com</a>.<br /><br /><strong>TBD News Channel 8<br /></strong><br /><em>BOEE’s Performance On Election Day</em> at<br /><a href="http://www.tbd.com/blogs/news-talk/2010/09/live-on-newstalk-boee-s-performance-texting-and-driving-and-montgomery-council-at-large-race-2027.html">http://www.tbd.com/blogs/news-talk/2010/09/live-on-newstalk-boee-s-performance-texting-and-driving-and-montgomery-council-at-large-race-2027.html</a> and search for my name.<br /><br /><strong>WUSA9<br /></strong><br /><em>New Voting Machines Cause of Delays</em> at<br /><a href="http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=111193">http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=111193</a><br /><br /><strong>The Washington Post<br /></strong><br /><em>DC Board of Elections, Scolded By Politicians, Defends Counting Pace, Cites Crushing Pressures</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091506918.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091506918.html</a><br /><br /><em>Live Blog: D.C. Primary Day Evening – Returns Trickle In</em> at <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2010/09/live_blog_dc_primary_day_2010_2.html">http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2010/09/live_blog_dc_primary_day_2010_2.html</a><br /><br /><em>Judge Rejects Gray’s Request To Extend D.C. Voting</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091407846.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091407846.html</a><br /><br /><em>Once Again, Delays Plague Counting of Ballots InThe District</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091500626.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091500626.html</a><br /><br /><strong>The Washington Times<br /></strong><br /><em>Gray’s Campaign Threatens Legal Action If Voting Hours Not Extended</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/14/board-considers-gray-request-extend-voting-hours/print/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/14/board-considers-gray-request-extend-voting-hours/print/</a><br /><br /><em>Delays Occur In Results For D.C. Primary Races</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/14/glitches-mar-early-voting-in-dc-mayor-race/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/14/glitches-mar-early-voting-in-dc-mayor-race/</a><br /><br /><em>D.C. Mayor Fenty Loses To Gray In Democratic Primary</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/15/dc-mayor-fenty-loses-gray-democratic-primary/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/15/dc-mayor-fenty-loses-gray-democratic-primary/</a><br /><br /><strong>The Washington Examiner<br /></strong><br /><em>Gray Asks Elections To Toss Fenty Votes</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Gray-asks-elections-board-to-toss-Fenty-votes-797391-102579509.html">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Gray-asks-elections-board-to-toss-Fenty-votes-797391-102579509.html</a><br /><br /><em>There May Be No Quick Call In D.C. Mayoral Race</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/There-may-be-no-quick-call-in-D_C_-mayoral-race-846493-102818099.html">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/There-may-be-no-quick-call-in-D_C_-mayoral-race-846493-102818099.html</a><br /><br /><em>Election Board Problems Mar D.C. Mayor’s Race, Delay Results</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Election-board-problems-mar-D_C_-mayor_s-race_-delay-results--862475-102925424.html">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Election-board-problems-mar-D_C_-mayor_s-race_-delay-results--862475-102925424.html</a><br /><br /><em>UPDATE: Judge Denies Voting Hours Extension</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/blogs/capital-land/dc-elections-officials-deny-grays-call-to-extend-voting-hours-102884129.html">http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/blogs/capital-land/dc-elections-officials-deny-grays-call-to-extend-voting-hours-102884129.html</a><br /><br /><strong>Washington City Paper<br /></strong><br /><em>Vince Gray Takes Charge</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39775/vince-gray-takes-charge-dc-election-night">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39775/vince-gray-takes-charge-dc-election-night</a><br /><br /><em>Democracy Threatened By Missing Seal</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/democracy-threatened-by-missing-seal/">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/democracy-threatened-by-missing-seal/</a><br /><br /><em>Watch A Working D.C. Voting Machine</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/watch-a-working-d-c-voting-machine/">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/watch-a-working-d-c-voting-machine/</a><br /><br /><em>Five Things That Made Voters Mad</em> at <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/five-things-that-make-voters-mad/">http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/09/14/five-things-that-make-voters-mad/</a><br /><br /><strong>themail@DCWatch<br /></strong><br /><em>Down For The Count</em> at <a href="http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2010/10-09-15.htm">http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2010/10-09-15.htm</a> and <a href="http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2010/10-09-19.htm">http://www.dcwatch.com/themail/2010/10-09-19.htm</a>.