posted on November 10, 2000 10:40:32 AM new
Thing is, the election officials in the Palm Beach precinct knew there was a problem as early as 8:30 in the morning and wrote a memo instructing polling locations on how to deal with it that didn't arrive until late in the afternoon.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:43:02 AM new
Title IX
ELECTORS AND ELECTIONS
Chapter 101
Voting Methods And Procedure
101.011 Voting by paper ballot.--
(1) In counties where paper ballots are used, each elector shall be given a ballot by the inspector. Before delivering the ballot to the elector, one of the inspectors shall write his or herinitials or name on the stub attached to the ballot; then the elector shall, without leaving the polling place, retire alone to a booth or compartment provided, and place an "X" mark after the name of the candidate of his or her choice for each office to be filled, and likewise mark an "X" after the answer he or she desires in case of a constitutional amendment or other question submitted to a vote.
(2) No paper ballot shall be voided or declared invalid in any election within the state by reason of the fact that the ballot is marked other than with an "X," so long as there is a clear indication thereon to the election officials that the person marking such ballot has made a definite choice, and provided further, that the mark placed on the ballot with respect to any candidate by any such voter shall be located in the blank space on the ballot opposite such candidate's name.
3) After preparing his or her paper ballot, the elector shall fold the ballot so as to conceal the face of the ballot and show the stub attached with the name or initials of the inspector and hand it to the receiving inspector, who shall detach the stub and return the ballot to the elector to deposit in the ballot box in the presence of the inspectors. The detached stubs shall be numbered consecutively and filed by the inspectors.
4) If the elector marks more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or if it is impossible to determine the elector's choice, his or her ballot shall not be counted for the office; but this shall not vitiate the ballot as to those names which are properly marked, and
nothing in this code shall be construed to prevent any elector, at any general election, from voting for any qualified candidate other than one whose name is printed on the ballot.
(5) Any elector who shall, by mistake, spoil a ballot so he or she cannot vote the ballot may return it to the inspectors, who shall immediately detach the stub, destroy the ballot without examination, and give the elector another ballot. In no case shall an elector be furnished with more than three ballots or carry a ballot outside the polling room. The clerk shall keep a record
of all ballots destroyed.
(6) At a general election an elector may vote for a write-in candidate by writing in the name of such person in the blank space provided.
History.--s. 46, ch. 4328, 1895; s. 3, ch. 4329, 1895; GS 230; RGS 275; CGL 331; s. 8, ch. 17898, 1937; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 1, ch. 28030, s. 20, ch. 28156, 1953; s. 1, ch. 59-334; s. 3, ch. 67-386; s. 13, ch. 77-175; s. 5, ch. 81-105; s. 3, ch. 82-143; s. 550, ch. 95-147.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:44:25 AM new
abingdon - that sounds pretty accurate.
6), 7) and 8) are the shakiest, though. Gore will probably shut up after a while and concede to Bush. Doing away with the electoral college might just be too much to ask of politicians who aren't used to enacting real change. And Bush will fill the role adequately, but unspectacularly.
Four years of Bush Jr. should have the American people primed for a good Democratic candidate during the next go-around. I'd vote for Hillary Clinton if she'd run.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:52:40 AM new
We need State reform in the voting process. There are two many variables, untrained poll workers etc.
The law posted applies to paper written ballots. I'm sure they quoted part of the law that pertained to electronic and punch type ballots as well. The ballots that were used are ok under that law.
Again, reform is needed here with some standardization (sp). Voters need to be educated on the rules of voting, although it would seem that anyone would realize you can't punch or X your ballot two times.
posted on November 10, 2000 10:52:44 AM newBill Clinton will be seen as one of the three greatest presidents of the twentieth century.
Hmmm... If you say so. Very interesting...
It will be interesting to review these predictions after the dust settles. Anyone else care to dispense with the arguing and go on record with a prediction?
posted on November 10, 2000 10:59:06 AM new
I think once all the ballots are counted and verified, that Bush will retain his win. I also think the AP numbers are fabricated and bloated. The overseas ballots will secure this win, most likely holding with past percentages of 55% or so for Bush.
