Regarding the absentee votes, recount issue...
Believe that I heard on one of the network T.V. stations that it would be about 10K votes. Also was stated that these are mostly military and (if I heard correctly) run about 8 to 1 for GOP. There might be about 1K of these non-military, but Jews in Israel. Of these 10K then I get 8k(Bush) - 2k(Gore) = 6k(Bush gain). Does this seem too optimistic?
Case for hand counting ballots was never clearly stated. First they wanted to allow for another vote. Then was stated that too many rejected ballots (bogus, turned out to be similar to other elections). Then they claimed that many were double punched Gore/Buchanan, but what about Bush/Buchanan -- never saw it mentioned. Then was stated by a Florida Democrat I believe that in Palm Beach County there were too many Buchanan votes, therefor couldn't be correct for this ethnic group. (Ever get the impression these people don't really believe in free elections?) Then they did some sample hand counting showing that you pick up more votes which supposedly means it is better than machine count, (according to them).
Problem I have is that ballots never meant to be read by humans are now being interpreted by a set of hastily made-up rules which are designed to take previously disqualified ballots and reinterpret them as valid votes.
In my opinion the voting process doesn't just consist of the act of poking a stylus at a ballot, or the voter having an intention. Rather it consists of County officials getting together and deciding on what type of ballot to use, of getting it approved by both parties, of publishing it to inform the electorate, of having rules in place as to who constitutes a member of the electorate, of notifying the public as to where to go to vote, rules for disqualifying a ballot etc. Since all this was done -- and no one has claimed any illegalities -- after performing the machine recount required for close elections, nothing else need be, nor should be done.
If State officials feel that the method which they have come up with could be improved, then they should get started on fixing it for the next election. Just like people who think that the Networks falsely reporting Florida was for Gore affected the vote should start working on ways to deal with that issue for future elections. As far as this election is concerned: It's history!
Ms. Harris should do the right thing -- becoming a hero in her own time -- and make a million writing the book. |
