Posted on 10/18/2002 12:30:30 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:41:11 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Alan Stonecipher, a spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill McBride, said that the McBride camp is trying to obtain more details on the agreement.
``The presence of outsiders at the polls can either be helpful or inhibiting in the process of everyone voting,'' Stonecipher said. ``Our interest is in making certain that everyone has a clear opportunity to vote.''
Stonecipher criticized Gov. Jeb Bush for not ensuring the primary went smoothly, especially after the 2000 election debacle.
``His election reform package failed do get the job done and now they are calling in the reinforcements from Washington,'' he said.
The governor's aides did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Since the primary election, Smith said, officials in Miami-Dade and Broward have made progress to ensure that the general election will run smoothly.
When Smith made the request for federal help, he said confidence in the state's efforts to reform its election system has been shaken by the problems in those two counties.
The primary election was the counties' first major election using new and expensive touchscreen computers that replaced the punchcard ballots made infamous during the 2000 presidential recount.
Most counties using new touchscreen machines, including Palm Beach, made it through with only minor problems. Miami-Dade and Broward, however, had a myriad of technical glitches stemming from poor planning that left improperly trained poll workers with the task of troubleshooting the machines.
Thousands of votes cast were not counted until days after the election in both counties.
In Broward, more than 300 poll workers never showed up. Two dozen clerks in charge of the precincts didn't either. And more than 30 precincts failed to extend their hours from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., as ordered by Bush.
In Miami-Dade, several polling locations weren't open as scheduled at 7 a.m. Last-minute changes in programming the county's trilingual ballot affected the procedure for starting the machines, confusing poll workers.
The problems led to some polling stations not opening for several hours and some were open with only a few machines running. Voters were turned away and asked to return later.
Public outrage following the primary and a desperate need to avoid becoming the butt of international ridicule once more has resulted in dramatic changes in the counties' approach to the upcoming general election.
In Broward, (Democratic) elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant gave up most of her responsibilities under pressure from state and local officials. She remains a figurehead in charge of counting the votes. Her predecessor's deputy, Joe Cotter, is overseeing poll worker training and all poll station duties.
About 1,200 paid county employees, not the estimated 5,500 poll worker volunteers, will be in charge of setting up and troubleshooting the voting machines.
The county also expanded training for county and poll workers, and paid for phone access to every polling station. Workers will be required to confirm when they arrive at polls, open for voting and report any problems so the county can keep tabs on trouble spots.
GRRRRRRR!
Ah finally, Miami-Dade admits it is a banana republic!
But then again, I am not a Democrat, so I do not understand their strange and illogical fears.LOL
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