(Florida) Secretary of State proposes changes of elections laws

[ryban]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Secretary of State's office on Wednesday proposed changing election law to give Florida voters more privacy at their polling sites next year and give those who cast provisional ballots a week to prove their eligibility, instead of two days.

The measures would also establish the secretary, an appointee of the governor, as the ultimate referee when disputes arise from different interpretations of election law by county supervisors.

A key change would give supervisors and canvassing boards seven days to review provisional ballots, eliminating some of the pressure to make a decision in the heat of an election. Department spokeswoman Jenny Nash said 10,000 of the 27,000 provisional ballots cast in the 2004 election were counted.

Another recommendation would provide a 100-foot sanctuary around the polling site instead of the present 50 feet, a move that keeps partisans at bay.

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http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/apnews/stories/021605/D889V1880.shtml

[Sydnie]

1. hummm would also keep exit pollsters at bay, wouldn't it? n/t

[EST]

2. You can depend on it...

Every move designed to destroy democracy.

[napi21]

3. Ga. already has the 100 ft rule.

I don't think it caused any problems that I am aware of. It's posted on 18 X 24 signs outside all the polling places.

I don't know about the giving authority to the supervisors and canvassing boards. Would this eliminate the problems we had in 2000 when the boards believed they had to depend on the courts? I very bad with names, but I would have trusted the local judge who was in charge of auditing the punch card ballots in Palm Beach County, but he backed away because he said he needed guidance from the court. If this plan would give someone like him the authority to make a decision, it sounds good.

[GetTheRightVote]

4. I am a Floridian and it sounds like they are trying to control elections

period, the republicans in Florida are the worst scum on this earth, boy do I hate them down there, they are the most evil people in this world, I can not say it enough, I would like to take them all out back and give them the spanking they deserve for screwing us all over down here in the sunshine state.

:kick:

[Rebellious Republican]

7. I am a Floridian to, and agree with you, except you forgot to mention

how freaking arrogant these bastards are!
Jeb is the reason I am a FORMER republican, and proud to be a registered Democrat. I will never go back, and to illustrate my distaste for the Arrogant bastards, here is a special salute to the Rethuglican party..............................

[Mountainman]

5. the secretary, an appointee of the governor, as the ultimate referee

If this were in place in 2000 could Cruella have kept the courts out of the fight and call Bush the winner?

I would not go for this part.

[EC]

6. Umm, no

A key change would give supervisors and canvassing boards seven days to review provisional ballots, eliminating some of the pressure to make a decision in the heat of an election. Department spokeswoman Jenny Nash said 10,000 of the 27,000 provisional ballots cast in the 2004 election were counted.


that's not the key part, the key part is: The measures would also establish the secretary, an appointee of the governor, as the ultimate referee when disputes arise from different interpretations of election law by county supervisors.

Having more time for the provisionals isn't a bad idea, but having an appointee of the governor as the judge to end disputes isn't good at all...

[kcass1954]

8. Get ready - we're getting screwed again!

After everything that Glenda Hood did last year to ensure a smooth election process, beginning with the primaries in August, she can't be trusted. And Jebbie's done oh-so-much to help too.

[Skarbrowe]

9. And Jeb Bush has already stated that Bill Nelson is the next to go in 2006

The last high ranking Democrat left in the state. I'm sure he means it and the fix is already in.

[kcass1954]

10. Bill Nelson is already on Dobson's hit list.

I frequently disagree with Nelson on various issues, especially his stance that we need to support * in his pursuit of freedom in Iraq. But he is a Democrat. And I believe that if Reid leans on him a bit, he'll do what's right!

[Say_What]

11. Like this is a surprise???