Guest Blogged by John Gideon, of VotersUnite and VoteTrustUSA

The “DVN Top 5” is a feature in the weekly voting newsletter of VoteTrustUSA. The February 28 edition can be found here. The selection of what will be the “Top 5” for each week and where it goes on the list is all mine. The fact that you may disagree with my choices is great because it shows that you have been reading the DVN articles that I’ve posted throughout the week here on The BRAD BLOG!…

#5 � The Maryland State Board of Elections has decided that it is time to admit that there are security issues with Diebold voting machines. In an article printed at VoteTrustUSA TrueVoteMD says,

Meanwhile in a report from the Baltimore Sun Maryland’s Governor is questioning why none of the questions about the Diebold voting machines have been answered by the board of elections.

#4 � The Secretary of State of Florida seems to have taken a page from her counter-part in California when it comes to late Friday afternoon announcements. In her directive, as posted at The Brad Blog, she instructs the counties in new security safeguards. Though the directive never mentions Leon County or Diebold there is no doubt that this directive stems from that incident as well as from the recent revelations about Diebold that have come from California. In an article in the Miami Herald the Leon County election director, Ion Sancho, says, ”The basis on which they are issuing [the new rules] is Leon County’s test, yet not one word of congratulations. How petty.”

#3 � Prior to signing a bill requiring a paper ballot in future elections in New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson sent a letter to elections officials in all 50 states to let them know why he was signing the bill and what it means for his state. The next day the governor held a press conference as he signed the bill, SB-295, into law thus adding New Mexico to a growing list of states that require a paper ballot.

#2 � Meanwhile in Pennsylvania voting activists spent time defending themselves from false accusations that they were at fault for stopping the counties from purchasing new voting machines. Later in the week the state Supreme Court found in favor of the counties and the state. This ruling did not happen without interference from the Governor’s office who praised the justices for their decision.

#1 � The week began with the
news from New York discussing stopgap measures to solve the states HAVA compliance problems. Mid-week the US Department of Justice announced that they were filing suit against the state for non-compliance. By the end of the week, and in a counter move, a group of voters and civic groups announced that they were intervening in that lawsuit.