Fears voiced about election irregularities

[hang a left]

Fears voiced about election irregularities




By Toby Eckert
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
October 25, 2004



Associated Press
Democratic volunteers sign up for poll-watching at a high school in Scranton, Pa., on Saturday.

WASHINGTON – Allegations of voter intimidation. Concerns that election laws are being manipulated to tilt the outcome. Fears of violence aimed at influencing votes. Teams of international observers on hand to monitor polling places.

That may sound like a description of an upcoming vote in an emerging democracy or a Third World nation, but it is happening in the United States as Americans prepare to cast ballots in one of the most contentious elections in the nation's history.

"I cannot recall a time when the concern was as intense about the administration of a U.S. election. It's far more typical of the polarized atmosphere in developing countries," said Robert Pastor, director of the Center for Democracy and Election Management at American University.

While none of the fears about widespread irregularities being voiced by Democrats and Republicans may materialize Nov. 2, neither side is taking any chances.



http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20041025-9999-1n25vote.html

[apnu]

1. They know that they (the GOP) are sunk.

Bush has done one thing and that is increase voter turn out. And the more people vote in America the more healthy our democracy is. And the more healthy our democracy is the weaker these despots become. Therefore, Bush is not the popular leader he says he is, and will be tossed if our election is clean.

And so this funny business is all we have left. I'm sorry to say that 2004 will either prove to be a good thing for democracy or the death knell of our democracy.

(on edit: careless spelling)

[AndyTiedye]

3. Democry is Only Healthy If All Those Votes Are Counted

and nobody monkeys with the count!




We Make Democracy DIE

[ugarte]

2. "...typical of the polarized atmosphere in developing countries..."

He's right about this. If one good thing comes out of the hate and divisiveness in this country and the racists' resistance to letting people vote, it's that we'll think twice before preaching to other countries about 'unfair' elections.

We've become a (bad) joke in the world's eyes.