Elections

Also Declares January 3, 2008 "Chronic Disease Awareness And Action Day"

December 19, 2007 -- Des Moines - Iowa Governor Chet Culver today recognized the historic, bi-partisan work of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Partnership for Better Heath in advance of the Iowa Caucuses on January 3, 2008. The national non-partisan organizations are dedicated to addressing the issue of chronic diseases and the impact that they have on our health care system.    » read more »

12.14.07 - Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement regarding the findings of the EVEREST report on Ohio elections systems:

“Confidence in the elections system is important and fundamental to our democracy,” Strickland said. “I commend Secretary of State Brunner for her leadership in seeing this study through to its conclusion.

The report raises serious issues that deserve serious review and consideration.    » read more »

07 December 2007 -- A senior U.S. State Department official predicts elections in Pakistan scheduled for January 8 will not be perfect, but he says it will be an important step in the country's transition to democracy. At a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, the official defended U.S. aid to Pakistan, a key ally in the "war on terror".

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher offered his prediction about upcoming parliamentary elections in Pakistan. "It is not going to be perfect," he said.    » read more »

Legislation by Senators Feingold, Collins and Representatives Price, Shays Would Protect Integrity of Electoral Process and Reduce Role of Big Contributors

December 5, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) have introduced legislation to repair and strengthen the presidential public financing system.    » read more »

Primary election on February 5th, 2008; Special General Election on March 8th, 2008

December 3, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the date for the Special Primary Election and Special General Election to replace retiring Congressman Dennis Hastert. Rep. Hastert submitted a letter to Governor Blagojevich announcing his resignation on November 26th. The Plano Republican served almost 21 years in the U.S Congress and was the longest serving Republican House Speaker.    » read more »

In Comments to Agency, Public Citizen Documents the Rise of ‘Bundling for Dollars’ by Campaigns

Nov. 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Election Commission (FEC), which is devising rules for handling fundraisers who bundle large sums of money for candidates, should use the opportunity to create a full and well-developed disclosure system for all bundling activity, Public Citizen said in comments submitted today to the agency.    » read more »

03 December 2007 -- The former head of Hong Kong's civil service, Anson Chan, has won a hotly contested by-election for a seat in the city's legislature, in a vote widely seen as a referendum on democratic reform.

In one of the most closely watched elections since the territory was returned to China a decade ago, Anson Chan secured nearly 55 percent of the vote. Her pro-Beijing opponent, Regina Ip, won 43-percent.

Eight candidates had been vying for a seat left vacant by the recent death of Ma Lik, chairman of Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing political party.    » read more »

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – December is a crucial month for presidential candidates and Rhode Island voters, according to Rhode Island Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.

Secretary Mollis has created a calendar that spells out the deadlines and steps presidential candidates and Rhode Islanders who want to be a delegate at one of the national political conventions must take leading up to the state’s March 4 presidential primary.    » read more »

20 November 2007 -- Until relatively recently, female world leaders have been few and far between. But their ranks are growing, with a number of prominent women in different countries stepping up to the world stage.

The small club of female world leaders is about to get a new member: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the president-elect of Argentina.

Fernandez called on her compatriots to get used to the idea of having a "presidenta," a female president, leading the country.    » read more »

Nov. 1, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortés will be petitioning Commonwealth Court tomorrow for an injunction and a cease and desist order against the Virginia-based Center for Individual Freedom for violating the Pennsylvania Election Code by using corporate funds to air advertising that promotes Judge Maureen Lally-Green, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidate.    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement as the Democratic Presidential candidates prepared to debate in Nevada, site of the first DNC-sanctioned debate in the West and of one of the first presidential nominating contests for the 2008 elections:    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement as the Democratic Presidential candidates prepared to debate in Nevada, site of the first DNC-sanctioned debate in the West and of one of the first presidential nominating contests for the 2008 elections:    » read more »

Private Group Misleading Arizona Residents Through Mailing

Nov. 13, 2007 -- PHOENIX -- Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer today cautioned voters to be aware of a misleading and deceptive voter registration mailing being sent to Arizona residents by a group called “Women's Voices. Women Vote” based out of Washington D.C.    » read more »

Lawmakers say Indiana’s voter photo-ID requirements are inconsistent with, and preempted by, federal law

November 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Representative Robert Brady (D-Pa.) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) have filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Indiana’s photo-identification requirements for federal elections are inconsistent with federal law and create unfair obstacles to voting.    » read more »

12 November 2007 -- While political campaigns in the United States have used the Internet since the 1990s, the importance of the Internet has grown dramatically in the current campaign for the White House. In this segment of "How America Elects," VOA's Jeffrey Young looks at how candidates and their parties make strategic use of cyberspace.

If you are running for the White House in 2008, the place to be seen -- and to persuade a growing percentage of voters -- is the WorldWide Web.    » read more »