Florida Dems to proceed with mail-in vote

[papau]

Source: USA Today



Florida Dems to proceed with mail-in vote

By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Florida Democratic Party plans to move forward with a June 3 vote-by-mail primary to restore the state's role in the presidential race, a top state Democrat said Wednesday.

State Sen. Steven Geller said a formal announcement would come Thursday or Friday.

Unless national party leaders "are willing to write off the state of Florida in the general election, we have to do something that seats our delegates," he said.<snip>

Florida is moving ahead despite objections from its members in the U.S. House. David Goldenberg, chief of staff to Rep. Alcee Hastings, said the state hasn't had enough time to prepare for a mail-in vote. House members also were concerned that ballots would not reach low-income voters who may change addresses frequently or residents who spend only winter in the state, he said. Hastings supports Clinton.<snip>

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-03-12-florida_N.htm

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now to get Mich on board

[davidinalameda]

1. good for them!

glad to see them getting off the proverbial pot on this one

[DemVet]

18. Agreed. n/t

[rwheeler31]

2. Who pays?

[DemVet]

19. Who cares?

As long as the people get to vote and it counts.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

32. Florida "lost" tens of thousands of mail in ballots in 2004

I'm sure they can manage to do it again.

[JackORoses]

3. not going to happen unless they overturn Florida election law

There is a specific law disallowing Mail-In Ballots.

[progressoid]

5. That's what I thought too.

But it may be OK if the Dem party conducts it.

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SARASOTA - A mail-in vote is being kicked-around as a possible solution to the delegate impasse in Florida and Michigan, but a state-run mail-in election could be illegal in Florida.

The Democratic Party leadership discounted delegates from both states because Florida and Michigan chose to hold their primaries early.

Would a mail-in vote work in Florida? We spoke with Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, who says a mail-in vote in Florida could be illegal. "The law in Florida right now prohibits mail-in voting if there are any candidates on the ballot. Which means, since there would be Obama and Hillary on the ballot, Florida law prohibits it, for the Supervisors of elections to actually conduct it."

Dent says the Democratic Party conducting its own mail-in election would be a different thing, but comes with its own set of hurdles. You can see more of our interview with Sarasota's Supervisor of Elections

http://www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=7993603&nav=menu577_2_1

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ETA: I'm not defending it just posting what I found.

[JackORoses]

13. that would involve a 3rd Party Company hired as Vote Counter by th Party

they will never be able to sell that.

No access to State Voting Rolls, no certifiability.

No Sale!

[BearSquirrel2]

11. This is not an election ...

It's not really a "state" election. It's a party nomination process for which the state has no sovereignty.

[JackORoses]

12. any ballot with candidates is subject to the law

[BearSquirrel2]

26. So then ...

So then the local union election has to go through the Florida Secretary of State? How about a bridge club???

[papau]

27. courts have already overturned similar case - Governor noted same

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. Nonsense. As a Florida voter, I usually vote by mail

[Tarc]

37. It is going to happen, unfortunately for you

They don't need any state involvement if the party runs it itself.

/fwoosh

Hear that, O-Bot? `Tis the sound of your empty suit candidate deflating. :)

[DogPoundPup]

4. So FloriDUH F#cks up an election...primary this time

Weren't they given fair warning by the DNC not to hold their primary when they did but the Einsteins stormed ahead anyhow.

[Mechatanketra]

31. Ehhh...

Poking back through newspaper stories, the GOP-controlled Florida legislature changed the primary date, and (as so often happens) rolled it into an omnibus bill also containing a fix for the paper trail problem. Frankly, if I'd been a Florida Democrat, I'd have voted for that bill too, and hoped I could convince the national party to cut me slack. Even as far as I've been able to dig up, Michigan may fit your description, but I actually feel sorry for the Florida Dems.

[Anexio]

38. Re-vote?? I vote bullshit

Sorry, DogPoundPup, but I have to disagree with you.

Florida did not screw up the primary. The primary was held and everyone had their chance to vote, including me.

I voted and my vote was counted.

The DNC told the Florida Legislature to NOT schedule the primary vote before a certain day, but they went ahead and did it anyway.

Sorry, the vote was done, it was fair and the votes were counted.

My gripe is with the Florida Legislature. I think they made a stupid mistake.

Note: I voted for Clinton, but a re-vote is insulting and doesn't respect my time or my efforts.

[madfloridian]

6. House Dems present a new plan to Dean today.

So it ain't set in concrete...and the lawsuit is Monday by the DEC chair in the tampa area and his client. They to it will select the nominee.

[Yes We Did]

7. I think it's a set up for election rigging...

This process seems like a way for the clinton campaign and surragates to cheat their way into popular vote. How could anyone in their right mind agree to this?

[Diane R]

14. I agree. This is terrifying, I'm afraid it's already rigged so Hillary will be the nominee.

[DemVet]

20. Rigged? No. Hillary the Nominee? Yes. Get used to it. n/t

[Zhade]

33. You wish.

Going to be AWESOME to rub her loss in your face.

[maryallen]

30. Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Yes We Did]

8. Clinton reminds me of Spitzer

She is a con woman and a cheat! She's up to something and it isn't any good.

[TML]

9. They had their chance

Can my state vote again, too?

[Diane R]

15. I'm really weary of the whole 'Florida vote' thing. All the other states just followed the rules.

Why reward them? They refused to follow the rules, now they'll get to decide the nominee.

[timtom]

24. I'm from Florida

And I agree.

[Frances]

29. Actually they didn't

Michigan also voted earlier than allowed by Party rules

Do we really want to select our Dem nominee without imput from 2 states so important to us in the general election?

I think it would be interesting to see who would win in these elections with the voters knowing how important their votes are. I don't know who would win.

[snappyturtle]

36. Exactly....being rewarded for snubbing the rules! Unreal. n/t

[BearSquirrel2]

10. They're concerned Obama will get the necessary delegates ...

They are concerned Obama will still get the delegates he needs for a majority even if he loses this contest along with any revote in Michigan.

[Zhade]

16. Will this attempt to cheat piss off the SDs enough to tell Clinton to finally fuck off?

NT!

[raebrek]

17. This concerns me.

or residents who spend only winter in the state. I like to be fare and square but I believe, and I don't know this for a fact, that residents that only spend the winter are usually residents of other states. But that is just me.


Raebrek!!!

[zanne]

21. Remember...This is Florida

They're not known for fair and accountable elections. This latest brainstorm of a mail-in ballot is potentially disastrous from the beginning. I can just see it now; instead of arguing whether or not the Florida delegates should be seated, we'll be arguing about the results of the mail-in election. I'm sure there will be alot of snafus.

[MaineDem]

22. Oregon does mail-in voting and it works pretty well

I hope this does too.

Good move for the FL Democratic Party.

[Vinca]

23. Good! Who's up for a Florida vacation? nt

[Birthmark]

25. Not gonna happen.

[spanone]

34. if it's a do over, let both candidates campaign...only fair

[raebrek]

35. I think it is a done deal.

It is over with. Everyone had so much time to decide about this waaaaay back when it wasn't a problem. No one wanted to fix it then. I don't care if they want to fix it now. If no one cared enough before why is it suddenly soooo important now. NO, don't answer. I'm done caring about it. THROUGH. Wake me for the convention

Raebrek!!! (From Florida)