Florida voting system does not meet "basic international requirements". Jimmy Carter]

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Gordon C. Thomasson, Ph.D." <gthomas1 () stny rr com>
Date: September 27, 2004 11:30:45 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: [Fwd: Florida voting system does not meet "basic international 
requirements". Jimmy Carter]

 From the BBC online
 ================

 Carter fears Florida vote trouble
 Voting arrangements in Florida do not meet "basic international 
requirements" and could undermine the US election, former US President 
Jimmy Carter says.  Carter has monitored more than 50 elections 
worldwide.

 He said a repeat of the irregularities of the much-disputed 2000 
election - which gave President George W Bush the narrowest of wins - 
"seems likely".

 Mr Carter, a veteran observer of polls worldwide, also accused 
Florida's top election official of "bias".

 His remarks come ahead of the first TV debate between Mr Bush and John 
Kerry.

 They are expected to discuss the war on Iraq and homeland security 
during the programme on Thursday.



 It is unconscionable to perpetuate fraudulent or biased electoral 
practices in any nation
 Jimmy Carter


 Both men have cut back on their campaign touring to go behind closed 
doors and rehearse the arguments and techniques they will need during a 
series of three debates to be held over two weeks.

 Each has held mock debates with aides standing in for their opponent.

 Tens of millions of television viewers are expected to watch 
Thursday's head-to-head.

 Mr Kerry, a debating champion at high school and college, will hope it 
can help him claw back a deficit in the polls variously put between 3% 
and 9%.

 Florida vote

 In an article in the Washington Post newspaper, Mr Carter, a Democrat, 
said that he and ex-President Gerald Ford, a Republican, had been asked 
to draw up recommendations for changes after the last vote in Florida 
was marred by arguments over the counting of ballots.

 Mr Carter said the reforms they came up with had still not been 
implemented.

 He accused Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood, a Republican, of 
trying to get the name of independent presidential candidate Ralph 
Nader included on the state ballot, knowing he might divert Democrat 
votes.

 He also said: "A fumbling attempt has been made recently to disqualify 
22,000 African Americans (likely Democrats), but only 61 Hispanics 
(likely Republicans), as alleged felons."

 Mr Carter said Florida Governor Jeb Bush - brother of the president - 
had "taken no steps to correct these departures from principles of fair 
and equal treatment or to prevent them in the future".

 "It is unconscionable to perpetuate fraudulent or biased electoral 
practices in any nation," he added.

 "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."
 Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3693354.stm

 Published: 2004/09/27 14:55:53 GMT

 © BBC MMIV 

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