Posted on 10/25/2004 3:18:56 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
Governor Bush Advises Elections Officials On Harassment
POSTED: 6:12 am EDT October 25, 2004 UPDATED: 10:52 am EDT October 25, 2004
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush is advising state elections officials to remove people who intimidate voters at early voting sites, after Orange County's elections supervisor complained of harassment at the polls from campaign solicitors, observers and members of the media.
Bush, in a letter sent Sunday to Orange County supervisor of elections Bill Cowles, said he was disturbed by the complaints, adding any harassing behavior should not be tolerated under Florida's election laws.
While noting that there are no formal restrictions on soliciting and observers in Florida's early voting provisions, he encouraged the state's 67 Florida election supervisors to preserve order by directing observers, solicitors and press into special locations where they would not interfere with rights of electors.
"Now that the Legislature has officially sanctioned early voting in person, every day is 'Election Day,' and it is imperative that all persons obey the standards of behavior normally expected at polling places," Bush wrote.
Cowles reported to Bush that his office has been "bombarded" with complaints of harassment at early voting places, mainly at Orange County's eight library sites.
Cowles wrote that solicitors and observers were "creating havoc" with voters and employees, while media representatives were a problem by insisting on being in the room where voters mark their ballots. The letter said observers were obstructing employees from helping voters.
He also said he may be forced to close down the eight library sites and move all early voting to the main office.
"Since we are now averaging over 3,000 voters a day, we would be overwhelmed and unable to accommodate all the voters," Cowles wrote in his letter to Bush.
Early voting began Oct. 18 in Florida, and it continued over the weekend.
Officials in Duval County opened four new early voting sites over the weekend at the urging of local and national activists. More than 2,500 people voted over the weekend in Duval County, which includes Jacksonville.
In Leon County, which includes the state capital of Tallahassee, turnout was boosted Sunday by a Democratic rally featuring former Vice President Al Gore at the courthouse, the county's only early voting site.
Besides the boost from Gore's rally, turnout was increased by black churches busing voters to the courthouse. A line stretched out the door and around the building before, during and after the rally, and Leon County elections supervisor Ion Sancho said it was the heaviest voting day yet with more than 1,300 voters in just a couple hours.
Sancho said he heard from two voters who said they didn't like voting while there was a big partisan rally going on just outside, but said there were no formal complaints and nobody was prevented from voting.
Gore used the opportunity to remind voters of the 2000 election recount in Florida and urged them to tell their friends and neighbors to vote early, too.
"It's good to vote early because it gives them plenty of time to count the votes," Gore said.
Gore is also scheduled to appear at early voting rallies in Coconut Creek and Riviera Beach on Monday.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I didn't have any harrassment at the Alafaya Library last week. The actual voting room was so small, like an office, that I can't imagine anyone fitting in there who doesn't belong.
Can we get a legal opinion on arresting illegal aliens? Nothing to do with voting, simply being able to stop an alien on the street and arrest him to be turned over to federal authorities for deportation?
How about polling places signs that say something like "Illegal Aliens Who Attempt To VOte Illegally In This Election Are Subject To Immediate Arrest And Deportation!!" It ain't harrassment ment you stop an illegal from voting!!!
Once again that idiot Gore is clueless (Just like in 2000)
Vote counting will not begin until after the polls close on November 2nd. So none of these early votes are even being tabulated. No one is checking for incorrect (spoiled) ballots so that they can call the person back to have a re-do. before Nov. 2nd.
The purpose of the early voting is to be sure that everyone gets a chance to vote. In other words, if on November 3rd people complain that they didn't get to vote, it's their own fault. Not the state's. They had plenty of opportunity (15 days worth) to get out and vote.
Good news.
You are absoutely right! Which is why election day should be Nov. 2 and not Oct (whatever) until Nov 2. You want to vote? Show up on Nov 2, or ask for an absentee ballot. Provisional Ballots? Hooyee, If you did't register or are in the wrong district tough sh*tte you don't vote! I missed the amendment to the Constitution that provided for stupid people to have special exemptions in elections.
I just heard on the local news in Orlando (WFTV) that some of the early voting sites own the property and have a right to tell the solicitors to leave. Others property ends at the sidewalk and they therefore are close to the bldg. yet not on the propeprty so they are allowed to stay.
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