Democracy

One group isn't too happy about the predicted high voter turnout: retailers. "Election Day is a lousy shopping day," notes USA Today. But "retailers are searching for ways to nudge folks out. ...

The second quarter 2004 issue of PR Watch is now online, featuring several articles by Diane Farsetta that look at the spin and dangers surrounding electronic voting machines. Despite questions remaining about the security and reliability of electronic voting, for-profit e-voting companies such as Diebold believe that their heavy lobbying are the key to winning support for public adoption of their voting devices.

Within an hour after voting began in Florida, "the system collapsed in Broward County, ground zero for the 2000 fiasco in the state," comments Markos Moulitsas. He lists other allegations of election fraud and voter suppression in states including Nevada, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and South Dakota, On his Dkosopedia website, Moulitsas is hosting a "Voter Registration Fraud Clearinghouse, where people are invited to report irregularities.

Juan Cole reports that Omid Memarian, an Iranian writer, journalist, weblogger and social activist has been arrested, making him the fourth journalist to be arrested in an apparent Iranian crackdown on reformist journalists and webloggers who are seen as enemies of the regime. Cole urges people to complain to the Iranian government or their interests section in Washington, DC.