ELECTION 2002 State's new early-voting option attracts attention [FL reforms]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | Nov 2, 2002 | Sandra Mathers

[summer]

Three days before Tuesday's general election, thousands of registered voters in Central Florida already have walked into county elections offices to cast early ballots under a new state law.

"This is the first statewide election this is possible," said David Host, spokesman for the Florida Elections Division in Tallahassee. "You can go in 29 days before an election to vote by absentee without a reason."

[summer]

In Brevard County, about 400 have voted since Oct. 3, said assistant supervisor of elections Gayle Graham.

I voted early and it was great. My hope is the state continue doing this, and they advertise it heavily next time, so more people know about it. I really believe this will help increase voter turnout.

[summer]

continue = continues

[summer]

FYI - tell your friends and family in FL! :)

[summer]

FYI. Vote early, on Monday, if you haven't voted already! :)

[umgud]

With the new touch-screens, will Fla produce the world's first electronic chads?

[Dixie Mom]

I voted yesterday since I will be working at the polls in a precinct other than my own on Tuesday. There were a lot of other folks there as well--people were lined up out the door. I had to wait about 20 minutes in line. The workers there told me that the turnout has been steady, and the only time of day with little to no wait is around the 3:00 hour.

[Dixie Mom]

LOL--I know you're joking, but after the primary, some of the "Palm Beach" voters complained that smudges on the screens caused them to vote inaccurately. (No kidding, they really did.)

[summer]

I voted around 3PM - and the poll workers told me I had just missed the crush of people who have been voting early since this began. They said they felt this has been a huge success, conveniently enabling many more people to get out and vote.

[FReepaholic]

Vote early and often!

[copycat]

I voted early and it was great. My hope is the state continue doing this, and they advertise it heavily next time, so more people know about it. I really believe this will help increase voter turnout.

So much for the Constitution...

[summer]

What's wrong with voting?

[Brytani]

Already voted, straight Republican ticket and to throw out the FLSC judges. I've done my job.

[jla]

I understand that on the Fla. ballot the voter is given the choice to retain, or not retain a justice.
What then happens if the not retain votes win?

[jla]

Can anyone give an assessment of the following:

Supreme Court:

Harry Lee ANSTEAD

Charles T. WELLS

Appeals Court:

Justice Robert T. BENTON of the 1st district court of appeal

Margurite H. DAVIS

Joseph LEWIS Jr.

Ricky L. POLSTON

William A. VAN NORTWICK Jr.

[Matchett-PI]

"Can anyone give an assessment of the following":

Supreme Court:

Harry Lee ANSTEAD --- I'm voting NO

Charles T. WELLS --- I'm voting NO

(Both are Chiles appointees -- gotta be DemocRATS)

Appeals Court:

Justice Robert T. BENTON - I'm voting NO (A Chiles appointee)

Margurite H. DAVIS - I'm voting NO (A Chiles appointee)

Joseph LEWIS Jr. - I'm voting YES (A Bush appointee)

Ricky L. POLSTON - I'm voting YES (A Bush appointee)

William A. VAN NORTWICK Jr. - I'm voting NO (A Chiles appointee)

[Ben Bolt]

Thanks for the ping-a-lingy ... After a good dash of homework and reading my 'lil book I recieved in the mail you and I seem to be voting exactly the same .

We will rid our Supreme Court of the cancer that is festering in it once and for all . I'm very much looking forward to Tuesday my friend ..

[Matchett-PI]

"Thanks for the ping-a-lingy ... you and I seem to be voting exactly the same . We will rid our Supreme Court of the cancer that is festering in it once and for all . I'm very much looking forward to Tuesday my friend .."

You're welcome! I'm VERY MUCH looking forward to Tuesday myself!

Regarding the "non-partisan" judges, I listing below the information on __ ALL of them__ (not just the ones in my district) as to whether they were appointed by a Republican or a DemocRAT governor.

Pass the info on to any others you think may be interested.

EAGLES UP!!!

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT:

Harry Lee ANSTEAD --- I'm voting NO

Charles T. WELLS --- I'm voting NO

(Both are 1994 DemocRAT - Lawton Chiles appointees)

=====

APPEALS COURT

District 1:

Justice Robert T. BENTON - (A 1994 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

Margurite H. DAVIS - (A 1993 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

Joseph LEWIS Jr. - (A 2001 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

Ricky L. POLSTON - (A 2001 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

William A. VAN NORTWICK Jr. - (A 1994 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

=====

District 2:

Chris ALTENBERND - (A 1989 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

Virginia COVINGTON - (A 2001 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

Carolyn FULMER - (A 1994 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

Jerry R. PARKER - (A 1988 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

Morris SILBERMAN - (A 2001 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

James W. WHATLEY - (A 1995 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

=====

District 3:

Gerald B. Cope, Jr. - (A 1988 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

David M. GERSTEN - (A 1989 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

Melvia B. GREEN - (A 1994 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

David LEVY - (A 1989 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

Juan RAMIREZ, Jr. - (A 1999 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

=====

District 4:

Mark E. POLEN - (A 2001 Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

George SHAHOOD - (A 1995 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

W. Matthew STEVENSON - (A 1994 DemocRAT - Chiles appointee)

Martha C. WARNER - (A 1989 Republican - Bob Martinez appointee)

=====

District 5 (My District - I'm voting "YES" on all of these):

Richard ORFINGER - (A Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

William David PALMER - (A Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

Robert J. PLEUS, Jr. - (A Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

Thomas SAWAYA - (A Republican - Jeb Bush appointee)

=====

On the proposed Constitutional Amendments, I'm voting this way:

#1 = YES
#2 = YES
#3 = NO
#4 = YES
#6 = NO
#7 = YES
#8 = NO
#9 = NO
#10 = NO
#11 = NO

[copycat]

Voting is good, but I thought the Constitution says that everyone shall vote on the same day.

That's not your fault, sorry to let my pet peeve get me going.

IMHO, voting should be done at the polling place, with registered voters only, all the same day, with ID required. Too much voter fraud can occur when no-one can keep track of what's going on.

But I guess I'm just old fashioned...

If the Republicans get control of both houses, and I'm Bush, I would make Election Reform my number 1 priority.

You've done a great job for Jeb, good luck!!

[gitmo]

We do the same thing in NC. However, I don't see any checks and balances. I voted a few weeks ago, and wasn't asked for identification or anything.

They DID make it convenient. I stopped at a library far from my precinct. They quickly configured the voting machine for my precinct. The whole process from beginning to end took about 5 minutes.

[Ben Bolt]

Holy cow .. We look like 2 peas in a pod on this . I'm still mulling over the Constitutional Amendment # 4 but both of our heads are clicking together on this .

Here is Broward there is a slew of county goodies on the ballot , all of them will grow the size of government and raise taxes . Straight NO on all of those of course .