Daily Voting News For May 19-23, 2007

In an AP article we learn “Against his doctor's advice, a stooped and feeble Sen. Mario Gallegos arrives at the state Capitol each day, just to make sure the Senate does not take up a bill that would require voters to produce ID at the polls. And when the rigors of the job start to wear on the Houston Democrat, whose body is rejecting a liver transplanted four months ago, he retires to a hospital-style bed — donated by a Republican colleague — in a room next to the Senate chamber. From there, he can be summoned at a moment's notice should his vote be needed. In a life-and-death drama playing out under the Capitol dome, Gallegos is putting his health at risk to block a measure that he and others say could prevent many minorities and the elderly from taking part in elections in Texas.” I’ve mentioned Senator Gallegos here a couple of times now. Texas law requires that two-thirds of the State Senators must agree before a bill can come to the floor for debate. The Democrats have just enough members to block the bill. The bill now appears to be in trouble because the bill must come to the floor by midnight tonight in order to be considered. Senator Gallegos is a true hero....

**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or Scoop.**

The media is now beginning to question the hiring of Michael Vu as the second in command of elections in San Diego County. Vu, who quit under fire from his job as the elections director for Cuyahoga Co. Ohio, has a poor record. Under his supervision absentee ballots were never sent to thousands of voters, voters were removed for no reason from the voter registration rolls, the county election budget was taken into the red, and two of his senior assistants were convicted of manipulating the recount of ballots in 2006 and received sentences of 18 months in prison. Vu refuses to speak with the media but the county supports his hiring and says that Vu has acted honorable and professionally....

**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or Scoop.**

When counties are left to make their own decisions many of them take the right road. Harrison Co. Mississippi is replacing their Diebold TSx DREs with optical-scan machines. Three counties in Iowa have also decided to come together so they can bargain as one with Diebold for optical-scan machines and AutoMark. And when one goes looking for heroes they only need to look at Texas State Sen. Mario Gallegos. Gallegos had a liver transplant earlier this year. The State Senate is deciding whether the voters in the state need to have a Voter ID. The only way to block the legislation is for all of the Democrats to vote alike (they will) and to be available for a vote. Sen. Gallegos had a hospital bed set-up in an office less than a hundred feet from his desk on the floor. The bill has been blocked so far....

**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or Scoop.**

19 May

New Jersey is taking a small step toward ensuring the voting machines their citizens use are reliable and work as advertised. The state Attorney General has asked New Jersey Institute of Technology scientists and students to test printing systems that will be required on all voting machines used in the state after next January. Activists have pointed out, correctly, that this new development does not go far enough and they turn to California for proof. California has begun a top to bottom inspection and testing of all voting systems used in the state. ...

**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or Scoop.**

John Gideon
Executive Director www.votersunite.org and
Member www.votetrustusa.org

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