<br /><br /><strong>NBC4<br /></strong><br /><em>Voting Problems At Some D.C. Polls</em> at <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Voting_Problems_At_Some_DC_Polls_Washington_DC.html">http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Voting_Problems_At_Some_DC_Polls_Washington_DC.html</a><br /><em>Problems Reported At Polls</em> at <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/102873514.html">http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/102873514.html</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-85512325605388844292010-09-10T08:08:00.001-04:002010-09-10T08:12:33.838-04:00D.C.’s Early Vote Centers Have Had Overnight SecurityAfter disclosing at a press briefing on Wednesday, August 25, that there would not be any overnight security at D.C.’s Early Vote Centers, the DCBOEE ultimately added the presence of Protective Services at the Centers.<br /><br />The announcement came at the regular meeting of the DCBOEE last week in response to a question posed to the Members of the Board by a public witness. During the public matters portion of the Board’s agenda, the Board’s Executive Director Rokey Suleman responded that “yes, security had been provided since the opening of the centers” on Saturday, August 30.<br /><br />This was welcomed news considering the possibility of not only vote tampering of the machines left unattended overnight, but also vandalism that could have occurred at the four Centers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-18823971433351495752010-08-31T14:34:00.002-04:002010-08-31T15:15:01.418-04:00Security Concerns At D.C.’s Early Vote CentersRecently, I have been raising my concern about security at the District’s four Early Vote Centers <a href="http://www.dcboee.us/">http://www.dcboee.us/</a>, which will open this Saturday, September 4, and continue through Saturday, September 11 (excluding Sundays). The Centers will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and only electronic touch-screen voting machines will be available to voters in the Centers.<br /><br />In today’s <em>The Washington Times</em>, Deborah Simmons’ article “Early Voting in D.C. Stirs Fear Over Ballot Security” at <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/30/early-voting-in-dc-stirs-fear-over-ballot-security/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/30/early-voting-in-dc-stirs-fear-over-ballot-security/</a> addresses my concerns and those of others about the security at the Centers.<br /><br />At last week’s special meeting of the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE), a public witness reminded the DCBOEE that three of the four Centers will be located in public facilities owned and operated by the District government.<br /><br />They comprise a community center, a recreation center, and a junior high school which she stated are controlled by the Mayor who is seeking a second term in office. She raised her concern that the Mayor has unlimited access to these facilities at a time when he is in a heated election.<br /><br />At a recent press conference, the DCBOEE Executive Director, Rokey Suleman, stated that the votes of the day in each of the Centers will be contained in the electronic machines overnight. Further, Suleman informed the group that when the Centers close at 7:00 p.m. on September 11, the machines will contain all the votes cast in the respective centers.<br /><br />When questioned, Suleman demonstrated the DCBOEE’s use of security tape and locks on the voting machines. He informed the group that these measures will reveal if the machines have been tampered with while unattended overnight.<br /><br />I do not believe this is enough security.<br /><br />When it comes to elections, perception is everything. I encourage the DCBOEE to hire overnight security for all four of the Early Vote Centers.<br /><br />Why cast doubt on the results of our September 14 Primary Election. After all, simple measures keep elections clean, fair, and transparent.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-76980737971995651532010-08-25T16:41:00.001-04:002010-08-31T14:33:09.737-04:00Keep Politics Out Of The Electoral ProcessThis morning I testified to keep politics out of the electoral process at a special meeting of the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (Board) <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_563.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_563.pdf</a>.<br /><br />D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, who is seeking re-election to a second term, petitioned the Board to amend the provisions in the Board’s regulations to allow independent “no party” voters to vote in the upcoming September 14 Primary Election.<br /><br />As I stated at the special meeting, District law does not allow a registered voter to change his or her party affiliation or an independent voter to register with a party within 30 days prior to an election.<br /><br />It is the voter’s responsibility to declare their intention to be affiliated with a party or not on the Board’s Voter Registration Application <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Mail_VRForm_HAVA2003.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Mail_VRForm_HAVA2003.pdf</a> which clearly states that:<br /><br />“<strong>To vote in a primary election,</strong> (emphasis provided) you must also:<br />· Be registered in the party holding the primary election for at least 30 days prior to the election.”<br /><br />Further, under “Party Registration” on the application in section 9 the voter is required to “check one box” for the Democratic Party; Republican Party; D.C. Statehood Green Party; no party (independent); and other party (write name below) at which there is a line provided.