Candice Hoke writes:

The (independent) Cuyahoga Election Review Panel’s Final Report issued yesterday in a press embargo, and today is available for alert readers everywhere. Only 200+ pages of substantive information and recommendations, with appendices bringing it to @ 400 pages.
The Report acknowledges the help of “Rick Hasen and the electionlawblog.” Your archives and a number of individuals participating on the blog provided essential help for this major research effort. Joe Hall was especially kind in his repeated availability at short notice.
I believe that the electionlawblog, and election scholars and policymakers, will find it one of the most comprehensive, in depth studies on the intersection of election law, technology, and administration yet produced. We could have said much, much more but had to recognize that the election calendar– preparing for November 2006 — meant that the Report had to end. The Cuyahoga Board of Elections needed to take stock and decide how to proceed. As it is, the time constrictions meant it’s short on legal citation and analyses, but that leaves plenty of room for us legal scholars to continue the discussions.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, unlike many others with some difficulties in their performance, appointed a totally independent investigatory panel of three individuals who were invited to create our/its own scope of work and manner of proceeding, with zero political influence. We hired our own staff. And no Panel member was financially compensated for the work. This process could serve as a model for other jurisdictions that desire to achieve full public accountability for their local election system.
Cleveland Plain Dealer reports begin on page one, for 2/3 of the page, www.cleveland.com, plus related stories The entire Panel Report is available on the website: www.cuyahogavoting.org Our Panel has disbanded as of today. The Board of the Cuyahoga Board of Elections is meeting in a public meeting as I write this, and deciding what steps to take.
–Candice Hoke
Cuyahoga Election Review Panel member
Director, Center for Election Integrity
Assoc. Professor of Law
Cleveland State University