Black Caucus urges Blacks to vote early

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday began a four-day bus tour of Florida designed to get minorities to vote early instead of waiting until Election Day. The Democratic entourage, which includes Florida U.S. Reps. Kendrick Meek and Corrine Brown and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, voiced fears the Sunshine State could see a repeat of the botched 2000 election, when votes from black precincts were four times more likely to go uncounted as those from white precincts. "We'd rather have 10 days to correct problems rather than 15 minutes on Nov. 2 at 6:45 p.m.," said Meek, of Miami. "We want to make sure every vote counts." The message they plan to bring to minority communities throughout the state is to take advantage of early voting opportunities that begin on Monday. [more ]