Rhode Island Secretary of State Ralph A. Mollis, at right in the above photo, yesterday introduced a package of state-level election reform bills that would bring weekend voting to Rhode Islanders, change the way the state’s voter rolls are handled, and change Election Day canvassing rules.

In August, we highlighted the fact that Secretary Mollis was considering weekend voting, and publicized his public hearing to discuss that and other issues.

The complete press release from Secretary Mollis’ office follows. (more…)

Posted in Election Reform, Why do we vote on Tuesday?, Rhode Island, Early voting | No Comments »

Barack Obama has been declared the winner of the Wisconsin primary, but he’s giving his speech tonight from a packed house in Houston, Texas. The first order of business? Not announcing the Wisconsin results. Obama asked the crowd of what he called 20,000 to pick up a pamphlet on the way out the door to learn how to vote early. In Texas, although the votes are tallied in the primary election and a caucus takes place on March 4th, folks can be casting ballots from today until Election Day. So in Texas, it’s not Tuesday or bust. (more…)

Posted in Why do we vote on Tuesday?, Election Reform, Texas, Wisconsin, Election 2008, Early voting | Comments Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – I hopped off the campaign trail last week. I thought I needed some space, but I soon found myself yearning for the ebb-and-flow of election energy. Drama among the Democrats, rifts in the Republican base, increasing turnout, and polling percentages… for a political junkie it is all too addicting. Today’s candidate contests are being held in Wisconsin, Hawaii (for the Dems), and Washington (again). (more…)

Posted in Campaign finance, Hawaii, Mail-in voting, Washington, Election Reform, Polling, Wisconsin, Absentee ballots, Legislation, Primary schedule, Election administration, Election 2008, Election Day registration, Early voting | 1 Comment »

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — With the onset of Super Tuesday, the Press has started reporting on Barack Obama’s ability to mobilize new, youth and Independent voters, the other candidates’ advantages among established, older voters, and Hillary Clinton’s advantage among Hispanic and female voters. This week’s issue of TIME Magazine reports that Obama’s campaign tactics are more effective in states with forward-thinking election law. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have Same-Day Registration. Florida has early voting, but the DNC has stripped the Sunshine State’s democrats of their delegates, Republicans were able to keep half of theirs. (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, Election Day registration, Election 2008, New Hampshire, Colorado, Election Reform, What is Super Tuesday?, Nevada, Election administration, Iowa, General, Primary schedule, National Holiday, Legislation, Florida, Opinions, California, Early voting | Comments Off

Florida is one of the 35 states that offers its residents the option of voting early, in person or by no-excuse absentee ballot (in the other 15 states, it’s Tuesday or bust). Looks like people are taking Florida up on the offer, and record turnout might follow. Adam Nagourney reports for the New York Times:

By Friday night, nearly 350,000 Democrats had cast early votes, either in person or by mail, and party officials predicted that about 400,000 will have voted by Election Day. By contrast, just 97,000 Democrats voted early in the 2004 presidential primary, which was not as intensely contested. There are 4.14 million Democrats registered to vote in Florida.

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Three days before Floridians line up at the polls here, the number of Democrats who have voted here has already exceeded the turnout in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Full story here.

Posted in Election Reform, Election 2008, Florida, Early voting | Comments Off

Following our video submission to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Executive Director and Why Tuesday? Chief Correspondent, Jacob Soboroff, sent me great news in an email this morning: voters abroad are now able to participate in the Democratic Primary via Internet!

Voting should be convenient for any eligible voter who wants to vote. And so the question remains: if ex-pats are good enough for this technology, isn’t everybody else who wants to vote? (more…)

Posted in Internet Voting, Internet Registration, Election Reform, Overseas Voting, Mail-in voting, Early voting, Election 2008, Absentee ballots, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »