Posted on 10/05/2004 6:10:47 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
By JACKIE CALMES
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 5, 2004; Page A1
Four years after electoral chaos in Florida sent the Bush-Gore presidential battle to the Supreme Court, sparring is erupting around the country over the very procedures intended to prevent a repeat, even as some familiar problems loom just weeks before Election Day.
A new federal election law that was meant to bring more uniformity to locally run elections is itself spawning a patchwork of inconsistent policies in different states. Language in the law allowing voters to cast "provisional votes" when their registration is in doubt has already set off legal battles over which provisional ballots will ultimately be counted. New voting technology has sparked debates over the possibility of computer hacking, even as the infamous punch-card machines, outlawed in Florida and elsewhere, are still in use in parts of 22 states.
Compounding all this is the challenge of training poll workers for new machines and new legal questions, and the likelihood of record crowds at the polls, amid unprecedented efforts to mobilize new voters.
With this year's presidential race tight, and Senate control at stake as well, both parties have legal teams ready to fight in states where controversy erupts -- raising the prospects of another Florida-style mess. That's especially true in the closest battleground states, including New Mexico, Nevada, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida itself.
Election experts agree that Ohio holds the greatest potential for trouble. The state is not only the one most hotly contested by President Bush and Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts...
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
But unlike some Floridians, who were turned away four years ago when their names were mistaken for those of felons, would-be voters this year can't simply be dismissed. The Help America Vote Act passed by Congress in late 2002 -- HAVA for short -- requires all polling places to provide "provisional ballots" to voters whose status is in dispute. Those ballots will be cast on the spot and counted later if voters' eligibility checks out...
But finding and training enough poll workers is a chronic problem. Now many of these volunteers and low-paid workers will have new responsibilities: checking IDs, deciding on provisional ballots, dealing with new machines and -- another change in law -- guaranteeing access for the disabled. That's on top of likely record turnout and long lines...
This is very important. In case you missed it, this was posted earlier this AM. Please fill it out and email it.
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=6486121&content_dir=ua_congressorg&mailid=custom
From what I hear about the new electronic voting machines they're a law suit waiting to happen, and the Dems are ready to go to court over any tight outcome of this election.
Duly emailed. Thanks for re-posting.
Check cashing businesses have a system wherein you fill out their forms, and then you have your index fingerprint electronically scanned into their ID system. From then on, they don't ask you for identification when you cash a check. I would favor this ID system when voting. Have the voters fill out voting forms and have their fingerprint registered in the system. From then on, all the voter needs to do is have their print validated when voting.
-- we all need to be clear about the danger this issue poses-- this is the October Surprise from the Left, and they are not even being subtle about it- why should they, with the compliant media, news & entertainment divisions, on their side.
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