Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Wednesday 11/09/05

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Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer 1 hour, 54 minutes ago

Democrats cleaned up big in off-year elections from New Jersey to California, sinking the candidate who embraced
President Bush in the final days of the Virginia governor's campaign. They also turned back GOP Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to limit the power of California's Democratic leader

Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine (news, bio, voting record) easily won the New Jersey governor's seat after an expensive, mudslinging campaign, trouncing Republican Doug Forrester by 10 percentage points. Polls in the last week had forecast a much closer race.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine won a solid victory in GOP-leaning Virginia, beating Republican Jerry Kilgore by more than 5 percentage points. Democrats crowed that Bush's election-eve rally for the former state attorney general only spurred more Kaine supporters to the polls.

In California, Schwarzenegger failed in his push to rein in the Democrat-controlled Assembly. Three of his ballot measures flopped: Capping spending, removing legislators' redistricting powers, and making teachers work five years instead of two to pass probation. Another measure he supported was too close to call.

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051109/ap_on_el_ge/elections_rdp;_ylt=Au_ux3yyP1wzlWX.8EeYNyus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

By The Associated Press Wed Nov 9, 2:31 AM ET

Highlights of Tuesday's elections:

GOVERNORS:

NEW JERSEY: Democratic Sen. Jon Corzine (news, bio, voting record) easily beat Republican businessman Doug Forrester after a sharply negative campaign to succeed acting Democratic Gov. Richard J. Codey. The multimillionaires spent $70 million, more than double the previous record for a New Jersey governor's race.

VIRGINIA: Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine soundly defeated Republican Jerry Kilgore, a former attorney general, in a closely watched contest to succeed popular Democratic Gov. Mark Warner.

MAYORS:
CITY COUNCILS:

SCHOOL BOARD:

DOVER, Pa.: Voters ousted eight GOP school board members who backed a controversial policy to introduce high school students to "intelligent design," replacing them with a slate of Democratic candidates opposed to the requirement, which critics said promoted a form of creationism.

JUDGES:

PENNSYLVANIA: Supreme Court Justice Russell M. Nigro was denied a second 10-year term amid voter backlash over a new state law that gave lawmakers and judges big raises. No statewide judge in Pennsylvania has ever been ousted in a retention vote. Justice Sandra Schultz Newman won another term only narrowly.

expanded list here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/election_rdp_glance

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer 3 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - In a stinging rebuke from voters who elected him two years ago, Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to reshape state government were rejected during a special election that darkened his prospects for a second term.

The Republican governor and Hollywood actor, who likes to say he can sell anything, on Tuesday saw all four of his signature ballot proposals rejected.

The election pitted the once-dominant Republican governor against two of California's powerhouse political forces — public employee unions and Democrats who control the Legislature.

one more para. here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051109/ap_on_el_st_lo/ballot_measures;_ylt=AhQjDJb9wbnUwhfMcUqD4d1h24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 3 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Billionaire Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg ran away with a second term in a rout of his underfunded Democratic challenger, after assembling a finely tuned campaign machine in the most expensive mayoral re-election in history.

Bloomberg pummeled Fernando Ferrer on Tuesday by a 20-point margin, the largest of any Republican over a Democrat in a New York mayoral race. The last drubbing close to that magnitude was Rudolph Giuliani's 17-point re-election landslide in 1997.

It was Giuliani's last-minute endorsement in 2001 that nudged Bloomberg into his first win less than two months after the World Trade Center attack.

"I love this city even more today, if that's possible, than I did four years ago," Bloomberg said at his victory celebration. "I will continue to lead it honestly and independently by always putting people's interests ahead of the political interests."

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051109/ap_on_el_st_lo/nyc_mayor;_ylt=AjL9lVZ5AHdh7KYFnSdb.cBh24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

By Chris Cillizza
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, November 9, 2005; Page A18

Democrat Jon S. Corzine last night won the New Jersey governorship, after surviving a wild hazing from Republican Douglas Forrester and a bitter ex-wife in the closing days of a free-spending contest.

