Posted on 10/05/2006 7:33:57 PM PDT by freespirited
Supervisors of elections in the counties that include the 16th Congressional District may post signs letting voters know that Joe Negron has replaced resigned U.S. Rep. Mark Foley as the Republican candidate, clearing up confusion that may arise when they see Foley's name on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Several experts have said that voter confusion over the fact that despite Foley's high profile resignation over a scandal involving inappropriate messages to young pages, his name will still be on the ballot. The challenger in the race is Democrat Tim Mahoney.
While it's not clear how many voters in the district may get some notice clarifying the switch, the idea that the state may help them figure it out angered Democrats, who said it gives Negron unfair help.
State Division of Elections spokeswoman Jenny Nash said Thursday that supervisors who wish to provide clarifying notices for voters can do so and can "use any language they want." But some supervisors have asked state officials for suggestions on how to do that, which the agency provided, Nash said.
An e-mail from the agency to supervisors said that "preferably, the notice would be placed in every voting booth."
"We also advise that the notice be provided in future absentee ballot mailings," the e-mail said.
Nash said the clarifying notices weren't meant to help or hurt any particular candidate, only the voters.
"The supervisors are always working to educate the voters," she said, noting that similar notices have been used in past elections when a candidate has been replaced after ballots have already been printed.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman sent a letter to state officials noting that state laws prohibit signs from being posted at polling places.
"I'm doing what the state recommended," said Highlands County Elections Supervisor Joe Campbell, a Democrat. "When you get in these situations, you're going to hear it from both sides. Therefore, I'm going to do what the state is telling me."
Gov. Jeb Bush said the move would help alleviate confusion.
"Joe Negron is, by law, the candidate," Bush said. "You can't have his name on the ballot because of state law but to inform people is more than fair.... To provide information is more than appropriate."
There's a similar plan to tell voters in Pasco County about a change in the state House District 61 race. Incumbent Republican Ken Littlefield resigned after Bush appointed him to the Public Service Commission on Sept. 13, too late for new ballots to be printed.
The sign could read, "A vote for the REPUBLICAN goes to a REPUBLICAN"
Oh wait! It doesn't help the RATS!
Well now. The FL-16 may not be quite the RAT gimmie seat that the media claims.
GOP will keep the 16th.
If it was they wouldn't be screaming how it isn't fair to inform the voters of who is actually on the ballot.
Negron will win easily. Conservative voters are better educated than those who vote for Rats.
How Republican is this district? What's the margin by which the R usually takes it?
Foley took 68% in 2004
That is good news. And there hasn't been a great deal of it lately.
Thanks for the ping!
This is good news......I understand that Joe Negron is well known and well liked in the district and this clarification should help him win!
A VOTE FOR FOLEY........IS A VOTE FOR NEGRON!
Pinging two freepers I believe live in the 16th.
The rat can only win with a trick. Now a big chunk of the trick is blunted. The first poll AFTER we knew about foley showed the rat up 49/47. That was a nice jump, but not nearly enough to hold off the surge. If we can do that well in THAT district, THAT soon after the news hit, let's see what unfolds before we roll out the white flags.
Common sense says Negron wins.
"How Republican is this district? What's the margin by which the R usually takes it?"
eek...that's less than i'm comfortable with right now. cross our fingers...
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