Sen. Nelson sees vote-by-mail as option to solve delegate mess

[flashl]

Source: The Examiner

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Map, News) - Sen. Bill Nelson believes that the only practical way to settle the state's delegate mess is to hold a second Democratic presidential primary by mail, his chief of staff said Saturday.

The state has three options to try to seat its delegates at the Democrats' national convention: Hold another primary at the polls, vote by mail or hold caucuses, said Nelson chief of staff Pete Mitchell.

A primary would be too expensive and would require the Republican-led Legislature to approve it. Caucuses would be difficult to organize in a state as large as Florida, especially since the state isn't used to holding them. Also, caucuses wouldn't draw nearly as many people as the 1.7 million who voted in the Jan. 29 primary, Mitchell said.

"We're trying to research that mail-in option," Mitchell said. "There's high level discussions taking place."

THe Examiner

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/a-1266757~Sen__Nelson_sees_vote_by_mail_as_option_to_solve_delegate_mess.html

[Hand]

1. Worst. Idea. Ever. nt

[flashl]

3. Florida got issues with mail-in ballots

Florida ballot papers go missing
28 October, 2004

Tens of thousands of postal ballots have gone missing in the state of Florida, sparking fresh fears of irregularities in the US poll campaign.

Authorities are investigating the apparent loss of 58,000 absentee forms in Broward County while officials have said replacements are being sent out.

BBC

[Hand]

5. Eggs Ackley.

I'm actually thinking that the Dems have to discount Florida for the foreseeable future--as one of Al Gore's advisors told him in 2000, "Look, we're not really talking about a normal state here; we're talking about Guatemala!"

[movonne]

2. The last sentence in the article: they don't know how it will be paid

for...I live in Or. and it is a great way to vote...but I'm sure it will cost more money than they are willing to put in to it...they would have to do a massive amount of printing then a mailing, and then the counting of them...I wonder if they could get it all done by then if they can find a way to pay for it..

[LiberalFighter]

4. Is Nelson getting senile?

[Beregond2]

6. Paper

Yeah, they'll never get it together to do this in time. I can't understand why other states have such a hard time with mail-in ballots. Oregon uses nothing else and there has never been a problem. In Washington, we have the option of mail-in or going to a polling place. Most people I know use mail-in, and again: no problems. It solves so many issues, it just seems like common sense.

[depakid]

9. Oregon & Washingto are relatively non-corrupt states

and the majority of people seem to have common sense.

The same isn't true of Florida....

[Speciesamused]

7. I said this yesterday...

Florida voter here. They wanted it now the state must pay for
it. When we make a bad decision in life
we must pay the consequences.
I suggest. Send all registered voters a poll sheet
to return in the mail. With a carbon copy. Count them correctly, (if possible).
Then the Delegates can be counted. The cost of this, is Florida's punishment for
trying to be bad ass. Peace

[Dr.Phool]

8. I have a better idea.

How about a mail recall vote for Bill Nelson?

Nah, they'd probably fuck that up too.

[BeyondGeography]

10. Forget it

[Carrieyazel]

11. Big problem: Florida's constitution prohibits mail-in voting.

From what I've read, except for absentee and overseas ballots, mailing it in isn't allowed in Florida. How do they get around that? Oh, change the rules now, right? Where have I heard that before?