<br /><br />The following statement is also included in section 9:<br /><br />“<strong>PLEASE NOTE:</strong> (emphasis provided)<br />To vote in a primary election in the District of Columbia, you must be registered<br />with the Democratic, Republican or D.C. Statehood Green Party.”<br /><br />And finally I pointed out that Mr. Fenty’s campaign chairman Bill Lightfoot is quoted in today’s edition of The Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/24/AR2010082407082.html?hpid=newswell&sid=ST2010082302851">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/24/AR2010082407082.html?hpid=newswell&sid=ST2010082302851</a> in which he is quoted stating that:<br /><br />“…the mayor is trying to ‘give equal treatment’ to nonaffiliated voters. ‘Mayor<br />Fenty’s position is that as many people as possible should vote, especially those<br />who share his vision that education is our foundation,’ Lightfoot said.”<br /><br />Nonaffiliated voters have and have had ample opportunity to either affiliate with any one of the three major parties or not prior to the September 14 Primary. If they chose not to do so then they cannot vote on September 14.<br /><br />The Board closed it special meeting by issuing its decision in an Order <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_567.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/nr_567.pdf</a> to deny the Mayor Fenty’s petition.<br /><br />I commend the Board for keeping politics out of the elctoral process.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-19526148395248505292010-08-11T20:08:00.000-04:002010-08-11T20:10:00.382-04:00Last Regularly Scheduled DCBOEE Meeting Before the September 14 Primary ElectionThe DC Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in Room 280-North of the One Judiciary Square building at 441 Fourth Street, N.W.<br /><br />Among other matters on the agenda which is posted on the BOEE Web site <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/">www.dcboee.org</a> , the Executive Director will report on the preparations for the primary election and the General Counsel will report on the emergency and proposed rulemaking to amend the DCBOEE regulations regarding political and ethical conduct of Board Members, voter registration, election procedures, tabulation and certification of election results, and definitions.<br /><br />This meeting was originally scheduled for August 4 and was postponed until tomorrow. Since then Togo West has been appointed to the Board and this will be his first meeting. However, with his appointment, a vacancy still exists on the Board.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-21922728356331338272010-07-20T08:50:00.001-04:002010-07-20T08:57:27.946-04:00September Primary Nominating Petition Challenge Period Ended Yesterday at 5:00 P.M.As the clock yesterday in the Voter Services Division of the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) was approaching 5:00 p.m., some D.C. voters were busy putting their finishing touches on their paper work for challenges to the nominating petitions of Democratic candidates for the September 14 Primary Election.<br /><br />Valencia Mohammad filed challenges to the nominating petitions of mayoral candidates Carlos Allen and Sulaimon Brown and Dorothy Brizill and Gary Imhoff filed a challenge to mayoral candidate Leo Alexander’s petition. Chairman of the Council candidate Calvin Gurley’s nominating petition was challenged by Alonzo Edmondson.<br /><br />Four challenges were filed to the nominating petitions of the five candidates seeking the Ward 5 City Council seat currently held by Harry Thomas, Jr. Cynthia M. Gill filed a challenge to Kathy Henderson’s petition; D.C. lawyer Cary Clennon is challenging Delano Hunter’s petition; and candidate Henderson is challenging both Kenyan McDuffie and Tracey D. Turner. Ward 6 Council candidate Randy Brown’s petition is being challenged by Jim Abely.<br /><br />According to the DCBOEE election calendar <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/Draft_Sep_2010.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/popup.asp?url=/pdf_files/Draft_Sep_2010.pdf</a> for the Primary, the DCBOEE has until August 3 to determine the validity of the challenges. And August 6 is the last day for a challenger or any candidate named in a challenge to apply to the D.C. Court of Appeals for review.<br /><br />Over the next few days, it will be interesting to see if any of the challenges are withdrawn by the challengers based on lack of evidence to challenge or “behind the scenes” negotiations between the candidates and challengers. It has happened before.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-6858896807657627372010-05-04T13:36:00.003-04:002010-07-20T08:50:40.093-04:00DCBOEE Report on the Preparations for the September 2010 Primary Election on the DCBOEE Web SiteThe D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) has posted its report to the Council's Committee on Government Operations and the Environment on the <em>Preparations for the September 2010 Primary Election</em> at <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/">http://www.dcboee.org/</a>.<br /><br />As required by the Council when it enacted the <em>Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009</em> (D.C. Law 18-103), the DCBOEE submitted its report on March 31, which was the 168th day before the upcoming September 14 Primary. The report outlines an ambitious agenda for changes to be completed in time for the Primary.