Election Issues & Help America Vote Act

It's January 2006 and states should be ramping up for 2006 fall elections.  Here in North Carolina voting machine manufacturer Diebold withdrew from the procurement process after deciding that it would not (or could not) comply with the state's voting integrity requirements.  The Electronic Frontier Foundation had helped defend the state's statute which was passed after 4500 electronic ballots were lost in 2004 due to issues with machines.

Meanwhile, electionline.org reports that the federal Justice Department is preparing to sue the state of New York for its failure to make needed progress in complying with the Help America Vote Act.  Electionline also reports that Virginia Governor Mark Warner will not restore the voting rights of convicted felons before leaving office this month.