Touch screens Break Down & Incomplete Ballots Handed Out
Florida is one of 32 states that allow residents
to vote at the polls before Election Day, and one of four that began
the process Monday. Several other battleground states have already
begun early voting, including Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and New Mexico. The
problems in Florida included a brief computer system crash in one
county and voter complaints of incomplete paper ballots. But there were
no early reports of problems with the ATM-like touch-screen voting
machines introduced since the troubled 2000 election. Florida's early
voting was touted partly as a way to avoid long lines on Nov. 2, but it
turned out to be so popular that Lucien Gennaro, a police aide in Coral
Springs, waited for an hour and finally had to leave for work. "A lot
of people who were waiting just left. I'll try again tomorrow," he
said. "It was a little frustrating after what happened in 2000."
Critics say the extended voting period increases opportunities for
fraud. And some groups urged voters to ask for paper absentee ballots
because of concerns about the touch-screen machines and the possibility
of recounts. Voters can choose either method through Nov. 1. State Rep.
Shelley Vana said the absentee ballot she requested at a Palm Beach
County site was missing one of its two pages, including proposed state
constitutional amendments. She said election workers were indifferent
when she pointed out the oversight. [more ]
FEC to decide recount funding dispute before Nov. 2 election [more ]
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