Integrity of Florida Virtual Vote in Doubt

[Judi Lynn]

Integrity of Florida Virtual Vote in Doubt

Friday October 22, 2004 2:24pm from our sister station WJLA-TV



DELRAYBEACH, Fla. (AP) - Edward Bitet fought in World War II, built affordable housing for veterans and taught sixth grade. When the Long Island native retired to Florida, he fulfilled another civic duty by becoming a poll worker. But Bitet, 77, isn't volunteering this year - he says he doesn't trust Palm Beach County's electronic voting machines. He walked out of a county demonstration of touch-screen terminals convinced that software bugs could wreak havoc on Nov. 2.

"We lost an election four years ago because they fooled around with the paper ballots and couldn't recount them," said Bitet, a Democrat. "Now we're moving to a system without paper, and they won't even have the ballots to recount. I can't be a part of this."

With polls showing nearly equal numbers of Florida voters for President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, the election's outcome may again hinge on a Florida recount. And the more that Floridians learn about how voting machines work, the more they question whether the 15 counties with paperless voting systems can accurately count and recount votes.

David Niven, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University, expects massive demonstrations if exit polling is close and lawsuits and technical problems overshadow a clear victory.
(snip/...)

http://www.wjla.com/headlines/1004/182299.html

[geomon666]

1. Mr. Niven...

we can only hope.

[BadGimp]

2. I'm in Delray Beach this week and it's an errie feeling

The locals are split but the Dems are the only ones who are scared.

FLA will definitely go for Bush. They have the state rigged with the machines and it's all over down here .. imho

[byronm]

3. florida

Is blue.

Don't fret about it - get your friends out and make them VOTE!

[6th Borough]

6. Won't we feel so much better if we lose Florida with a preemptive excuse?

I'm sure the non-stop repitition of the "no use voting, it'll get stolen" attitude is a real winning strategy. People are aware by know of any possible malfeasance; the point has been TAKEN, and can only do damage now, since FL is imminently winnable.

Hell, there are members of this board voting for Kerry in Mississippi (well, at least one poster)! Can we at least fucking TRY?:mad:

Do you think Dubya comes here every other day because he likes the weather, while he hadn't been in Ohio for 2 weeks? Oh, he must be stumping for Mel Martinez, I guess while neglecting other extremely important battleground states that he doesn't have the fix on, unlike Florida. Yup, we're just like Texas.:eyes:

I'll be out canvassing tomorrow morning...only because I love knocking on strangers' doors, of course. I've always wanted to be a traveling salesman...

At least when we (not that I include me) end up suppressing our own turnout, we can blame it on Rove...right?

Hell, no Repub (not one financed by her party, at least) is even contesting my open U.S. House Seat (FL20). Open! Ehh...bah, what's the use.

FYI House 20...I wouldn't call it Gerrymandered...:crazy:

[pinerow]

7. Just spoke to my mother...

she voted in Miami on Oct. 18th...said the turnout was heavey...she waited an hour in order to vote...

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. If the integrity of Florida's vote is in doubt

then Jeb and his handmaiden Glenda Hood should both go to jail. They are the one who shoved these systems down our throats. They told us numerous times that these systems were totally reliable.

Anyone notice that it is the counties, who had the biggest problems, that went with these systems?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. expects massive demonstrations?

Shoulda' happened last time. I am afraid there will be complacence again.

[Divine Discontent]

8. Space Coast Voter

I ain't worried. I'm votin' regardless, and if they steal my vote, well, what can I do, but I'm not to steal my vote myself by not showing up, even if I think they're up to dirty tricks.

I may consider leaving the country if Bushco gets in again, anyone else?