<br /><br />The report focuses on technology upgrades; management of the DCBOEE facilities and equipment; staffing and pollworker management; voter education and public information initiatives; and post-election activities.<br /><br />Some of the salient points in the report are with regard to technology upgrades. This includes the purchase of new voting equipment from Election Systems and Software (ES&S), which I wrote about two postings ago. Using federal funds provided by the <em>Help America Vote Act 2002</em>, the District entered into an agreement to purchase 175 optical scan paper ballot voting machines; 200 touch screen voting machines with a paper audit trail and accessible for individuals with disabilities; two central count optical scan machines for absentee voting; and the software and peripheral equipment needed to run the system.<br /><br />In addition, the Board purchased a mail sorting machine from Pitney Bowes for absentee voting. The machine assembles the absentee material to be sent to a voter, including the ballot.<br /><br />At the time the report was submitted to the Committee, the Board was looking into other technological changes such as replacing the voting precincts' paper lists of voters with electronic poll books; online pollworker training; and tools for military and overseas voters.<br /><br />It is already turning out to be an exciting Primary for voters, because of the candidates coming forward to run for public office; however, it is also turning out to be an exciting Primary for the DCBOEE and its staff, because of all teh changes to the voting process and the new technologies that will be used for the first time in September.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-11532801356796161172010-05-04T12:35:00.005-04:002010-05-04T13:27:00.188-04:00PR 18-792, the “District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Mital Ghandi Confirmation Resolution of 2010"<span style="font-family:arial;">Along with five other public witnesses, I provided testimony at the April 26, 2010, public roundtable on the nomination of Mital Ghandi to serve on the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. The roundtable was conducted by Councilmember Mary Cheh, Chairman of the Committee on Government Operations and the Environment. I have pasted below my testimony from the hearing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Good afternoon Councilmember Cheh and staff. I am a Ward One resident, the former Public Affairs and Program Development Manager for the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (Board), and am a Certified Election/Registration Administrator. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on PR 18-792, the "District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics Mital Ghandi Confirmation Resolution of 2010".</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The vacancy for which Board Nominee Mital Ghandi is seeking to fill has existed since February of 2009. The existence of the vacancy for such a long period of time on the three member Board is not fair to the two currently sitting Members and is not good for democracy. With the Council's approval, the Mayor can nominate individuals to fill D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics' vacancies with registered voters from either the D.C. Statehood Green or Republican parties or by a voter registered as an independent with no party affiliation.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ghandi at a Board meeting when he was nominated the first time and spoke with him on the telephone over the weekend. I have found him to be a gracious man who wants to serve the District and is doing so as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Single Member District 3E05 and is a member of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As a nominee, I have a series of questions that I would like for Mr. Ghandi to answer on the public recored. They are:</span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Does Mr. Ghandi plan to resign from his position as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 3E05 as a matter of conflict of interest as other Members of the Board have done in the past?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">District law does not allow Members of the Board to hold a paid office or employment in the District government. Does Mr. Ghandi plan to resign from his appointed position on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for which he receives a stipend?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">According to his resume, Mr. Ghandi served as an international election observer almost 5 1/2 years ago. Did Mr. Ghandi's interest in elections end in the Ukraine and start up again when Mayor Fenty wanted to nominate him to the Board?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Why did he not step up in 2008 during the September Primary and November General Elections when the Board could have used his technological skills when the Board was severely challenged at the time?</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">And finally, according to Mr. Ghandi's resume, his business, People Reach LLC, is a certified local small disadvantaged business enterprise (LSDBE). Does Mr. Ghanadi's company currently have any contracts with the District government which he would have to curtail if he is appointed to the Board?