19,000 Votes Florida DISQUALIFIED

[Guest]

There were so many mistakes made, according to Democratic sources in Florida, that more than 19,000 ballots in Palm Beach County — four percent of the total — were disqualified because they contained punches for more than one presidential candidate.

The Democratic National Committee said it started receiving complaints from voters that the actual ballot was very confusing. Basically, voters said, the hole punch for Gore on the ballot was so close to that of Buchanan that many voters weren’t sure who they had voted for.

“By Gore there were two holes … I had to figure out which one,” said voter Lena Fransetta. “I asked one of the ladies for help and she didn’t know. When I left I figured out I voted wrong.”

more at
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/DailyNews/ELECTION_WatchdogPart6001108.html

 

[Guest]

I heard on Nightline tonight that most of the 19,000 votes are believed to have been punched for both Gore & Buchanan because of voter confustion and there are also another 3,000 votes for Buchanan which may belong to Gore. If this turns out to be true, then Gore will win by a fairly big margin, relatively.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Laurel]

Bush has nothing to step down from, as he was never officially elected President. Even without allegations of widespread voter fraud, this election is so close that neither candidate can claim to be acting on behalf of "the people". Add to that the near-even splits of the House and the Senate and you have a recipe for four years of nothing getting done, which might be best for the country anyway.

 

[Slut_boy]

Wow, what an absolute disaster: nothing like a bit of controversy for big news. I wouldn't be surprised if elections (and one day perhaps even national wars or the conflict in the Middle East) get sponsored by broadcasting companies like CCN.

Anyway, this is probably going to be food for Flagg's biting intellectualism and cannon fodder for the blind ignorance of patriotism. Perhaps now even some of the 'hard loyalists' will reflect on what has clearly become a circus - I am just not yet sure who the clown is going to be.

 

[Flagg]

Does anyone have the actual voting percentages from the election? I know that due to the Electoral Vote system it is feasible for a candidate to get more votes than his opponent and yet still not enjoy victory. I wonder if the US really is split on this issue. Half of the population didn't vote and so presumably have no opinion or care either way. That leaves 50% of which roughly 25% will have voted for the winner. So a quarter of the population gets to choose whose president. Looks like I was wrong about the US along. It really does stand up for minorities!

19000 spoiled votes. Jesus that's amazing. I think the two should lose by default and give the presidency to Nader.

[Edited by Flagg on 11-09-2000 at 04:09 AM]

 

[Gingersnap]

Squish those bananas and pour on the jello

I think the wives should settle it let Tipper get in there and knock old Mrs W on her ass.

 

[Slut_boy]

No, giving it to Nader would be silly - now you pointed out yourself that the civil war was over a long time ago, Flagg. What are you trying to do? And be careful how you do it: I am sure that you don't want to bite your tongue off even if it is firmly planted in your cheek.

 

[Flagg]

??? What did I say wrong ???

 

[Merelan]

Have you seen the ballot they are contested many of the votes from? How can you not understand it? There is a little arrow pointing right to each hole, depending on who you want to vote for. Then many other ballots are disqualified because people punched more then once. Maybe what we really need is a lesson in how to follow directions? I am not kidding. I would bet there are many people who have no idea what they are suppose to do. And when there is a line behind you, you feel rushed and don't pay close enough attention. I was taught how to vote in high school, but from what I gather that is very rare. We had one of the voting machines and got to practice the whole thing. Lucky me.
Are they serious that we may all have to do this again? That was what one article said. They can't make just Florida do it, if there is a revote, the whole country has to.
How about they just draw straws?

 

[Cheyenne]

Have you seen the ballot they are contested many of the votes from? How can you not understand it?

Maybe it says something about the "smarts", or lack thereof, by these 19,000 people and we should be grateful that their votes don't count due to their stupidity?

The ballot here clearly said if you vote for more than one, it will be disqualified. Sounds like those 19,000 people in Florida could benefit from Mrs. Bush and her literacy programs.