Oh, and the press will continue to inflame the uninformed public. And the uninformed public will continue to swallow whole anything and everything the press says.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:04:26 AM new
Title IX
ELECTORS AND ELECTIONS
Chapter 101
Voting Methods And Procedure
101.27 Voting machine ballots.--
(1) All ballots for voting machines shall be printed on strips of white cardboard, paper, or other material of such size as will fill the ballot frames of the machine, in plain black type as large as the space will permit, so as to show the name of the candidate, statement of the proposed constitutional amendment, or other question or proposition submitted to the electorate at any election.
2) The captions on the ballots for voting machines shall be placed so as to indicate to the elector what push knob, key, lever, or other device is used or operated in order to cast his or her vote for or against a candidate, proposed constitutional amendment, or other question or proposition submitted to the electorate at any election.
(3) The order in which the voting machine ballot is arranged shall as nearly as practicable conform to the requirements of the form of the paper ballot for that election. The names of the unopposed candidates shall not appear on the general election ballot; each unopposed candidate shall be deemed to have voted for himself or herself. If two or more write-in candidates are seeking election for one office, only one blank space shall be provided.
(4) If the official ballot is longer than the voting machine can accommodate, paper ballots may be used in conjunction with a voting machine, in which case the order of the offices on the voting machine ballot shall be the same as prescribed in ss. 101.141(4) and 101.151(3). Where the machine ballot is filled in this order, there shall be a continuation of the ballot in the same order on paper ballots, except that no state or federal opposed officer shall be placed
upon a paper ballot. In any primary election, if the official ballot is longer than the voting machine can accommodate, paper ballots may be used in conjunction with a voting machine, in which case the order of the offices on the voting machine ballot shall be the same as prescribed in s. 101.141(4), except that no portion of a category of candidates as established in s. 101.141(4) shall be divided between the voting machine ballot and the paper ballot. In the event a category of candidates must be removed from the voting machine ballot because of the foregoing provision, the supervisor of elections in such county may complete the balance of the voting machine ballot with some whole portion of another category of candidates out of its proper sequence, except that no state or federal office shall be placed upon a paper ballot.
(5) In all primary elections, supervisors of elections may print voting machine ballots in shaded colors to group and identify the number of candidates in any or all races. Colors shall be light or pastel with candidates' names overprinted in plain black type. In no case shall any particular
color or pattern of colors be used to identify any political party in the general election.
(6) Should the above directions for the complete preparation of the ballot be insufficient, the Department of State shall determine and prescribe any additional matter or form in which the ballot may be printed.
History.--s. 1, ch. 13893, 1929; CGL 1936 Supp. 337(1); s. 1, ch. 18405, 1937; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 13, ch. 65-380; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-266; s. 1, ch. 73-75; s. 1, ch. 74-129; s. 16, ch. 77-175; s. 36, ch. 79-400; s. 9, ch. 81-105; s. 12, ch. 81-304; s. 564, ch. 95-147.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:14:00 AM new
Is it just me or do you find it amusing that the same people who dragged the country through a blow by blow account of the presidents sex life literally waving Monica's dirty laundry in our faces is now complaining that Al Gore should not take legal action for the good of the country?
(all puns intended )
It would just be too much for us they think.
I heard it said that it might divide us.
Be Real here guys.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:32:05 AM newNever happen. I can easily list 13 states that would never, ever, ever give up their right to actually have a voice upon who is elected president.
My statement was a prediction James? Is yours?
When Bush takes office in January, public opinion will be strongly in favor of abolishing the electoral college in almost every state, large and small. Just another prediction.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:37:10 AM new
Alaska 3
Arkansas 6
Delaware 3
Hawaii 4
Idaho 4
Kansas 6
Maine 4
Montana 3
Nebraska 5
Nevada 4
New Hampshire 4
New Mexico 5
North Dakota 3
Rhode Island 4
South Dakota 3
Utah 5
Vermont 3
West Virginia 5
Wyoming 3
That's 19, let's eliminate the 6 that have 5 or 6 electors even, and you still have 13 states that will not, public opinion or not. It would be beyond foolhardy for Vermont, as an example to give future presidential candidates an excuse to pretend they don't exist.
posted on November 10, 2000 11:56:43 AM new1) The recounts will be completed with Bush still the winner. 2) The Democrats will sue (or support the lawsuits already filed). 3) The Democrats will lose the lawsuits. 5) Bush will take the Oath of Office as our 43rd President in January.
