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Could Florida Have Another Election Disaster? Save Email Print
Posted: 4:40 PM Sep 17, 2008
Last Updated: 8:18 AM Sep 22, 2008
Reporter: Mike Vasilinda


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A national report says poll working training in Florida is among the
best, but that is the only bright spot of the report reviewing voting
here and in other battleground states. Common Cause says the recent vote in Palm Beach County is an indication more trouble is on the horizon.

Florida has too few poll workers, and too few voting machines to handle what could be a historic turnout on November 4th. A national report by Common Cause concludes the state could be on the brink of another 2000 election disaster, according to Ben Wilcox

“We have seen problems in Palm Beach County already in the primary. I think potentially we could have major problems in Florida again.”

What makes this coming election so problematic is a new law that says your drivers license and other information has to match perfectly.

The problem says critic and Leon Elections Supervisor Ion Sancho, is that there are errors in the databases.

“Requiring to be matched up perfectly to a databases which have never been tested for accuracy is simply a prescription to have people disenfranchised.“

The state is dismissing many of the faults the report finds with voting in Florida, and says it expects a smooth election November 4th.

Jennifer Davis is a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office.

“66 counties did perfectly well we had an administrative error, or some administrative gaps in procedures in Palm Beach, but they are preparing and they will be prepared for Novembers elections as well.”

But if critics are right, the best way for newly registered voters to make sure they count, is to vote early and work out any problems before election day.

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