This is absolutely unbelievable. The idiots in Florida made their election ballot too confusing, and many votes that should have gone to Gore went to Buchanan. Votes that looking at the race now may decide the election. If Gore loses, it's a shame it had to happen like this. Just read: http://www.tcpalm.com/_special/ballot.shtml http://www.tcpalm.com/images/PalmBallot.gif ------------------ President of the Jason Collier police! Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
I thought we all used the same format for the Ballot. Learn something new everyday Rocket River ------------------
Each county has different issues, as well as different districts for representatives. Thus, each county is in charge of designing its own ballots. ------------------ Save our children from the TAAS test: TAAS test report card TAAS test fact sheet
It's all sour grapes. If you can't understand the ballot ask for help. Poeple are looking for excuses and now the ballot is confusing. Next maybe the lines were too long to stand in. ------------------
Unless the ballot is in Spanish, a lot of south FL persons will be confused. I just got back from a trip there and I was amazed at the place. I thought Houston was diverse. I hope I don't sound prejudice (though I think we all have a degree of prejudice and I know we all came over on boats at some time or another) but did all the 20-50 year old Cubans come over on boats, rafts, etc? I know Castro didn't allow them to leave and they are too young to come over pre-revolution. If so, I have to tip my hat. Things would have to be pretty bad before I'd hop on a rickety boat or a raft for a 100+ trip (w/o a Loran). ------------------
Chuckie. . I agree. . .ASK FOR HELP something most folx [and politicians] should learn to do. Rocket River ------------------
This is so funny to me. I work as an election clerk at nearly every election in my precinct, and believe me..there is no way in hell that many people would get out of there confused about their ballot without raising hell and demanding a new one before the deposit it into the ballot can. I helped tons of people yesterday figure out how to vote...it's not rocket science, but sometimes people require some careful instruction. There is simply no way the election judges and election clerks in that area wouldn't have learned about this early on and had it corrected with a county clerk. ------------------
I'm not saying one way or the other. But here is a post on CNN election BBS. I found it interesting. Steve Randall - Wednesday, 11/08/00, 12:13:13pm (#288366 of 288457) More on Palm Beach FL irregularities! I am a former elected official (3-term mayor) and now reside in Palm Beach County, Florida. I voted in my Palm Beach precinct and saw first-hand that the voters were not only confused with the butter-fly ballot, but many didn't think their vote was counted. Here's why. The stylus used to punch the holes in the voter ballot resembled a paper clip in precinct 194G and many others. Surprisingly, the stylus used only 3 miles away in precinct 174A was a black plastic stylus with a handle, ensuring that the hole was fully punched. I saw this because I went with my daughter who voted nearby. It gets worse! In my own precinct I personally viewed residents trying to complete the hole punching by trying to tear-off the miniscule pieces still left on the ballot. One election official whose job it was to supervise the locked ballot-box was confronted by a frustrated senior, and responded "just drop it in the box and don't worry!". Consider this. Of the 461,988 ballots cast in Palm Beach County Florida, only 432,286 voted for ANY Presidential candidate. These ballots need to be physically examined and counted and not by computer but by hand. Adjacent Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale area) had 587,928 ballots cast with 573,306 voting for some Presidential candidate. I have notified Attorney General Bob Butterworth and my Congressman Bob Wexler of these irregularities. Steve Randall Delray Beach, Florida ------------------ 'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
This is a messed up situation. To any intelligent voter, it's fairly easy to figure out the ballot. However, this country doesn't have an intelligence requirement in voting -- "not-so-smart" people can vote, and ballots are supposed to be easy for those "not-so-smart" people. The problem here is that I don't think there is a legal requirement here ... The ballot did fit the legal requirements and such. And it doesn't appear intentional. However, now the question is do you want to be legally accurate, or truly accurate. If 3,000 people really wanted to vote for Gore and didn't, and the reason is semi-legit, then that has to be considered and dealt with. If that happened, then the people of the US picked Al Gore to be President (barring overseas ballots and the like) -- so why does Bush win? There's now a rally planned for noon tomorrow in Palm Beach to demand a re-vote. That's screwy too because Nader voters might switch to Gore knowing the stakes. Whatever happens, it's a messed up situation and there's no good solution. Now there's a report that ballots are missing as well. Wow. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that the Cato is the only Rocket with a temperature scale named after him? I didnt think so!!!!
