Posted on 09/27/2004 7:27:50 AM PDT by Phlap
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A repetition of problems that plagued the 2000 US presidential election is likely, former US president and veteran elections monitor Jimmy Carter said, charging that "basic international requirements" for a fair vote are missing in Florida.
Reforms passed in the wake of the debacle have not been implemented due to lack of funding and political disputes, Carter observed in a hotly-worded opinion piece in Monday's Washington Post.
"The disturbing fact is that a repetition of the problems of 2000 now seems likely," he said.
"Some basic international requirements for a fair election are missing in Florida," including non-partisan electoral officials and uniformity in voting procedures, he said.
Florida's top election official four years ago also chaired the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign in the state, and her successor is showing "the same strong bias," Carter charged.
"A fumbling attempt has been made recently to disqualify 22,000 African Americans (likely Democrats), but only 61 Hispanics (likely Republicans), as alleged felons," he said.
Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood has also appeared eager to get independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites) on this year's state ballot, "knowing that two-thirds of his votes in the previous election came at the expense" of Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites), Carter went on.
"She ordered Nader's name be included on absentee ballots even before the state Supreme Court ruled on the controversial issue," Carter said.
Florida's governor, President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s brother, has "taken no steps to correct these departures from principles of fair and equal treatment or to prevent them in the future," he said.
"It is unconscionable to perpetuate fraudulent or biased electoral practices in any nation," Carter wrote.
"With reforms unlikely at this late stage of the election, perhaps the only recourse will be to focus maximum public scrutiny on the suspicious process in Florida."
The Carter Center has monitored more than 50 international elections, most recently in Venezuela and Indonesia.
Carter, a Democrat, led a bi-partisan commission charged with recommending changes to US electoral processes following the 2000 vote, ultimately decided by the US Supreme Court, which halted recounts of contested ballots in Florida after a weeks-long draw.
The same court that was slaped for playing politics with their ridiclous recount ruling. What a joke.
"... which halted recounts of contested ballots in Florida after a weeks-long draw."
Lie! Bush won on election day and Al Gore put the nation through hell because he is a sore loser.
The excuses have already began for a Kerry lost and a Bush landslide.
Jimmy Carter is a moron and wouldn't know his ass if his head was up it.
Good old senile Carter, setting up the basis of a "stolen election" weeks in advance.
Carter is not loyal to America. He would have us be governed by the likes of Kofi Annan.
Uh yeah, Jimmah, umm, the Palm Beach, Broward and Dade elections officials were all Democrats, all proven to have been trying to create Gore votes out of thin air.
Every vote should count .... just not Nader votes .... and military absentee votes.
There are no "international requirements" for an election. The United States, like every other nation, determines the matter for itself, disappointing as this may be to the goo-goo former president.
This is a big set up so that on November 3 the Demo-nutcases can say "See! We told you so back in September!"
Drop Dead Carter.
"Some basic international requirements for a fair election are missing in Florida," including non-partisan electoral officials and uniformity in voting procedures, he said"
Shut up Carter. You are the same person that helped Chavez steal the Venezuelan election. How the heck would you find a non-partisan electoral official in a political process? Everyone has a party affiliation.
what few people are realizing is that the areas where the most problems cropped up in 2000 were areas where the DEMOCRATS setup and controlled the voting process. T'warn't a republican that chose butterfly ballots!
Palm Beach county is hardly a republican stronghold...
I guess the democrat anti-americans were disappointed that the nation didn't break into armed conflict in 2000/2001.
Maybe they'll get it this time . . . they may not like what they get though.
Unless, of course, Kerry happens to win.
It was all I could do to contain myself. He is truly delusional...
AND DANGEROUS!
If Nader is a candidate of the Green Party shouldn't he be included?
Who gets to choose why some parties are included and some are not....Jimmy Carter??? Puhhh--Leeese!
When is the last time Mr Carter actually said something *positive* about America?? All I hear from him (and every other Dem!) is about what is wrong with America, how we have inequities, unfairness, racism, warmongering, etc. Leave it to Carter to only find fault with the USA. I am sick of it and it is just one more reason I pray Mr Bush wins this election by a clear cut margin.
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