 

[Merelan]

Not all of them were from that ballot, but thousands were. And the others who punched more then once, or not where they were suppose too. Yes, a literacy problem for many, but not all. Some just don't follow directions. They are probably the same ones out there on the road with a right blinker on going straight. or the ones who pass on the right hand side, or the ones who break apart the boxes of butter, or...
nevermind. I am getting carried away.

 

[Expertise]

What Cheyenne said.

Darwinian selection at work ....thankfully.

If you are too fucking dull to even figure out a ballot, personally I don't think you should be allowed to vote for the most powerful position in the world.

I see Jackson and Mfumi are making some wild assed accusations as well.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

I tend to agree with you Exp.

I did see the ballot in question this morning though.

A real shity design. You can see how some litterally "short sited seniors" could easily fuck it up.

Florida - whoever designed that ballot - known as the "Butterfly" ballot (don't know why yet) will catch a bunch of shit.

 

[Cheri]

Excuse me if I say what a buncha whiners! I voted wrong.... What the hell do they want? To vote again? Sorry charlie, one shot only and if you mess it up, tough luck.
I've worked at several pole stations and there is never a lack of official type people to ask questions to. Perhaps they should have asked someone who actually knew rather than just any schmo.

 

[April]

I just saw the ballot in question on the cnn website. You'd have to be pretty damn stupid to mess it up! Sadly, I have to say that our country seems to be getting dumber all the time.

 

[forgetunome]

Well....

you realize what Florida is made up of? A bunch of people who have been out in the sun to long without benefit of a hat! Their brains are fried! Hee Hee

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[forgetunome]

Lighten up...

I was just joking CB...not my honest thoughts of their capabilities.

[Edited by forgetunome on 11-09-2000 at 06:54 AM]

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Expertise]

Natural selection in the polling booth

I wasn't joking.

I have tremendous respect for senior citizens and my elders. Always have, always will.

Although I wasn't talking about them specificly if they are among those who cannot figure out a something so simple as a ballot... well, sucks to be them.

I am not advocateing some sort of mental/physical capacity test for voters. I am merely stating the fact that if they (old, young, rich, poor, black, white, whatever) are to fucking simple to figure out a ballot. I am not real concerned about there votes being wasted.

 

[Mustang Sally]

just a question

For some of those who punched two holes, isn't it possible that they were deliberately disqualifying their ballot as a "protest vote" against all the candidates? Rather than just not voting, they do this to make some kind of statement. Or does this not happen in the States?

I realize that this is beside the point, but I'm just curious, since you guys were being so very critical.

[Edited by Mustang Sally on 11-09-2000 at 07:12 AM]

 

[Merelan]

Yes Sally, that could very well be the case in some of them.
others simply did not know what they were to do. Even though they sent out sample ballots and statements to most the voters ahead of time.
And I have been watching interviews with many people that used that ballot. Most of them seem "normal" Americans, just not careful enough to double check before they voted. Others said they don't understand the confusion. There were not only arrows pointed directly to the hole, but matching numbers too.
A similar protest is occuring here in New York. We had a transporation bond act to vote on. Not going into what it was about.
The important thing that they are saying is that less then half the voting people actually voted on it, one way or the other. Some authorities are saying that the people who didn't vote actually hadn't seen it on the ballot.
What the heck is that? It was the very first thing listed and had a double wide column to show it. I stand by what I said earlier. They weren't careful or concientious enough to take time in their voting. There was a sample of it outside the booth so you knew what was where, didn't they take the time to see it? And if they didn't, then why didn't they ask about it? Commercials have been on as often as the candidates ones, so they had to know.
Oh well. Whatever happens I still have faith in our system and the process. This will just generate more discussion and maybe, just maybe, show people how important one vote can make.

 

[Flagg]

Whatever happens I still have faith in our system and the process

Ye of incredibly excessive faith

 

[CelestialBody]