Archive for 2015

Massachusetts localities are working through a series of election reforms in the Bay State but – like many of their counterparts across the country – are waiting for the funding that’s supposed to accompany them.

Washington state election officials are once again sending out postcards to eligible but unregistered residents encouraging them to register to vote. The program is one product of the state’s participation in a multi-state data exchange, and is lauded by state officials not only for increasing participation but also helping to maintain up-to-date and accurate voter rolls.

The newest electionlineWeekly has a First Person Singular from Minnesota SoS Steve Simon, who discusses National Voter Registration Day and Minnesota’s efforts to expand registration across the state.

The county election official for Winston-Salem State University is unhappy about undelivered election mail. It’s a reminder that election mail often still has a “last mile” to the addressee after it’s delivered by the USPS. Online tools could help, however.

It’s National Voter Registration Day, which means events nationwide encouraging Americans to register to vote or update their records – with even the President getting into the act. The Day has been a remarkable success – not just for sparking technological or policy changes, but also for raising awareness among voters about regularly checking and updating their records.

Two national voting integrity organizations are writing to county election officials noting a discrepancy between the number of registered voters and those jurisdictions’ voting age population – and suggesting that they might sue to address the problem. The counties say there are lots of valid reasons why those numbers wouldn’t match. Either way, it’s a reminder that the application is just the first step in voter registration.

This week’s electionlineWeekly has a closer look at Connecticut’s new election official certification program. It’s an idea that had been on the back burner in Hartford for several years until recent election problems pushed the state and local officials to come together to make it happen.

Brian Newby’s ElectionDiary is back – this time with the Case of the Disappearing Tuesday Mail, which just disenfranchised 79 voters in one community. Maybe voters should send their ballots sooner, but with unpredictable USPS service (and no postmark rule) it’s hard to give them an idea when.

The controversy in New York about limiting the workload of star Mets pitcher Matt Harvey highlights the importance of choosing what data to measure and how best to use it. The same principle applies to election administration, where an over-emphasis on turnout can obscure other important goals and values.

With the help of a local startup accelerator, ES&S is apparently developing a product that would give election offices access to real-time and detailed polling place data – data that can be used to keep small problems from becoming bigger and even prevent problems from occurring in the first place.