NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The 2008 nominating contests are highly contested and are attracting record turnout levels in State after State. Candidates are doing their best to maintain this upward trend in turnout; however, Republican turnout is sure to falter after Super Tuesday’s results.

For the Democrats, in this spectacle horse race, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to inspire new voters (more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Election administration, History, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Opinions, Washington, Weekend voting | 1 Comment »

States voting today: Louisiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Washington.

If you live in one of these states, go vote today! Details on the 2008 primary and caucus calendar are here. Even though today is a Saturday, like we often say, there is no silver bullet for increasing voter participation. We’ll be monitoring the day’s news and there will be more to come from us later today.

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington | Comments Off

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