Emerging triumphant in a Garden State battle of multimillionaires, Corzine will leave the U.S. Senate just five years after winning it in another lavishly self-financed campaign. As the new governor, he will get to appoint a successor to finish his term.

Democrat Jon S. Corzine gives an optimistic assessment of his chances to be New Jersey's governor after casting his vote in Hoboken. Corzine will give up his U.S. Senate seat when he becomes governor.
Democrat Jon S. Corzine gives an optimistic assessment of his chances to be New Jersey's governor after casting his vote in Hoboken. Corzine will give up his U.S. Senate seat when he becomes governor. (By Tim Larsen -- Associated Press)

With 95 percent of precincts counted, Corzine had 54 percent of the votes (1,120,272) to Forrester's 43 percent (908,796).

more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110802108.html?nav=hcmodule

Voters also pass measures on bail, mortgages and a rail relocation fund
By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

NOV. 8 ELECTIONS


AUSTIN - Voters overwhelmingly approved writing a ban on same-sex marriage into the Texas constitution Tuesday, giving social conservatives a key victory going into next year's state elections.

The controversial proposition was supported by Gov. Rick Perry and many churches throughout the state.

"That's where the victory was won, from the pulpits of the state of Texas," said state Rep. Warren Chisum, a Pampa Republican who wrote the amendment. "The people of Texas have spoken and they intend that marriage should be between one man and one woman."

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said the outcome was not unexpected.

more about bonehead move:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3448474

Courtesy of underpants from the VA forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=183&topic_id=2544&mesg_id=2544

BY KATHY STILL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Nov 9, 12:00 AM EST


BRISTOL, Va. – Southwest Virginia voters overwhelmingly supported Republican Jerry Kilgore, the hometown favorite, but it wasn’t enough to put him in the governor’s mansion.

Democrat Tim Kaine won the close and often bitter race Tuesday in what some pundits say could signal open season on Republican incumbents in national races in 2006.

Kaine won the race with 51.9 percent to Kilgore’s 47 percent.

Kilgore, the former attorney general, conceded to Kaine shortly after 10 p.m.

more:
http://www.tricities.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/MGArticle/TRI_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768034359&path=Variables.path

By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY
The Kansas Board of Education approved new science standards for teachers in public schools Tuesday that question Charles Darwin's teachings on evolution and hand a victory to advocates of "intelligent design."

By Scott McClurg, Lawrence (Kan.) Journal World

The board's 6-4 vote reverses a 2001 decision that affirmed Darwin's theory of natural selection. That vote came two years after most references to the theory were removed from state standards, making Kansas the butt of jokes by scientists and late-night comedians.

Advocates for intelligent design (ID) helped write the new standards, which challenge Darwin's 1859 theory. Scientists have long considered the theory — which explains how species evolve through survival of the fittest, passing new and better traits to their offspring — as proven reality. But ID advocates say the world is so complex that new species can be explained only as the product of an intelligent creator or designer.

more about ignorance:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2005-11-08-kansas-science-standards_x.htm

dissussion here thanks to larissa:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2235606

Tuesday, November 8, 2005
BY Edd Pritchard REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER

Some voters ran into problems when they arrived at the polls early today, as poll workers ran into delays setting up new electronic voting equipment.

Assorted precincts opened late for a variety of reasons, said Jeffrey Matthews, director of the Stark County Board of Elections. In past elections, one polling site might encounter a problem and open late, he said.

Matthews and his staff anticipated problems because of new equipment, but things were worse today than expected.

“It’s a people problem, not a machine problem.” (right!)

more:
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=251749&r=0&Category=11

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Sandy Theis
Plain Dealer Bureau Chief

Columbus- Ohio voters approved a ballot issue designed to create jobs and improve local roads and bridges, but they summarily rejected a package of reforms that would have radically changed Ohio's elections.

A Democratic-leaning coalition, Reform Ohio Now, placed the issues on the ballot and hoped that state investment losses and other scandals would fuel voter discontent and inspire calls for change.

An ambitious effort by opponents and widespread confusion over the complex issues combined to defeat the entire package.

