Palm Beach municipal elections see new ballot problems

AP ^ | April 1, 2002 | AP

[summer]

Palm Beach municipal elections see new ballot problems

Monday, April 1, 2002

Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH — Elections officials say about 3 percent of ballots cast in the March 12 municipal elections in Palm Beach County were improperly marked.

In the county that made chads famous in the 2000 election, the problem shows that voters will have to get used to changes.

The county is now using touch screen voting as well as new ballots for absentee voters.

During the municipal elections, the 55 ballots, which accounted for about 3 percent of the total number, were hand counted, officials said.

When scanners kicked out the unreadable ballots, elections workers were forced to look at each one individually on election night. They then had to determine voter intent and fill out a duplicate ballot readable by the machines.

But the process for fixing the 55 ballots took 90 minutes, raising concern over massive delays in the higher-turnout fall elections if similar percentages of voters botch their ballots.

Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore will try to prevent voter confusion by sending a detailed instruction brochure to absentee voters before the fall elections.

[summer]

Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore will try to prevent voter confusion by sending a detailed instruction brochure to absentee voters before the fall elections.

Before Nov 2000, this county reportedly had a history of voting problems.

Now, after $16 million has been spent on new equipment and other improvements -- and, yet, they still can't figure out how to vote -- I think something else needs to be done.

Maybe Gov. Bush or Lt. Gov. Brogran could go on tv -- perhaps The Tonight Show, The Daily Show, The View and Oprah -- and TEACH these Palm Beach County voters: how to cast a vote. Bring a new touch voting screen, and demonstrate it on tv. Everyone will tune in, and who knows, someone may learn something.

[umgud]

There is a simple solution. If the voter doesn't cast his/her vote properly, it should be thrown out. Nobody should have to guess the intent of the voter.

[johniegrad]

Maybe if they handed out voting instructions at the casinos or perhaps with "early bird" dinners?

[clikker]

This can't be serious. It must be an April Fool's Day joke. I absolutely refuse to believe that, after all that turmoil and chaos that these people caused us less than two years ago, that there are still people there that cannot properly punch a hole through a piece of paperboard.

Wait, no. I just reread the article. They're not punchcard ballots, are they? They're touch-screen ballots. That's even more pathetic.

No, I just refuse to believe it. It just boggles the mind.

[aomagrat]

But the process for fixing the 55 ballots took 90 minutes

With the new ballots, it will take forever to "fix" an election.

[summer]

It just boggles the mind.

I agree.

[Henchster]

"When scanners kicked out the unreadable ballots, elections workers were forced to look at each one individually on election night. They then had to determine voter intent and fill out a duplicate ballot readable by the machines."

Now THAT'S SCARY! Their definition of duplicate means a straight Dem ticket.

[frodolives]

Perhaps they should just come out and only list Rep-ugly-cans. Those are the only votes they count, anyway.

[Dakmar]

Low cost, early bird dinners? We there sweetie, in rusted out muscle cars, lol. Too much ain't never enough, lol.

[Political Junkie Too]

What they need to do is give the voters those big Bingo inkers and let them put a big ink blob on the square for their candidates.

-PJ

[tubebender]

Maybe if they handed out voting instructions at the casinos or perhaps with "early bird" dinners?

...so how long does it take them to declare a winner in the bingo parlor?

[summer]

LOL...

[NautiNurse]

perhaps The Tonight Show, The Daily Show, The View and Oprah -- and TEACH these Palm Beach County voters: how to cast a vote.

Why stop there? Dan Blather and Peter Lemmings could review the technique for the Democraps on the evening news.

[let freedom sing]

Why do demoCRAPs have problems with voting machines?

ans: They're high rollers.

[captnorb]

Remember, most of the voters in Palm Beach County are retired New York union teachers

[steve-b]

What the hell? Is there some kind of Stupid Serum in the water down there??

As far as I'm concerned, if you don't take the election seriously enough to follow a few simple instructions, then your vote should not count.

[yankeedame]

Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore will try to prevent voter confusion by sending a detailed instruction brochure to absentee voters before the fall elections.

Yeah, boy,that'll do it!

Give me a break! People who apparently can't figure out how to use a touch screen are going to sit down and read a "detailed instruction brochure"? Yeah. Right. And I'll take vanilla.

[.45MAN]

Voting schools ... Palm Beach needs voting schools, for just a small fee of $100.00 ( the Palm Beachers Have it) we will teach you how to vote. Or better still make Palm Beach county a non voting area, they have never voted correctly anyway.....

[jungleboy]

Looks like the same crooks are running the balloting. No Justice again folks.

[summer]

Or better still make Palm Beach county a non voting area, they have never voted correctly anyway...

LOL!