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Bev Harris

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2014 Election Risk Analysis: Wyoming

Next major election: Tuesday Aug. 19 Primary election RISK RATINGS Integrity Index: Rated 49th out of 50 states by the Better Government Association, with 50 the lowest rating. Election Risk Analysis: Significant, rated 5 out of 10, with 10 being highest risk. Special areas of concern: Wyoming is one of three states which acts as a corporate secrecy haven, rivaling…
Bev Harris
January 1, 2014
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Online voting continues to be (not) a great idea

Internet voting can't work alongside secrecy of the ballot. But online voting for legislators -- because their ballot should never be secret from the public -- would at least be transparent. In the US, a resolution was introduced in June 2013 (H.Res.287) for a measure that would let members vote remotely on noncontroversial bills. According to reporter Bryan Steele of…
Bev Harris
December 17, 2013
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Chain of Custody for Recounts

- In the current Virginia recount, voting machine chain of custody deserves a closer look. A handful of men control chain of custody for crucial portions of the recount process, which in Virginia is conducted entirely by re-running the ballots through voting computers, with votes counted out of public view. Oh yes, observers may be able to watch activity, such…
Bev Harris
December 17, 2013
ELECTIONS INDUSTRYPURCHASING

2013-12-15 (Kenya) Elections in Kenya

Kenya's March 2013 election was marred by significant irregularities. The installed president, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Deputy President William Ruto have both been charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in 2007-08 post-election violence. RATINGS Freedom: "Partly free" rating 3.5 on a scale of 1-6, with 6 being least free. Election Risk: Very High, rated 8.5 on a scale…
Bev Harris
December 15, 2013
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India: Voting machine probe sought

- Electronic voting machines have come under scrutiny in two Indian states for alleged irregularities. Officials for a historically dominant political party, the Congress Party, have filed a complaint with the Election Commission calling for an independent forensic evaluation of voting machine programming. The state president of another political party has called for a ban on electronic voting machines, where…
Bev Harris
December 14, 2013
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Elections in Hungary

LAST UPDATED - Next elections will be Parliamentary elections scheduled for Spring 2014. It will be the first election under the new Hungarian Constitution. RATINGS - Freedom: Rated 1 on a scale of 1-6, with 1 being most free. Overall civil liberties and political freedoms trended downward in 2010, due to passage of a controversial new constitution, with continuing advocacy…
Bev Harris
December 14, 2013
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Election Transparency

If democracy is a painting created by its own audience, democracy without transparency is that audience blindfolded -- trusting and hoping and not really knowing if they are having democracy at all.
Bev Harris
December 1, 2013
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Elections in the United States

LAST UPDATED – The next general election in the US is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4 2014. Throughout 2014 leading up to the general election, primary elections will be held in each state, with considerable variation in dates. Greatest risk areas: Centralization of vote reporting and voting machine programming, with over 99 percent of all votes counted out of public…
Bev Harris
November 29, 2013
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Elections in Afghanistan

LAST UPDATED - The next election in Afghanistan is scheduled for April 5, 2014. Greatest risk areas: violence, and a national climate of corruption, from the President to the cop on the local street corner. RATINGS - Freedom: "Not free" rating 6 on a scale of 1-6, with 6 being least free. - Election Risk: Highest, rated 10 on a…
Bev Harris
November 28, 2013