Voters strongly supported Issue 1 - a $2 billion "Jobs for Ohio" bond package promoted by former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, a Democrat, and Lt. Gov. Bruce Johnson, a Republican. The bonds will finance high-tech research and local infrastructure projects.

more:
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/113153285398990.xml&coll=2

By LOUISE CHU, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Voters approved ballot measures to ban handguns in San Francisco and urge the city's public high schools and college campuses to keep out military recruiters.

The gun ban prohibits the manufacture and sale of all firearms and ammunition in the city, and makes it illegal for residents to keep handguns in their homes or businesses.

Only two other major U.S. cities -- Washington and Chicago -- have implemented such sweeping handgun bans.

With all precincts reporting early Wednesday, 58 percent of voters backed the proposed gun ban while 42 percent opposed it.

more:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-san-francisco-measures,1,3333550.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Results Tuesday heighten GOP anxieties about 2006 midterm elections
ANALYSIS
By Ron Fournier
Updated: 1:17 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2005

WASHINGTON - Iraq, Katrina, CIA leak, Harriet Miers. Things couldn’t possibly get any worse for President Bush.

Wait, they just did.

Bush put his wispy political prestige on the line in the Virginia governor’s race and lost Tuesday when the candidate he embraced in a last-minute campaign stop was soundly defeated. While there are many reasons for Jerry Kilgore’s defeat, chief among them his poor campaign, giddy Democrats said the Virginia race as well as a Democratic victory in New Jersey prove that Bush is a political toxin for Republicans.

“The arrogance of saying, ‘I’m the Great George Bush. I’m coming to Virginia in the 12th hour and pulling Kilgore’s bacon out of the fire.’ I think he rallied Democrats with that move,” said Steve Jarding, a Democratic political consultant who helped elect Virginia’s current governor, Mark Warner.

“Democratic voters said, ’I’ll send you a message, George Bush, if that’s what you want.”’

more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9975248/

11/9/2005, 1:36 a.m. ET
By JOHN McCARTHY
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Promoters of four ballot issues that would have changed the way Ohioans vote took a solid hit on Election Day, but expect the Legislature to make changes on their own anyway.

And one of the most vocal critics of the issues is ready to accommodate them.

The issues would have opened absentee balloting to all voters, lowered the cap on individual campaign contributions and put boards, instead of elected officials, in charge of drawing legislative and congressional districts and overseeing the state's elections.

In the campaign against Issues 2-5, state Rep. Kevin DeWine acknowledged that the way the state draws district lines needs work. A board of elected state officials draws legislative districts and the Legislature draws congressional districts. All the mapmakers are Republicans. The ballot issue would have given that power to a judge-led board.

more:
http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1131505448248450.xml&storylist=clelection

discussion here:
Thanks to Doremus!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911330

11/9/2005, 3:19 a.m. ET
By PETER JACKSON
The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In an election outcome nearly as dramatic as the Legislature's vote to repeal the pay raises it approved just four months ago, Pennsylvania voters denied state Supreme Court Justice Russell M. Nigro another 10-year term in what citizen activists portrayed as more evidence of citizens' disenchantment with state government.

Nigro became the first statewide judge to be turned out of office in a yes-or-no retention election in the 36 years such elections have been held.

Returns from 97 percent of the precincts showed him attracting only 49 percent of the vote — 680,622 "yes" votes to 711,473 "no" votes.

Fellow Justice Sandra Schultz Newman won a second term with 54 percent — a close margin for a retention election, the partial returns showed.

more:
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-32/1131503047178320.xml&storylist=paelection

Discussion here:
Thanks to Born Free!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911859

WBEN Newsroom - Wednesday, November 9, 2005 06:09 AM

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - State Senator Byron Brown is now Mayor Byron Brown.

The Democratic candidate easily defeated Republican Kevin Helfer and two other candidates.

Brown, who has the distinction of being the first African-American elected mayor of the city, captured 64% of the vote to Helfer's 27%.

