Posted on 10/08/2002 4:28:14 PM PDT by Alissa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Party leaders said Tuesday they will launch an extensive effort to promote and monitor voters' rights on Election Day and will put "thousands" of lawyers in place to respond to voters' complaints.
After the difficulties in Florida in the 2000 election and during the Sept. 10 primary, Democrats said they will pay special attention to the Sunshine State.
"We are not going to stand on the sidelines while a third Florida election is bungled," said Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, who exhibited a new toll-free call line that will allow voters to register problems and have their calls logged with local election officials and party workers.
After the bitter Florida recount battle in the 2000 presidential election, the state spent more than $30 million installing electronic voting and replacing punch-card systems.
But it still experienced widespread problems in September with new voting machines and voters who were turned away from late opening or early closing polling stations.
McAuliffe said the party will have monitors at problem polling sites. He said "thousands" of lawyers would be on notice to respond to complaints so "no one is intimidated into foregoing their rights."
Watching demoflop voters is easy. Simply go to the nearest cemetery.
The system layout resembled an ATM but did not have buttons next to choices like an ATM and was not touchscreen (although voters did attempt to touch the screens).
The dial input method means that any write in candidate with a long name will not garner sufficient votes (each letter must be dialed up through the alphabet starting at "A", try doing that for an 8 letter first name, 12 letter lastname with no "typos").
Jim Smith is a smart guy and Ashcroft obliged. This was on the radio so I have no url. Maybe a google search will provide more detail on the matter.
ASHCROFT'S TEAM IS coming to Florida! Everyone, take a deep breath...
Won't they be shocked when they are arrested the next week on outstanding warrants, back taxes and child support!
The Lord stopped algor et al from stealing the Presidency from George W. Bush in 2000. We need to petition Him to stop the McAuliffe thugs from stealing elections in 2002.
Seriously. This is what we need to do.
I agree. Religious organizations are asking for prayers for the upcomming elections, but cannot actually say WHO to vote for. They'll lose their tax exempt status.
Viewers, of course, know who to pray for. Certainly not the Satanic Democrat!
Write a letter, at the last minute, to one of the biggest newspapers in the area and ask "if this is true?" Just a rumor could scare the dickens out of most Democrat voters. LOL
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Ugh! Oh!... Since ALL the problems in Florida were in mostly democratic areas. Which means democrats CAUSED the problem in their areas but want to blame the whole state. Thereby painting Republicans since a Rep[ublican won. Hey! the dumbocrats by this bull sperm. My guess is feigning being careful they instead plan major fraud. Hell, the pubbies would'nt know, they give the dumos benefit of the doubt.
Republicans better check their pockets before and after they leave the polling places. Something may be added or deleted.
(AP) Florida has issued a call for help to the U.S. Justice Department as it tries to shake off yet another election fiasco.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith said problems in Miami-Dade and Broward counties during last week's primary rattled confidence in the state's efforts to reform its election system.
Smith said Thursday he had "absolutely no evidence whatsoever that any civil rights violations occurred or anything of that nature" during the primary when some polling places didn't open on time, others closed early and some votes were not counted in the original tally.
He said the Justice Department "has broad purposes" and "lots of options" in responding to the state's request for help.
"We're reaching out to every level of government," Smith said during a stop at the Broward sheriff's office to thank deputies for helping with the county's ballot review.
Political newcomer Bill McBride narrowly defeated former Attorney General Janet Reno in last week's Democratic primary for governor, but the election miscues were reminiscent of the debacle in Florida during the 2000 White House race.
The balloting this time was beset with equipment failures and human errors despite a $32 million overhaul of Florida's election system to get rid of punch-card ballots and install touch-screen voting machines.
Smith, Florida's top elections official, said the state is reviewing the problems and asked Ashcroft to "take whatever steps you deem necessary to participate in this review." He also asked the Justice Department to assist elections supervisors in ensuring a smooth general election.
Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, also sent Ashcroft a letter supporting Smith's request.
Justice spokesman Jorge Martinez said the department would carefully review the letter, but declined further comment Wednesday.
Most of the problems in Miami-Dade and Broward during the Sept. 10 primary were blamed on lack of county poll worker training, a failure to practice using new voting systems, and poor organization.
"It is not any kind of failure in the technology," Smith said. "It has been a gross failure in training and practice."
Broward County's elections supervisor, Miriam Oliphant, would not comment about specific details of Smith's request to the Justice Department. Smith "is entitled to request any type of assistance or role he chooses," Oliphant said.
Miami-Dade County election supervisor David Leahy did not return repeated calls seeking comment Wednesday.
In Washington, President Bush's spokesman had gentle criticism for the two county supervisors Wednesday.
"Those county officials had a lot of new money that the state of Florida provided for them in order to have a successful election," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
From cbs news on google search...Picture of McBride with url. No need to ruin this thread with his picture.
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