</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:arial;">In closing, the Board's Fiscal Year 2011 proposed budget has been reduced by approximately $100,000 which will adversely affect the Baord during two challenging elections later this year. As a result, the Board's effectiveness could suffer by cutting two permanent staff positions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">That is why I am wearing my "SOS" pin today which represents the Save Our Safety Net campaign supporting Councilmember Jim Graham's legislation for a Millionaire's Tax in the District of Columbia. I do not support making budget cuts on the backs of poor people or to the services of the Board as it works to keep our elections free, fair, and transparent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This concludes my testimony and I am available to answer any questions you may have.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-91635198686863182882010-04-08T11:03:00.008-04:002010-04-09T21:44:42.564-04:00DC's New Voting MachinesThe DC Board of Elections and Ethics yesterday demonstrated the city’s new voting machines to be used in the upcoming September 14th Primary Election, which is only 159 days away from today. The machines were purchased from Election Systems and Software (ES&S) <a href="http://www.essvote.com/HTML/home.html">http://www.essvote.com/HTML/home.html</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimfW4dW_dxlZ-eLcMjYDpTvGMsIJVBbQ8QRZ2pq5hOlAntLZzKmaBtM_FLXmlFMjUOnnuqkeycmro342t_pvUP6GdwhkN0RSyBq2KMIl_XMiNSz2sX09AlUXPyz2nGREjvKqzLCbv25nj/s1600/P4071353.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457782800192273762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimfW4dW_dxlZ-eLcMjYDpTvGMsIJVBbQ8QRZ2pq5hOlAntLZzKmaBtM_FLXmlFMjUOnnuqkeycmro342t_pvUP6GdwhkN0RSyBq2KMIl_XMiNSz2sX09AlUXPyz2nGREjvKqzLCbv25nj/s200/P4071353.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDBo56yxFbIzHe_nf_7CchJMrke_-_YYSdoNvU6y8v5pPzWXXrDPHOG8abG4FBCkvyOh7dvTg6RnBIrHmkCT4_huxwS6QuuRemyP3x99E2frcOqZktUPw0eJsYtFmWwYykMpTnDELfqP/s1600/P4071352.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 239px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457783030970165682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxDBo56yxFbIzHe_nf_7CchJMrke_-_YYSdoNvU6y8v5pPzWXXrDPHOG8abG4FBCkvyOh7dvTg6RnBIrHmkCT4_huxwS6QuuRemyP3x99E2frcOqZktUPw0eJsYtFmWwYykMpTnDELfqP/s200/P4071352.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The M100 paper ballot optical scan voting machine (top) <a href="http://www.essvote.com/HTML/products/m100.html">http://www.essvote.com/HTML/products/m100.html</a> and the ivotronic touch screen voting machine <a href="http://www.essvote.com/HTML/products/ivotronic_rtal.html">http://www.essvote.com/HTML/products/ivotronic_rtal.html</a> (bottom) were on display during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting. The ivotronic is accessible for voters who are blind or with low vision capabilities and mobility disabilities.<br /><br />At the Board’s public meeting, ES&S representatives emphasized the voter-verifiable voter record as required by D.C. Law 18-103, the <em>Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009</em>. After the meeting, members of the public were invited to vote on the machines.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-45849074081358028792010-01-25T13:31:00.001-05:002010-01-25T13:34:10.793-05:00Revised Voter Registration FormIn compliance with District of Columbia Act 18-238, the “Omnibus Election Reform Act”, <a href="http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20091120113116.pdf">http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20091120113116.pdf</a>, the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) recently revised its voter registration form <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Mail_VRForm_HAVA2003.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Mail_VRForm_HAVA2003.pdf</a>. <br /><br />Changes to the form include:<br /><br /> · Information about the change in the age to vote in the District of Columbia which states that you must be at least 17 years old and be at least 18 years old by the next general election; and<br /><br /> · A yes or no question asking “Would you like information on serving as a poll worker for the next election?”.<br />As a result of the passage of the Act, 17 year old individuals can register and vote in a primary election, if they will be 18 by the next general election. The City Council’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment (CGOE) reported that “according to testimony presented before the Committee almost half of the states have moved toward this policy because it ‘gives voting-age young people a voice in who appears on the general election ballot [and] encourages young people to vote in the first election for which they are eligible, which has been shown to promote lifelong political participation.’”<br /><br />CGOE also reported that the Act reduces the age of pre-registration to 16 years old because it “would have the important effect of allowing all persons who register for a driver’s license to register to vote, and would likely increase voter registration in the District.”