Early voting in Florida gives cause for concern

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=2&u=/chitribts/20041027/ts_chicagotrib/earlyvotinginfloridagivescauseforconcern

~snip~


With 1.6 million new registered voters since 2000, the nation's most up-to-date system of balloting is showing signs of buckling. Though Election Day does not formally arrive until Tuesday, nine days of early voting have produced their own problems, offering a glimpse into what could lie ahead in a contest that again appears narrowly divided.


Lines have moved so slowly at new touch-screen voting machines that only six votes per hour are being cast in parts of South Florida, a troubling ratio for next week's expected crush of voters. Gov. Jeb Bush ordered election supervisors to "preserve order at the polls" after episodes of voter harassment arose and some workers threatened to abandon their posts when an aide was nearly choked by an angry partisan who grabbed the identification badge around her neck. And as many as 60,000 absentee ballots here in Broward County have gone unaccounted for.


"I don't trust it," said Janice Monaldi of Ft. Lauderdale, whose suspicions about the election system were heightened when she discovered her home address had been inexplicably changed on her voter registration, which would have invalidated her ballot had she not checked. "I just hope it's enough of a landslide so it can't be questioned."


In Florida, where the last presidential race propelled George W. Bush to the White House on a margin of 537 votes and a raft of controversy, few people would be bold enough to predict a landslide. Both campaigns believe the race here is among the closest of any battleground states.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. If Florida has problems blame Jeb and Glenda

they are in charge of this election. They were warned repeatedly about these potential problems. Repeatedly they assured the public that these machines were totally reliable and that they had total confidence that we would not have problems. This dynamic duo better get their act together quick, because they are not going to get away with letting Jeb give his brother the state of Florida again.

[cthrumatrix]

15. bingo.... Jeb appointed Glenda... other states have a "non-affliated"

dep of elections official...makes sense

[stubertmcfly]

2. and so it begins... n/t

[hang a left]

3. This *%^$#@* s me off.

"propelled George W. Bush to the White House on a margin of 537 votes and a raft of controversy."


Uh, doesn't everyone know already that Gore won Florida. THe least of which should be a news service.

[pansypoo53219]

4. 6 per hour?!?

using a pencil, it takes me 3 minutes to vote at the longest.
fucking insane.

[MacDo]

6. Florida

is full of old people. At least they are voting. :)

[Corkey Mineola]

5. Media-Driven Intimidation: Expect a mess so stay home!

This kind of story can only scare edgy voters away.

They BETTER work out those machine problems QUICK.

On a brighter note, I think the margin in FL will be large enough that this nit-picking won't matter.

Let's hope

[qwlauren35]

7. This is out and out FRIGHTENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sincerely hope that of ALL the states where Move-On and other groups are being active, that Florida gets the most support in terms of poll workers, poll observers, drivers, etc.

I hope activists come around with juice and water and cookies while Florida voters stand in line.

I hope it doesn't rain.

[Supersedeas]

8. Six Votes per Hour....Jebby has Florida motoring right along

The fact that working-voters don't have all day to meander around Ms. Hood's Rovian election chop house...shouldn't be discouraging to Florida taxpayers.

Hood and Jebby are still getting paid.
Maybe less, if brother shrub loses...but paid in full if the Six Votes per Hour turns the screw.

[Oak2004]

9. Could this be why the Republicans were urging their own to vote absentee?

nt

[drb]

10. "I don't trust it!"

That's the "No shit, Sherlock!" quote of the week!

[PartyPooper]

11. 6 votes per hour is fucking ridiculous!

It will only get worse by Tuesday.

But, now I'm certain the Democrats will be more determined than ever before and will persevere in long lines to vote Junior and Bu$hco out of office...once and for all!

Send them all to the Hague!

Fucking ridiculous! Fuck the Bu$h fascists!

:grr:

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Six-votes-per-hour has to be intentional -- to suppress voting --

[illuminaughty]

13. This is oh so intentional

Just imagine the situation in States where there is no early voting.

I'm telling ya (and there's a lot I can't tell ya til it's over) the dirty tricks are in full force. I'm seeing this from the inside for the first time and everyday I'm honestly nauseous

[tinrobot]

14. I wonder how other counties are doing?

I wonder if the conservative counties have faster voting machines.