Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka from the island of Oahu. I know it’s been quiet around here, but we’re gearing up for 2009 and there will be lots more to come from us soon.

As you’ve probably noticed, President-elect Barack Obama is spending his final Christmas vacation here, in the state where he was born, before moving himself and his family into the White House. I’m also on Oahu for my family vaction, but I’d never miss an opportunity to get the President-elect thinking about our voting system.

Yesterday I walked on the beach near his Hawaii vacation home sporting my WHYTUESDAY.ORG t-shirt in hopes he might catch a glimpse and log on. After all, the state of our voting system is arguably more important now than ever before since nearly 40% of Americans sat idle, away from the voting booth, this election.

You may remember that I interviewed President-elect Obama last year during the primary election cycle in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For that interview, click here. And to buy a Why Tuesday? t-shirt of your own, drop us a note.

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

Massachusetts driver’s license photos from Massachusetts DMV (via The Heritage Foundation)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week that a judge who previously overturned a voter ID requirement has now upheld a revised version of the same law.

[U.S. District Court Judge Harold] Murphy noted that his previous injunction hinged in large part on the fact that many voters who lacked a photo ID had no real notice of the requirement or knew how to get one or vote absentee. But the judge said recent evidence showed the state “made exceptional efforts” to contact voters in the 23 counties planning to hold local elections this month.

Amongst those who filed suit to block the law included Common Cause/Georgia and the League of Women Voters of Georgia. Back in February, the New York Times reported that a study commissioned by the federal government highlighted a link between voter ID laws and lower turnout. At the time, the paper noted where ID requirements were in place.

Only two states, Indiana and Florida, now require all voters to show photo ID, and voters without it are allowed to cast only provisional ballots. Indiana officials have said voter turnout increased by 2 percent last November, compared with the 2002 midterm election, despite the enactment of a photo ID law in 2005.

Three states — Hawaii, Louisiana and South Dakota — require voters without photo ID to sign affidavits to cast regular ballots.

We’ll stay on top of this.

Posted in Election Reform, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota, Voter ID requirements | Comments Off