MB -
abcnews.go.com
"Missing Voting
Mechanism Recovered
Police Say Florida Democrat Had a ‘Votamatic’ in His Car
Florida State Rep. Irving Slosberg, a Democrat, holds a copy of the disputed Palm Beach County ballot at a rally in front of the county's elections office, on Nov. 9. (Gary I. Rothstein/AP Photo)
By Chris Vlasto and David Ruppe
Nov. 15 — Several days after presidential votes were tallied in what has become the hotbed of Florida’s post-election confusion, police in Palm Beach County confiscated a ballot-box mechanism from the car of a well-known local Democrat.
The mechanism, called a “Votamatic,” did not contain any ballots. It’s a device used on some types of ballot boxes to punch votes through ballot cards, which are then tallied by computers.
According to a police report filed at the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office and obtained by ABCNEWS, Irving Slosberg, 53, pulled the mechanism from his car and handed it over to police on Nov. 11 after denying to a county government employee that he had it.
When told of the incident, Palm Beach County’s supervisor of elections, Theresa Lefore, declined to press charges, according to the report.
“She noted that this incident did occur during the hand count of the presidential election and Lefore stated she did not wish to pursue further this matter at this time due to extenuating circumstances,” it said.
No further action was taken. ..."
newsmax.com
"Wednesday November 15, 2000; 3:50 PM ET
Judicial Watch to Conduct Florida Recount
As reports of Florida election irregularities continue to spread, a Washington, D.C., legal watchdog group has stepped into the fray.
As of Wednesday, Judicial Watch had amassed a small army of 210 volunteers and had won permission from 32 of the state's 67 counties to do its own Florida ballot recount.
"What we're doing is a call to action to get volunteers," Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman told the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday. "We're very skeptical of both the Democrats and the Republicans."
Judicial Watch intends to retain a "big eight" accounting firm to help in its recount effort.
Under Florida law, ballots are public records and may therefore be viewed by anyone. Klayman said he wants to begin by Thursday, starting with the most controversial Florida counties.
So far, only two counties have refused to grant access to Judicial Watch, Osceola and Volusia, both heavily Democratic.
Coincidentally, Volusia was the only county to complete its manual recount by the state's legally mandated 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline. Volusia found enough new Gore ballots to reduce Bush's lead by 98 votes, nearly a quarter of the margin he previously enjoyed.
Any county that continues to deny Judicial Watch access to its ballots will be sued, Klayman said...."
Regards, Don |