If people are too stupid to figure out how to use a ballot, I for one do not want them electing my president. ------------------ Don't come in Bullard's house!
That may be the case, but America is not founded on a principle that only smart people have a say in the electoral process. According to some MSNBC interviews now, people are saying they asked for help and electioneers refused to clarify. I don't know if this is true or just a pissed off person. What a mess. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that the Cato is the only Rocket with a temperature scale named after him? I didnt think so!!!!
Okay, here's the ballot: I think that upon close inspection, most people would make the correct selection, however . . . This is Palm Beach county. A large percentage of the population are old retired people. It's possible that a lot of them might have problems with eye-sight, and admittedly some of them may be a little slow, but that doesn't mean they don't have a right to vote, like some people claim. If anything, these people have a large stake in this election because of the huge issue du jour of Social Security. If indeed, a majority of the people of Palm Beach County call for a revote, then I only think its fair to give them one. Their vote should be just that, their vote, not just a mistake that either candidate should benefit from. ------------------
The weird thing about that ballot (and it would help if we could see the rest of it) is that people may have thought the second column was another vote. I know here in Austin, the ballot had three columns of things to vote for. If people were only voting for President and only looked at the first column, they might think the 2nd box is for the 2nd candidate in that column. Ultimately, they may not have even noticed Buchanan and company on the far side. A bit irresponsible, but believable and a legit problem in my mind. Then again, a revote means that Nader voters could change their vote to make a difference -- and that could lead to even more of a nightmare. My question is what dumbass decided this was a fun way to make a ballot. ------------------ Is it any coincidence that the Cato is the only Rocket with a temperature scale named after him? I didnt think so!!!!
What's confusing to me is how someone could be stupid enough to not make sure they selected the correct box. Did they think they would get their hand slapped if they asked a question. Did they just say ahhhhh what the heck it won't make a difference. If your too stupid to check your answers, don't take the test! ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness. [This message has been edited by Curly (edited November 08, 2000).]
How does that look confusing. Would anyone here be confused by that? DO the arrows pointing to the holes to punch not make sense? Im not saying there wasnt confusion. Im just syaing if there was I, for one, am not going to blame the county for making a poor-looking ballot, cause to me it honestly doesnt seem like you could predict that confusion beforehand. If old people are having problem seeing the ballot, certainyl something should be done, and then you have to question even using a ballot for these people becasue I assuem they would have trouble seeing any of the other ballots also. ------------------ Remember.... You are not really drunk until you must hold on to the grass to keep from falling off the earth.
I've been listening to C-Span all day and a lot of callers from Palm beach called in. It seems some of them, who spoke very well, are questioning themselves. They're not sure if they voted for the right person despite having been quite sure while they were voting. The media has created self doubt. It's fascinating. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I think the ballot looked a bit confusing,why would anyone make a ballot that was in anyway confusing? ------------------
JayZ750, As I said before, the ballot may not be too confusing to you or me, but to an elderly person or someone that speaks English as a second language, I could definitely see mistakes being made. I'll say it again, if the majority of people of Palm Beach County want a revote or feel that they somehow misrepresented themselves, then they deserve one. There's nothing honorable about winning a Presidency by accident. ------------------
Did they not have the opportunity to ask these same questions when they voted? Were they held to gunpoint when they submitted their ballots? This cracks me up! "Uh...excuse me, but I think when I was puttin my head in my ass I punched the wrong candidate. Would you mind helping me pull my head back out." I know! How about we use government intervention to help us make our own decisions! Then we will put 'em in a little lock box for safe keeping. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness. [This message has been edited by Curly (edited November 08, 2000).] [This message has been edited by Curly (edited November 08, 2000).]