I agree with 1,2,3,5.
4) The absentee ballots will increase Bush's winning margin when counted.
I doubt if there will be any significant change either way.
6) Gore will continue to whine and moan, killing his chances of reclaiming the Democratic nomination in 2004.
Regardless of who wins, I don't think either man can win in 2004. So, it would probably be best that Gore destroys any hope that he has of becoming president in 2004. Then the Democrats can have a candidate that isn't tainted by this election or the Clinton scandals.
7) The Constitution will be amended doing away completely with the electoral college.
I hope so, but I doubt it. I have the feeling that there will be a lot of talk about it, but it will blow over.
8) Bush will serve admirably and restore some of the respect for the Office of President that Clinton managed to destroy.
Not a chance. Politics have just gotten too nasty. Regardless of who wins, the opposition will nitpick every little thing trying to bring him down.
I can't imagine GW bringing dignity to anything. The elder Bush was a good and decent man, although, I generally don't agree with him politically, but GW is a boob. He's Billy Carter with an Ivy League education. But, Congress will keep him from seriously screwing anything up.
[ edited by bkmunroe on Nov 10, 2000 11:58 AM ]
posted on November 10, 2000 12:06:44 PM new
IMHO---in watching all the players in action in the last few days, whoever loses--should be happy on a personal level because whoever assumes the Presidency will be under such scrutiny by the media and the public that it will be hard for either one of them to have a reasonably successful term and their approval rating will go into the netherlands and stay there for their whole term
posted on November 10, 2000 12:31:38 PM new
I know everyone is most interested in the drama of the Presidential race, but regarding future legislation it appears to hardly matter. Congress is going to be split virtually in half. Nothing will get done, regardless of who's President, IMO.
posted on November 10, 2000 12:38:40 PM new
1 - looks pretty likely
2-4 - who cares
5 - natural consequence of 1
6 - possible but I doubt it, we've heard no such whining from him yet and so have no reason to expect it.
7 - possible but I doubt it
8 - very improbable, In both competence and integrity Bush is neither particularly high nor low as successful politicians go.
A few more
- a Bush victory means economic decline, we are already starting to see it.
- republicans will overreach their mandate, turning the current surplus to a deficit in their zeal for regressive tax cuts and other spending.
- the above will resulting in a '02 turnover of both houses of congress at least as dramatic as that of '94.
- no third party presidential candidate will reach 1% in the foreseeable future.
- Bush will be remembered as the most ineffective US President since Calvin Coolidge.
Valuation of the opinions herein expressed is not to exceed two cents.
[ edited by figmente on Nov 10, 2000 12:50 PM ]
posted on November 10, 2000 01:03:41 PM new
Thanks to everyone who responded to my predictions in a civil manner. Many excellent points were made and it will be very interesting to see how all of this plays out.
posted on November 10, 2000 02:43:58 PM new
This street test is not very accurate---as most people have heard the news about the ballot problem---may have even seen it on TV...and know what to look for
posted on November 10, 2000 05:30:47 PM new
In Volusia co., while assembling all previously counted ballots in preparation for tomorrow's recount, officials have discovered three "unsealed ballot bags" full of uncounted ballots one of which so full that ballots spilled out of it when it was picked up.
posted on November 11, 2000 04:46:06 AM newI have the EXACT feeling about GORE...I am literally SICK to think of him President.
It's quite obvious that pretty much everyone posting here feels sick about this election and the opposing candidate. No matter how it plays out half of us are going to feel lousy.
But there is some consolation in the fact that we do have the right to make a choice, even if we aren't happy with the choices.
We're lucky to live in a country where we can freely participate in a forum such as this, debate our positions, openly express disgust for the candidates, and not have to worry about the police knocking on our door.
Things could be much worse. And no matter how this ends, our democracy will survive and be even stronger because for the first time in modern history we have a chance to prove that our system is up to the task of a peaceful transfer of power (or at least adminstrations if Gore wins) under the very worst of circumstances. All in all, it's good to be an American. (This is not intended as a slur in any way against our friends and neighbors abroad).
)