<br /><br />Also included in the report, the Act requires the DCBOEE to “include a check-off for voters to signal their interest in being a polling place worker. This small change could have significant effects in polling place worker recruitment.” This is something that I had advocated for years and it took an Act of the City Council to finally get it done. <br /><br />The DCBOEE took a step on its own and added a box on the form asking for an E-mail address of the applicant. Though the response is optional it will serve as an excellent tool to use to get in touch with the applicant if additional information or clarification is needed regarding the application. <br /><br />All in all these are good changes that should help with increasing voter participation, recruiting poll workers, and administering the basic duty of the agency which is to register District of Columbia voters.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-15912908728379254512010-01-23T10:22:00.001-05:002010-01-23T10:47:45.957-05:00Poll Tax Eliminated On January 23, 1964<div align="left">On this day in 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html">http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html</a> was ratified to eliminate a poll tax as a prerequisite to voting.<br /><br />The proposed amendment was passed by Congress on August 27, 1962, sent to the states, and ratified on January 23, 1964.<br /><br />The full text follows:<br /><br /><strong>AMENDMENT XXIV</strong><br /><strong><em> Section 1.</em></strong> The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.<br /><strong><em> Section 2.</em></strong> The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.<br /><br />This was the right thing to do and should have been done long before 1964.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-80095119060315946282010-01-18T20:48:00.002-05:002010-01-18T20:56:50.986-05:00Martin Luther King Jr. DayIn the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., District of Columbia residents should exercise their freedom to register to vote, vote, and serve as pollworkers for the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethic (DCBOEE) <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_day_worker/edw_step1.asp">http://www.dcboee.org/election_info/election_day_worker/edw_step1.asp</a> on Election Day.<br /><br />As an exemplary American, Dr. King is honored on this day for his service to our country working for equality. <br /><br />The King Center <a href="http://www.thekingcenter.org/Default.aspx">http://www.thekingcenter.org/Default.aspx</a> is promoting A Day of Service to the community. I believe the Day of Service should be extended to include two more days for serving as pollworkers for the two regularly scheduled elections to be held later this year – the September 14 Primary and the November 2 General Elections. <br /><br />It is through the volunteer efforts of D.C. registered voters that elections in our city run smoothly. DCBOEE always needs help to ensure the conduct of transparent and error-free elections. <br /><br />Sixteen and 17 year old high school students can also work on Election Day through the Youth Pollworker Program <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Youth_Pollworker_Application.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Youth_Pollworker_Application.pdf</a>. <br /><br />All pollworkers are paid a stipend for their volunteer efforts.<br /><br />Community service was always a part of Dr. King’s messages and there is no better way to celebrate his life and legacy than to exercise our freedom to vote and to serve at the polls on Election Day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-22784160057996983222009-11-30T11:30:00.000-05:002009-11-30T11:31:03.518-05:00DCBOEE Followed the Law Regarding the “Marriage Initiative of 2009”On November 17, the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) issued its decision <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/nr_227.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/nr_227.pdf</a> that the “Marriage Initiative of 2009” is “not a proper subject of initiative because it would authorize discrimination prohibited under the Human Rights Act (‘HRA’).”<br /><br />The DCBOEE’s memorandum opinion and order states that “[u]nder current law, the District recognizes same-sex marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions. The proposed Initiative seeks to prohibit the District from continuing to recognize these same-sex marriages. The Initiative instructs that ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the District of Columbia.’ If passed, the Initiative would, in contravention of the HRA, strip same-sex marriage couples of the rights and responsibilities of marriages currently recognized in the District.<br /><br />“The District’s Initiative, Referendum and Recall Procedures Act requires the Board to refuse to accept referenda and initiatives which violate the HRA. Because the Initiative would authorize discrimination prohibited by the HRA, it is not a proper subject for initiative, and may not be accepted by the Board.<br /><br />“ORDERED that the Initiative is RECEIVED BUT NOT ACCEPTED pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.16(b)(2).”<br /><br />The law is what it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-46191103657473815762009-11-10T21:16:00.003-05:002009-11-10T21:28:15.653-05:00Today In HistoryOn this date in 1917, 41 suffragists were arrested when picketing outside the White House. According to <a href="http://www.suffragist.com/">http://www.suffragist.com/</a>, some, including Paul and Lucy Burns, go on a hunger strike while in jail. Of course, their militancy earns them sympathy from some and disdain from others.