Elections

May 19, 2009 -- NEW YORK -- Lev L. Dassin, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Norman Hsu was found guilty today on all four counts in the superseding indictment charging him with violating the Federal Election Campaign Act by making contributions to various political campaigns in the names of others. Hsu was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan federal court.    » read more »

May 18, 2009 -- On May 19, 2009, the Justice Department will monitor the election in the city of Philadelphia to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws.

Justice Department staff members will monitor polling place activities in Philadelphia. A Civil Rights Division attorney will coordinate the federal activities and maintain contact with local election officials. In April 2007, the Justice Department reached a settlement agreement with Philadelphia related to allegations that the city had violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Help America Vote Act and the National Voter Registration Act.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- On May 9, 2009, the Department of Justice will monitor municipal elections in the cities of Farmers Branch and Hondo, Texas, to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 04/15/2009 - The 2008 election was the first in which more than half the voting-age population used the Internet for political purposes. Some 55% of all adults – and 74% of all Internet users – said they went online for news and information about the election or to communicate with others about the race.

This is among the findings of a new report by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, which also found that social media platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and video-sharing sites played a key role in 2008 as voters went online to share their views with others and try to mobilize them to their cause. Among some of the key activities and technologies that grew in prominence in the election:    » read more »

Washington, DC - 03/26/2009 - As many as three million registered voters did not cast a ballot in the 2008 General Election due to voter registration problems, suggests a survey cited today by Doug Chapin, director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States in testimony before the Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration. The problem was most acute for younger voters and registered voters who moved less than a year ago, one in four of whom said that a problem with their registration was a major reason why they did not cast a ballot.    » read more »

January 28, 2009 -- (Oklahoma City) In an effort to boost voter turnout, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today announced he will urge the Legislature to expand early voting in Oklahoma.

According to election officials, early voting has become increasingly popular with each passing election cycle in Oklahoma. During last year’s presidential election, for example, the state set a record for ballots cast during the three-day early voting period, with long lines and multi-hour waits experienced at polling places around the state.

To improve early access to the polls, Gov. Henry wants to expand early voting to seven days in state general elections, so Oklahomans can cast ballots the full week before election day.    » read more »

Three Million Registered Voter Mark Surpassed

January 27, 2009 -- PHOENIX -- Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett today released new statewide voter registration figures compiled as of January 1, 2009. For the first-time in Arizona 's history the number of registered voters surpassed the three million mark with a total of 3,070,654 registered voters, an increase of 83,203 since the 2008 General Election.

There are now 1,140,609 registered Republicans statewide, an increase of 22,022 since the General Election. Democrats now total 1,047,126, an increase of 24,874. Both the Libertarian and Green parties also saw an increase in registered voters with Libertarians gaining 473 voters for a total of 18,626 while the Green party added 189 registered voters for a total of 4,198.    » read more »

January 22, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Thursday announced the special election dates for Senate District 22, which became vacant with the death of Senator Pat Lindsey earlier this month. The special election will be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the Senate term, which ends in November 2010.

The deadline for candidate qualification with the two major political parties is February 17 at 5:00 p.m. Party primaries will be held on Tuesday, April 14. Primary runoffs, if necessary, will take place on Tuesday, June 2. If no runoffs are necessary the general election will be held on Tuesday, June 2. In the event of a runoff, the general election will be held on Tuesday, July 21.    » read more »

Allows Deployed Military Personnel to Vote in State Elections

August 12, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed legislation to expand voting rights for military personnel and New Jersey citizens overseas to include state and local elections. Previously overseas voters, including military personnel, could only vote by overseas absentee ballot in federal elections. This new legislation corrects a fundamental flaw in the law and will now allow for greater participation in the electoral process    » read more »

August 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has called a special election for September 23, 2008, to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives due to the recent resignation of Representative Daniel “Danny” Guice, Jr.

Guice, of Ocean Springs, had served in the Legislature since 1984 before he was appointed by the Governor to fill a vacant four-year term on the Mississippi Parole Board. Under Mississippi law, Guice was not allowed to concurrently serve as a member of the House of Representatives and the State Parole Board.

“I appreciate Danny’s distinguished years of service in the Legislature and look forward to his contributions as a member of the Parole Board,” Governor Barbour said.    » read more »

Aug 7, 2008 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR — Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels today certified a petition submitted by independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader allowing him and his vice presidential running mate, Matt Gonzalez, to appear on the Arkansas ballot in the November 4, 2008 general election.

The Secretary of State’s office verified 1,234 signatures. 1,000 valid signatures from registered Arkansas voters are required of political groups and independent candidates wishing to appear on the state’s general election ballot for the offices of US President and Vice President.    » read more »

30 May 2008 -- The Carter Center congratulates the people of Nepal, the government, and the political parties on the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Nepali people and their political leadership to sustainable peace and multi-party democracy.

Street markets in Kathmandu, Nepal: Photo by Shinya Ichinohe (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- As John McCain tries to court minority voters today, a new report on Politico.com highlights how the Republican Party's "highly publicized" outreach over the last few years has lacked infrastructure and has yielded little results. The article focuses on candidate recruitment, noting that while Democrats have several candidates in "winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic," the GOP has none.

John McCain rally: Photo by james (CC)    » read more »

21 May 2008 -- Hillary Clinton won the Kentucky primary election, Tuesday, by a margin of more than two to one, but Barack Obama won the race in Oregon and passed a milestone in the Democratic Party's presidential contest. Hillary Clinton has vowed to stay in the race, while Obama is looking ahead to the presidential election in November.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton: Barack Obama photo by selena marie, Hillary Clinton photo by circulating (CC)

Hillary Clinton won the Kentucky primary by 35 percentage points. According to exit polls, she did well among women and white voters.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- OLYMPIA — While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision restoring Washington’s top-two primary system in March gave voters much to celebrate, the battle to preserve it is far from over.    » read more »