Analysis

Better ballot design is not the sole cause for the steep drop in overvotes in New York State elections in 2012 from 2010. Design for machines can matter just as much as the design of ballots in keeping overvotes close to zero.

The best, most reliable voting machine is worthless if a ballot is poorly designed. The dramatic drop in overvotes in New York State elections in 2012 from 2010 illustrate this design need to ensure that voter intent is recorded accurately.

Tying the distribution of electoral votes for president to the outcome of individual congressional districts would mirror problems with redistricting and partisan dysfunction into the presidential election.

We are seeing a war on voting that can only be compared to the dark, discriminatory past of the Jim Crow era.

An important tool to help election officials prepare for elections.

In New York’s 2010 election, a confusing ballot design and a misleading warning message on voting machines led to as many as 20,000 lost votes in the governor’s contest alone.

Recently the Secretaries of State in New Mexico and Colorado announced seemingly shocking findings that their research identified “thousands” of non-citizens, apparently voting illegally in their respective states.  A careful review of the reports and information released shows some serious problems with the methods used, resulting in questionable conclusions.

The Supreme Court nomination process is upon us and once again the phrase “judicial activist” is the legend emblazoned on the conservative activists’ banner as they go into battle against one of President Obama’s nominees.

In a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece, a pollster and constitutional law professor claim that counting undocumented persons in the census is unconstitutional. This argument misreads the constitution and ignores the good reasons behind the policy.

“The historic accomplishments of the Voting Rights Act are undeniable. ” —Chief Justice Roberts, NAMUDNO v. Holder