By Luther Weeks on March 26, 2013
Almost all the legislators from both parties made “political hay” (that is intended as a cliche like “fox in the hen house”) out of former and future candidate for Governor, Tom Foley’s testimony on legislative ethics. He admitted authorship of questionable concepts not worded to match his intent. I can only wonder what would happen if all bills were required to identify the author? Would I have tempered my remarks on early voting, had everyone known the source of that inadequate and contradictory text? Would the result be less bills with better text?
Posted in Costs, Legislature2013
By Luther Weeks on August 1, 2012
As we have said before in several ways, modernization and solving election problems in Connecticut will be almost impossible to achieve within the existing system of 338+ local registrars, many of whom are very very part time. The comprehensive solution is to “Do for Elections what we have done for Probate”. Consolidation, Professionalization, and Regionalization. Not a panacea, but in our opinion a prerequisite.
Posted in Costs, Legislature2013
By Luther Weeks on March 12, 2012
Given the many members, the brief meetings, and the lack of representation of all interests, we were skeptical when the Task Force was convened. To our delight, we find that we can offer endorsement of each of the twenty-one recommendations in the report.
There is a lot to do in all the recommendations. It will take time, money, and deliberate work with everyone at the table. Our hope is that each of the recommendations will be thoroughly explored, evaluated, and acted upon, that none get overlooked.
Posted in Chain of Custody, Costs, CT, CT Law, Mail/Absentee Voting, Post-Election Audits, Recounts/Recanvasses, Reports
By Luther Weeks on September 1, 2011
You can have little to no impact on your turn-out bottom line with election laws. Turnout tends to be driven by what’s on the ballot rather than when, where, or how it is available. – Doug Chapin
Posted in Costs, CT, Mail/Absentee Voting
By Luther Weeks on August 25, 2011
Posted in Costs, National
By Luther Weeks on August 18, 2011
Having reviewed the video, minutes, and the proposed items to be addressed by the task force, we offer the attached general and specific comments and suggestions in a constructive spirit, to forward your efforts to achieve the democratic goals that we all hold dear.
Posted in Chain of Custody, Costs, CT, CT Law
By Luther Weeks on August 26, 2010
Greenwich Time article: Greenwich picked – yet again – to audit primary results. Greenwich registrars and Secretary of the State debate value of audit and random selection of Greenwich.
Plus – Registrar and we agree: Audit Absentee Ballots Too!
Posted in Costs, CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on February 9, 2010
Primaries would run the office an estimated $15,000 each. While primaries are likely to occur, no one’s certain at this point. “I don’t know what I’m going to do in August and that is the key,” said Ron Skurat, the Democratic Registar of Voters… Skurat did the math on the salaries and came up with roughly $6.81 per hour for the work he and Pelletier put in.
Posted in Costs, CT
By Luther Weeks on December 8, 2009
“The audit is being done for the best of reasons to protect..to make sure democracy is being done accurately.”
Posted in Costs, CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on September 2, 2009
Not only does the new optical scanning voting equipment make a trip to the polling place faster, it will also help the registrars of voters save money as the town moves from eight polling places to six in November.
Posted in Costs, CT