Judith Einach of the Green Party garnered 5%.

little more here:
http://www.wben.com/newsroom/fullstory.php?newsid=03950

discussion here:
Thanks to TankLV!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911780

Voters Choose Black Mayor for Cincinnati
Voters in Cincinnati Choose State Sen. Mark Mallory As First Popularly Elected Black Mayor

By TERRY KINNEY Associated Press Writer
The Associated PressThe Associated Press

CINCINNATI Nov 9, 2005 — Four years after riots tore this city apart, Cincinnati voters elected a black mayor for the first time.

State Sen. Mark Mallory defeated Councilman David Pepper, both Democrats, in a nonpartisan mayoral runoff Tuesday to lead Ohio's third-largest city.

Rioting broke out in 2001 after an unarmed black man was shot and killed by a white police officer trying to make an arrest. While racial tensions have calmed, crime, safety and revitalizing downtown remain leading issues.

With all precincts reporting, Mallory had 52 percent to 48 percent for Pepper.

"This is the beginning of a new era," Mallory told supporters. "We are going to bring energy to this city like we haven't seen in a long time."

more:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1294461

Discussion here:
Thanks to Judi Lynn!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911768

By GLENN ADAMS

©Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Supporters of a law to protect homosexuals from discrimination in Maine maintained a lead over those who sought to overturn the law as ballots were counted Tuesday night.

With tallies from 24 percent of the state´s precincts, votes against repeal were ahead 57 percent to 43 percent over those seeking to overturn the gay rights law that was approved by the Legislature earlier this year.

If the no votes prevail, Maine will become the last New England state to legally protect homosexuals from discrimination.

The issue, which was put before voters for the third time since 1998, pitted a coalition of mainstream religious and business groups and politicians including Gov. John Baldacci against a network of Christian church groups that sees gay rights as an assault on traditional marriage.

more:
http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8DOM59G0-312.shtml

Discussion here:
Thanks to Charlie Brown!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911286

http://vote2005.ss.ca.gov/Returns/prop/00.htm

discussion here:

Thanks to brooklynite!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911205

11/8/2005 10:46:00 PM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Karen Finney of Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the resounding Democratic victories in elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and across the country:

"The resounding victories tonight by Jon Corzine and Tim Kaine have sent a powerful message that when Democrats stand up for what we believe in, we win. They showed that the values and priorities of the Democratic Party are the values and priorities of the American people.

"Jon Corzine and Tim Kaine were strong candidates who offered vision and leadership based on the shared values and priorities of the voters of New Jersey and Virginia. They worked hard to earn the trust and the votes of the people in their states by not taking a single vote or voter for granted.

"Also tonight, voters all across the country delivered a resounding message: Americans are tired of the politics of hate and divisiveness, and voted for strong Democratic candidates who offered true leadership for their states and communities. These candidates showed exactly what our party is going to do to stand up and win in 2006."

----

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, http://www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

more:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56405

discussion here:
Thanks to paineinthearse!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1911150

BRIAN BAKST

Associated Press

ST. PAUL - Voters here held what amounted to a referendum on the White House as they picked a mayor Tuesday, with Democratic incumbent Randy Kelly haunted by his 2004 endorsement of President Bush.

Former City Council member Chris Coleman, also a Democrat, held a commanding lead in recent polls. Three independent polls showed voters were primed to fire Kelly, and most cited his support for Bush as the reason.

"It may sound silly, but Kelly was for Bush and I'm not," said retiree Audrey Guith after casting her vote for Coleman.

No sitting St. Paul mayor had lost a campaign since 1974. Kelly had a personal election streak that spanned just as long, covering his quarter-century in the Legislature and first term as mayor of Minnesota's capital city.

more:
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/13113128.htm

Discussion here:

Thanks to JI7!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1910968

Voting act Section 203 draws vocal critics, backers at House panel hearing


Updated: 6:32 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2005

WASHINGTON - Congress is considering whether to renew a 30-year-old requirement that large communities of people who speak limited English must have access to ballots in their native language.

In a hearing Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee’s panel on the Constitution, some argued that lawmakers should expand the requirement to include more jurisdictions. Others urged them to scrap it as an unconstitutional and costly burden on states.

