By 7:00 a.m. on Election Day the reports of voting problems, ranging from voters whose names don't appear in the registration databases, to voting machine malfunctions, to incorrect application of identification requirements, to voter suppression, mismanagement, malfeasance, and intimidation and challenges of voter's eligibility to cast their vote have surfaced across the country.  

On our 1-866-MYVOTE1 hotline, and on our allies' election protection hotline, we have received thousands of reports of voters who had registered to vote but whose names did not appear on the computerized voter databases.  Other voters are being asked to provide identification, even in states like Maryland and Missouri where identification is not required to vote.  Voters have had their eligibility to vote challenged by aggressive campaigns in a variety of states.

So far the problem spots that have been reported to our office include:

Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh,  where polling places opened late, and where we have heard reports of voting machine problems,and in Lebanon and Lancaster counties.

Reports from Michigan show that polls in several areas, including Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Detroit did not open on time.

Hi folks.  Switching gear to redistricting, since during the past two days we've seen progress in our effort for fair districts in California as Democratic leaders have risen to our challenge to put a redistricting reform proposal on the table.  Yesterday, Common Cause President Chellie Pingree commended Senator Alan Lowenthal, Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata, Majority Leader Gloria Romero and Democratic Caucus Chair Kevin Murray for introducing an amended version of a constitutional amendment in an effort to reform the redistricting process in California.

The introduction of the amended version of SCA 3, and yesterday's hearings on the amendment, is a first step in getting to a negotiated solution between the legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger.  Back in February, Common Cause endorsed Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bill to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the legislature, and we have worked with Governor Schwarzenegger to urge the legislature to come to a compromise that takes the redistricting process out of the hands of state legislators.

Unfortunately, in his column in yesterday's Sacramento Bee, Dan Walters mischaracterizes Common Cause's position on Senator Alan Lowenthal's amended bill, indicating that Common Cause "more or less" endorsed the bill.

At a news conference on Tuesday and again yesterday in a Senate Elections Committee hearing, Common Cause President Chellie Pingree was clear that we expect to see several substantive amendments to the bill before we would support the amendment. Chellie testified yesterday morning at the hearing and outlined several of our concerns, stating:Here is Chellie's full testimony.

It takes political courage to work towards a solution that could do away with a system that dramatically favors incumbents.  We have worked closely with Governor Schwarzenegger, with Rep. McCarthy and are now working with legislative Democrats to end the unfair system that allows legislators to pick their constituents and create legislative maps that are incumbent protection plans. This bill isn't perfect. But it is a start.

Hi folks.  Taking your attention back to redistricting for a bit.  In the past couple of weeks, leadership in the California legislature has finally acknowledged that it is time to do something about about how political districts are drawn in the state. Speaker of the House Fabian Nunez (D - Los Angeles) said last week that it is time to put the power to draw the lines in the hands of an independent commission. Word is that the legislature will hold hearings, possibly as early as next week, to discuss the adoption of alternatives that will put an end to the rigged election system. We welcome the Speaker's willingness to address what is clearly a broken system that allows the two major parties to collude to protect their own seats, at the expense of the voters.

Daniel Weintraub made the case for why this needs to happen, and why both parties need to support redistricting reform now very effectively in his column in the Sacramento Bee (free registration req'd):

We'll keep you up to date on what happens next.

Thanks for all the comments guys. We totally understand some of the concerns you are expressing right here. However, I would encourage all of you to take a look at what we and the Governor have agreed to do.

First, it establishes an independent commission. Second, it establishes fair and stringent standards for how the districts are to be drawn in California. This law would be one of the most fair, nonpartisan and best laws on redistricting in the country. This is the way it should be done.

Politicians in California, in Texas, in Florida, and in nearly every state in the country have demonstrated that they can't do this in a fair and equitable way. This is not remotely the same what DeLay and co. did in Texas. This is good policy and the voters, people who are losing under the current system (including the folks in Florida and in Texas) have to pass this at the ballot box.

That's what we are working to do here, independence and fairness. Please, have a look at the nonpartisan commission this sets up. Have a look at the criteria. Getting this right in California, and yes, in Texas, is worth fighting for.

Hi Everyone. I'm Jon Goldin-Dubois, one of Common Cause's two directors of state program development and also our point person for our redistricting efforts. The predominant system of redistricting in this country is democracy turned on its head. Elected officials essentially choose the voters that they want to represent instead of the way it should work, with voters choosing candidates who best represent them.

When elected officials are in charge of this process, they naturally make decisions and draw maps that keep their own seats safe from any would-be challengers. Unfortunately, it's the voters who lose. Partisan redistricting has profound implications on who wins and who loses in our elections. In an editorial in yesterday's USA Today it's described this way: