Class materials for How Elections Work

2008-09-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

An evolving list of class materials follows:

Federal law
Bush v. Gore
Help America Vote Act of 2002
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold)

Electoral College
National Popular Vote

Presidential nominating process
Newsmax: Obama's proportional delegates
Your professor: How does proportional representation allocation work?

Redistricting
FairVote: Redistricting roulette
Annenberg Center: ReDistricting game
Illinois Constitution provision on redistricting

Illinois Issues: The tie-breaker provision has become the start of state redistricting

One vendor -- Maptitude for Redistricting

Decentralized versus federal election administration
United States' federal agency the Election Assistance Commission

EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing
guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information about election administration. EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as audits the use of HAVA funds.

Elections Canada

Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports
directly to Parliament. We must be prepared at all times to conduct a federal
general election, by-election or referendum, administer the political financing
provisions of the Canada Elections Act, monitor compliance and enforce electoral
legislation. Elections Canada is also mandated to conduct voter education and
information programs, and provide support to the independent boundaries
commissions in charge of adjusting the boundaries of federal electoral districts
following each decennial census. Finally, Elections Canada may carry out studies
on alternative voting methods and, with the approval of Parliament, test
electronic voting processes for future use during electoral events.

United Kingdom's Electoral Commission

We are an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the democratic process.
We:
-register political parties
-make sure people understand and follow the rules on party and election finance
-publish details of where parties and candidates get money from and how they spend it
-set the standards for running elections and report on how well this is done
-make sure people understand it is important to register to vote, and know how to vote
-make sure boundary arrangements for local government in England are fair

Election Commission of India

The Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the
superintendence, direction and control of the entire process for conduct of
elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the offices of
President and Vice-President of India.

New York City Bar: A call to nationalize American elections

Voting equipment

General Accounting Office September 2008 study: voting equipment testing in states

General Accounting Office July 2004 study: Electronic voting opportunities and challenges

General Accounting Office 2001 study on federal voting equipment standard s

Kimball Brace's 2004 testimony on state of voting equipment
Computer scientists' September 2008 statement on internet voting
Electionline: State-by-state voting equipment

Voter registration and verification

State-by-state voter registration deadlines

Wired: Voter database glitches could disenfranchise thousands

Altanta Journal-Constitution: Some fear foreclosures mean loss of vote

West Virginia MetroNews: Voter registration fraud under investigation

Wisconsin News Sauk Prairie Eagle: Lawsuit can be a pain for voters