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-47785428604343646362009-11-08T20:55:00.000-05:002009-11-08T20:57:34.206-05:00Council of the District of Columbia Passes the “Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009”D.C. City Council’s second and final vote on Tuesday, November 3, on Bill 18-345, the “Omnibus Election Reform Act of 2009”, served as a major step forward for voting in the District of Columbia.<br /><br />It will be remembered as the day when the City Council voted unanimously, with amendments, to make voting and registering to vote easier for D.C. residents. In addition, Bill 18-345 will hold the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) more accountable for the administration of elections.<br /><br />During the Council’s November 3 deliberations on Bill 18-345, the bill was amended by:<br />• Requiring a voter who uses the same-day registration process, which allows a District of Columbia resident to register and vote on election day, to vote provisionally by casting a special ballot subject to the DCBOEE determination of eligibility before counting the ballot; and<br />• Retaining the provision in the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 3, Elections and Ethics, regarding certification that the circulator of a petition for an initiative or referendum “has not made any false statements regarding the initiative or referendum to anyone whose signature is appended to the petition.”<br /><br />I support these amendments and believe they strengthen the bill.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-47894484413875711902009-11-06T23:27:00.001-05:002009-11-09T08:07:38.253-05:00DCBOEE Decision Is Still Pending on the “Marriage Initiative of 2009”The District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics (DCBOEE) conducted a hearing on the “Marriage Initiative of 2009” on October 26 and has not issued an order of their decision.<br /><br />During the “Public Matters” portion of the meeting of the DCBOEE on Wednesday <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/nr_223.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/nr_223.pdf</a> the Members of the Board were asked by a citizen when they would issue their order for the Initiative. Board Chairman Errol Arthur replied that “they cannot put a timetable on it.” The citizen pressed on by asking, “Before Christmas?” He again replied that “they cannot put a timetable on it.”<br /><br />In the meantime, you can read documents received by the DCBOEE related to the Initiative on the DCBOEE Web site at <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/newsroom/showASPfile.asp?cat=NewsReleases&id=224">http://www.dcboee.org/newsroom/showASPfile.asp?cat=NewsReleases&id=224</a>. <br /><br />There is nothing in the D.C. Election Laws or in the DCBOEE regulations that puts a “timetable” on when the Board must issue a decision on an initiative.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-85835602911980354832009-11-05T20:43:00.002-05:002009-11-05T20:54:10.990-05:00Today In HistoryOn this day in 1872, suffragist Susan B. Anthony <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony</a><br />is fined $100.00 for attempting to vote in a United States presidential election. She never paid the fine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172943842621730355.post-12041656009597603802009-11-01T23:20:00.000-05:002009-11-01T23:22:06.727-05:00D.C.’s Open Voter Roll Is in Stark Contrast to Virginia’s Strict Law Denying Access to TheirsA recent article in The Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904427.html?hpid=newswell">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904427.html?hpid=newswell</a> reveals a stark contrast between D.C.’s open voter roll and Virginia’s strict law about who has access to theirs.<br /><br />Reporter Frederick Kunkle reported that Know Campaign’s intention to use the voter roll, which included voter history, was going to be used for a “mass mailing “to “simply motivate people to vote” in the upcoming statewide election on November 3. <br /><br /> “Under Virginia law, the Board of Elections can furnish lists of voters only to the courts, the Department of Motor Vehicles, bona fide political candidates, political parties, political action committees and nonprofit groups that promote voter education or registration,” Kunkle reports. “The law further restricts access to voting histories, prohibiting the Board of Elections from giving the histories to anyone except candidates, elected officials or political party chairmen. Those who do obtain the lists are also required to sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, promising not to disseminate the information to those not authorized to have it.” <br /><br />However, in the District of Columbia, anyone who has $10.00 can obtain a copy of D.C.’s voter roll <a href="http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Data_Request_Form.pdf">http://www.dcboee.org/pdf_files/Data_Request_Form.pdf</a> including political party affiliations, registration dates, and voter histories. The same information is available for public review in hard copies in the Board’s office and in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library. <br /><br />Once purchased, D.C.’s voter roll can be used for political, nonpartisan, and commercial purposes. It can also be re-packaged and re-sold.<br /><br />This is quite a contrast to Virginia’s law. Wouldn’t you say?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0