Guest Blogged by John Gideon of VotersUnite.org

In response to the Colorado Governor and legislative leaders' push for every county to use paper ballots at the polls in November, and to be counted by optical-scan, county election officials are warning of long lines and late results. We've heard this from election officials in California and Ohio, also. My opinion? So what. I want my vote counted and I want as much assurance that it has been correctly counted as possible. I don't need immediate gratification, i.e., a winner or loser within 30 minutes of the polls closing. The media crawl all over themselves to be the first to call the election for one candidate or another. Well, if they have to wait a few more hours then so be it. I want my damn vote counted the way I cast it. Tomorrow is fine. And about the long-lines; have they heard of cardboard boxes? Voters don't necessarily need to use a specially built voting booth. If they have a choice between using a cardboard box as a booth or standing in a long line in the rain or snow, which do you think they will chose?

Our sincere congratulations to the elections staff and poll workers of Horry County, South Carolina, for what is being reported as a trouble-free election today.

As usual, links to those stories, and the rest of today's voting news, all follow below...

• NAtional: Voters confused by e-voting machines, study finds
  http://www.govexec.com/d...ilyfed/0108/012508n1.htm
• NAtional: Soldiers overseas may get their ballots via e-mail
  http://www.chron.com/dis...etropolitan/5487230.html
• CO: Conroy Plaintiffs Applaud Legislators' & Governor's Decision to Support Optical-Scan Paper Ballots as Solution for 2008 Election
  Group Cites Lack of Time and Vendors' Inability to "Patch" Fundamental Security and Reliability Flaws in DRE Computerized Voting Systems
  http://voteraction.org/node/331
• CO: Clerks: Long lines, late results likely in Colo. election
  http://www.vaildaily.com.../20080125/NEWS/386575812
• CO: Voter-database doubts
  Some officials say system, two years late, still isn't ready
  http://www.rockymountain...6/voter-database-doubts/
• CO: Voter verification database will be ready by election
  http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1201336142/2
• CT: 96.6% Of Memory Cards OK, Half Of Registrars Follow Last Minute Procedures
  http://www.ctvoterscount.org/?p=137
• CT: VoTeR Center Audits Election Technology
  http://www.votetrustusa....;id=2731&Itemid=113
• CT: Secretary of State says safeguards for computer voting are strictest in nation
  http://www.greenwichtime...ingjan26,0,2436484.story
• FL: Surge in Early Balloting Alters Florida Races
  http://www.nytimes.com/2...litics/27florida.html?hp
• FL: Palm Beach County - Glitch leaves early voters waiting
  http://www.palmbeachpost.../26/s1c_voting_0126.html
• NY: HAVA compliancy breeds havoc
  http://www.auburnpub.com...st_news/latestnews03.txt
• NY: Back to the future for N.Y. voters
  http://www.theithacajour...26/NEWS01/801260354/1002
• OH: Give Touch-Screen Machines a Chance
  http://www.news-register...l/id/505012.html?nav=511
• OH: Editorial: Don't rush to change voting methods in problem-free Ohio counties
  http://www.cleveland.com...23221760.xml&coll=2
• OH: Ohio Secretary of State agrees with Voting Activists...
  http://www.opednews.com/...ohio_secretary_of_st.htm
• OH: Brunner in a quandary over elections decision
  http://www.cleveland.com...47247360.xml&coll=2
• PA: Lackawanna County - Group seeks to halt voting machine buy
  http://www.thetimes-trib...ept_id=415898&rfi=6
• PA: Northampton County - Block sought for voting machine purchase
  Group wants injunction against Northampton County.
  http://www.mcall.com/new...199jan26,0,2173000.story
• PA: Northampton County - Voting machines tied up in court
  County had ordered Sequoias before bid to stop distribution.
  http://www.nj.com/news/e...90390010.xml&coll=2
• SC: Voters in SC Encouraged to Print Out Their Own Ballots Before Going to Polls
  https://bradblog.com/?p=5611
• SC: Chester County - Justice Dept. won't monitor Chester polls
  http://www.heraldonline....om/109/story/319557.html
• SC: Horry County has problem free Democratic primary
  http://www.scnow.com/mid...BTW-2008-01-26-0007.html
• SC: Horry County - Election officials: All i's are dotted
  Officials have been working to ensure success
  http://www.myrtlebeachon.../local/story/327851.html
• TN: Tennessee bill could do harm in search of phantom fraud
  Today's Topic: States press voter photo IDs
  http://www.tennessean.co...OPINION01/801260331/1008
• TX: ID views heat up voter fraud hearing
  Backers pressed on level of poll 'impersonations,' whether proof needed Backers pressed on whether requiring proof at polls deters violators
  http://www.dallasnews.co...ntexvoterid.271cf30.html
• VA: Herring Introduces Bill for Meaningful Recounts
  http://vavv.org/wordpress/

**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or BradBlog.Com**

                 

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