Source:
Miami HeraldBY GARY FINEOUT
April 25, 2007
TALLAHASSEE --
With just days left in the legislative session, a push to switch Florida to paper ballots is suddenly coming under fire from Democrats, who were previously in favor of the proposal.
That's because Senate Republicans added several controversial provisions Tuesday to a bill that sets aside $27.8 million to replace the touch-screen voting machines now used in 15 counties, including Miami-Dade and Broward. The legislation also calls for moving next year's state presidential primary to Jan. 29, which is before most other states in the country.
''We have taken a good cleanup of election systems and made it a political bill,'' complained Sen. Gwen Margolis, an Aventura Democrat.
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The Senate added provisions that would impose fines against third-party groups that register voters and do not quickly turn over forms to election officials. A similar law passed in 2005 but was struck down by a court and remains on appeal. Officials with the League of Women Voters complained that if the current measure becomes law, it would force the group to halt voter registration efforts in Florida.
Another provision would allow people who sign petitions to revoke their signatures, a move aimed at groups that have pushed constitutional amendments onto the ballot in recent years.
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