The bilingual ballot section, which was added to the Voting Rights Act in 1975, is one of two key portions of the law that expire in 2007 without congressional action. Also expiring is a requirement that states with a history of racial discrimination get federal approval to change their election laws.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said that if most immigrants must prove they can speak English to become citizens, that should also be the test for voting.

more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9972269/

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001987.htm

Voting so far on new touch-screen machines has not been quite as seamless as local board of elections officials had hoped.

Lucas County Board of Elections director Jill Kelly said some voters left the precincts this morning without voting because the machines were not up and running. She urged people who had problems to return and cast their ballots.
...
Poll workers at the Sylvania Senior Center could not find the machine’s memory cards and at the Toledo Board of Education building the voting machines could not be found. Those issues were resolved, Ms. Kelly said. And those coming to vote where machines were not yet up and running were given provisional ballots.

She denied reports that voters in some precincts were given the wrong ballot issues to consider. She added that as of about 9 a.m., the calls from the 495 precincts died down significantly.

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001987.htm

From the Toledo blade:


http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051108/ELECTION2005/51106008

By Margo Rutledge Kissell

Dayton Daily News

Election Day got off to a rough start Tuesday in some pricincts in Montgomery County, where new touch-screen voting machines are being used for the first time.
Tools

The machines, which officials said are more accurate and are expected to speed up the vote-counting process, are being used in about half of Ohio's 88 counties, including Greene and Miami.

Sporatic problems were reported throughout Montgomery County, including Miamisburg, Washington Twp. and Dayton.

Mike Petkus, 47, of Dayton said that when he went to cast his ballot at Kiser Middle School in north Dayton, he had the Northridge school board candidates on his touch screen rather than the Dayton school board.

more:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1108electiondayweb.html

New voting machines, nervous election workers, voters sporting the wrong shirts, even leaking ammonia led to scattered glitches Tuesday as Ohio voters went to the polls.

Estimated turnout in Hamilton County was 27.2 percent at 4 p.m. – with the heaviest voting hours of the day still ahead, according to a sampling of precincts by the Board of Elections.

In the city of Cincinnati, with its high-profile mayor’s race, turnout was slightly higher at 29.8 percent at 4 p.m..

Turnout was especially high -- almost 40 percent or more -- in Clifton, North Avondale and Hartwell precincts that were strongholds for state Sen. Mark Mallory in the primary election. East Side precincts that voted heavily for David Pepper on Sept. 13 have turnouts of about 30 percent.

more:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051108/NEWS01/311080010

Vote goes smoothly by punch or touch
Electronic balloting gets good reviews

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/113153282898990.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Kaye Spector
Plain Dealer Reporter

Touch-screen voting debuted in Northeast Ohio on Tuesday, and while a few struggled with the unfamiliar technology, most voters said the electronic balloting was fast and easy.

At the same time, old-style balloting in Cuyahoga County took place with few snags.

Lorain, Medina and Portage counties were among 44 in Ohio to use electronic voting machines, on which choices are made by touching a screen.

Voters, many of whom have had to master self-service gas pumps and automated checkouts, seemed to take the new technology in stride...

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/113153283598990.xml&coll=2

Taft joins in claiming victory for Issue 1; 2nd effort pays off

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Becky Gaylord and Julie Carr Smyth
Plain Dealer Reporters

Ohio voters Tuesday cleared the way for the state to spend $2 billion to fix roads, bridges and sewers, back high-tech research and help get job sites ready for companies to move in.

Issue 1, which amends the state constitution, passed 54 percent to 46 percent with 80 percent of the precincts recorded.

The measure, which will be financed by long-term bonds, could also allow the state to become a stockholder in companies for the first time in 150 years.

A broad coalition, which included Republicans and Democrats, business groups, labor unions and farmers, supported Issue 1. They raised about $2.4 million for their campaign...

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/113153296998990.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Sandy Theis and Reginald Fields
Plain Dealer Bureau

Columbus - Gov. Bob Taft's record-low popularity and a parade of scandals ensnaring Republicans could not persuade Ohio voters to embrace a Democrat-backed package of election reforms.

