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Recent News

07.22.08

by Eric Marshall

Influx of Voters Expected to Test New Technology


Ian Urbina of The New York Times wrote an excellent column (with contributions from our very own Jonah Goldman) this week, "Influx of Voters Expected to test New Technology," highlighting many of the issues we're working on in preparation for November's elections.

A myriad of problems: new voting equipment, under resourced election systems, lack of properly trained poll workers, confusing ballot designs, ballot shortages, unnecessary purges, and many other issues could very well lead to long lines, confusion and chaos that will disenfranchise an untold number of voters.

Click here to read more.

07.01.08

by Whitney Norton

Washington Post Notes “Bias in High Places”

The report mentioned in Jonah's post from last week is still in the news - the Washington Post published an editorial on Sunday calling the actions of former Justice Department employees "disgraceful." The Post claims that "According to the report, Ms. McDonald [a member of the three-person committee that screened applications] searched candidates' applications for ‘ 'leftist commentary and buzzwords' such as 'environmental justice,' 'social justice,' 'making policy,' or 'anything else that involves legislating rather than enforcing''; she also apparently punished membership in liberal organizations."

Click here to read the editorial.

06.30.08

by Eric Marshall

Election Day on PBS

As part of its Point of View series, PBS is airing an excellent documentary, Election Day, this Tuesday, July 1st at 10pm.  Election Day is a fascinating documentary that gives viewers a first hand look at 11 stories from the November 2, 2004 elections.  The documentary highlights the best and worst of our election system. 

I had the honor of participating in a Roundtable on the Point of View website about the documentary.  The discussion asked various election experts what they thought was the single most important reform that would improve the accuracy of, access to and efficiency of the election system in America.  Click here to read the discussion.

Click here for the Election Day website.

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