[CWOJackson]

Well, there goes Kerry's campaign strategy for Florida.

[coloradan]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Suspended Broward Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant has been charged with 55 counts of violating election laws. Oliphant, already facing a Senate trial for her conduct in office, is accused of not opening polls on time and not keeping them open late enough during the September 2002 primary.

The Florida Elections Commission levied the charges against Oliphant at its Feb. 19 meeting. If found guilty, Oliphant faces a fine of up to $55,000.

She has 30 days to respond and can choose to appear in administrative court or in front of the Elections Commission.

Oliphant, a Democrat, was suspended Nov. 20 without pay by Gov. Jeb Bush, who removed her for "gross carelessness." Bush appointed retired elementary school principal Brenda Snipes to replace Oliphant.

Oliphant, who took office after the 2000 presidential election meltdown, came under scrutiny following 2002's botched gubernatorial primary. Voters received bad ballots and inaccurate registration information; some polls opened late and others closed early; thousands of votes were not counted until a week after the election.

The 2002 election - the first test of touch-screen election equipment - was so chaotic in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that Bush ordered polls across Florida to stay open an additional two hours, until 9 p.m.

The commission found that 24 Broward precincts opened late; 13 because they didn't have the proper materials and the rest because they didn't have enough poll workers. Another 32 polls closed before the 9 p.m. deadline.

Two other agencies had exonerated her for potential criminal and ethical violations: the Florida Ethics Commission and the Broward State Attorney's Office.

Oliphant's attorney, Henry Hunter of Tallahassee, said he questions the timing of the commission's charges. Hunter, also representing Oliphant in her Senate suspension trial, said other counties had experienced similar problems at the polls during the 2002 primary.

"There were problems everywhere, particularly in Dade County," Hunter said. "The problems she incurred are not different. She's not the only supervisor of elections to have precincts open late and close early."

[Slings and Arrows]

Oliphant Charged With 55 Count of Election Law Violations

Must have been real rough serving the warrant.

[JoeSixPack1]

Being the entire Oliphant family (ok, exaggerating for effect here) was put on the Broward Election Commissions payroll, will they just slither back to the bingo halls?

[Enduring Freedom]

While the issues of Florida election voting irregularities dominates the press, will anyone talk of the Oliphant in the room?

Flipper, the Slippery Senator, says yes. And no.

[geedee]

Based on the graph behind Mizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Oliphant, it appears she already has the 2004 election taken care of. My guess is us right-wing Pubbies ain't the one on the right on the graph.

[cyncooper]

Oliphant, a Democrat

How did I guess this before I got to paragraph 4? I must be psychic!

[Copernicus]

"gross carelessness"?

Is that anything like "tardy lateness"?

Best regards,

[sheikdetailfeather]

Be prepared for more fiasco in Florida as the local news has been running clips about how easy it is on the new machines to go in on the computer and change the end totals! I also saw an ad on cable directed toward the MTV crowd to make sure they vote. The ad said something like "Think what a difference it would have made in the last election."