Voters soundly rejected all four ballot issues - an outcome that analysts predicted will energize Republicans stung by questions over their party's competence and character and slow the momentum of Democrats as they prepare for next year's statewide races.

"I think the scandal card has been played, and it didn't work that well," said David Hopcraft, spokesman for Ohio First, a group created to fight the reforms.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett echoed his comments...

shit-

Sunday Magazine ends run on Dec. 18
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
From staff reports

Citing rising expenses and a stagnating economy, The Plain Dealer will cease publication of its Sunday Magazine...

The newspaper will continue to carry Parade Magazine on Sundays...
(ooh.Parade Magazine.ooh.)

The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine has been published since its first issue appeared June 29, 1919.

"While we are saddened to see this high-quality section cease publication, we must employ our resources to maximum advantage," Clifton said.

http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business/113153284698990.xml?bxbiz&coll=2

Hope Punctuates Presidential Runoff

Associated Press
Wednesday, November 9, 2005; Page A26

MONROVIA, Liberia, Nov. 8 -- Liberia voted in a heated runoff election Tuesday for its first postwar president in a vote that pitted a former soccer star who dropped out of high school against the country's top female politician who was educated at Harvard. Returns were predicted to begin coming in by the end of the week.

With U.N. helicopters buzzing over the bombed-out capital, many expressed hope that the vote would herald an era of peace after decades of conflict that displaced a third of the West African nation's 3.5 million citizens and left up to 200,000 dead.

"We've been killing each other too much. There's gonna be a change in Liberia this time around," Saviour Dixon, a 27-year-old college student, said after voting at a bullet-spattered warehouse.

In a first round of balloting on Oct. 11, George Weah, 39, the former soccer star, and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 66, a former finance minister, won 28 and 20 percent of the votes, respectively. That round weeded out 20 other candidates, including warlords and rebel leaders.

more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800196.html?nav=rss_world

Discussion here:

Thanks to ck4829!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5309533

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1131555247276110.xml&storylist=cleveland

Ohio voter turnout was 39.7 percent
11/9/2005, 11:45 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

(AP) — Voter turnout in Ohio was nearly 4 percentage points higher than in previous odd-year elections.

There were 3 million votes cast in Tuesday's election, or 39.7 percent of Ohio's 7 million registered voters, according to the final, unofficial count of Tuesday's election. Turnout in 2001 and 2003 elections was 36 percent and 36.6 percent, respectively.

Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for the the office of Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, said interest in the five statewide ballot issues was the reason for the higher turnout.

The highest turnout by percentage was in Noble County, 60.2 percent. The lowest turnout by percentage was 32.4 percent, in Athens County...

On the Net:

Office of Secretary of State tabulation: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/results2005.aspx?Section1170

County Election Returns

Unofficial Returns
2005 Municipal Election

Returns are unofficial until they have been certified.
Returns were last updated 11/9/2005 12:10:28 PM.
9,340 out of 9,442 Districts (98.92%) Reporting Statewide.

more:
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/

Duscussion here:
Thanks to happyslug!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=175x7942

Not one of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties has purchased state-approved voting machines, and Lancaster, like other counties, is seeing the Dec. 31 deadline hovering closer.

snip>
That model, AccuPoll Inc.’s Direct Electronic Voting Machine, provides election services in Pennsylvania through a company county officials have had trouble with in the past.

Contracted in 2000 to supply an intermunicipal police information sharing system, that company, Blue Bell -based Unisys Corp., failed to deliver on its promises. The county threatened to sue the company until Unisys finally fulfilled its contractual obligations in 2004, Burnette said.


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According to 2002’s federal Help America Vote Act, all municipalities must replace their voting machines with models that are capable of manually auditing tallies and that are accessible to disabled voters.
But President Bush waited until 2004 to create the Election Assistance Commission, which would set new guidelines. To this day, those guidelines have yet to be finalized, according to EAC spokeswoman Jeannie Layson.


more:
http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/18292

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