FL: Election Sup. Attacked for criticizing touchscreen voting machines!

[flpoljunkie]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_FLORIDA_VOTING_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Jul 20, 6:36 PM EDT

State elections supervisors squabbling

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Leon County elections supervisor Ion Sancho apparently won't win any popularity contests among his 66 colleagues across the state, or in the secretary of state's office for that matter.

The head of that group's professional association, Orange County Supervisor Bill Cowles, sent a harshly worded one-page letter Monday to Sancho, who has criticized touchscreen voting technology that many of the state's largest counties plan to use this year. Cowles said most supervisors disagree.

"Your comments do not reflect their feelings or their faith in the elections process," Cowles wrote, criticizing Sancho for what he called "unwarranted attacks" on the touchscreen technology.

"They feel that Ion Sancho is not a team player, he's not representing them," Secretary of State Glenda Hood said Tuesday. "By doing what he's doing, he's eroding voter confidence."

more...

[phiddle]

1. He should get with the program,

which is faith-based elections.

[ClintonTyree]

2. The Lou Dobbs poll....................

(not scientific, of course) shows that 99% of voters want a peper trail. It seems that the Florida elections board is the one not being the "team player". Voter confidence in this system was eroded long ago and he's simply stating people's beliefs that it is a highly flawed system.
The government of Florida is so out of touch with the people it is supposed to represent. I moved from that God forsaken state 5 weeks ago tomorrow and it's the best move I ever made. I will never return to that shithole of a state, never.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Floridians need to take their state back from the Rethugs running it...

and we will be fine. The people of the state are beginning to wake up, at long last.

The 15 counties with touchscreen voting machines should be required by the courts to lease optical scan machines for the general election in November, if not the August 31 primary. And if they do not, voters should request absentee ballots to ensure there will ber a paper trail.

[SW FL Dem]

6. I live in one of the 15 counties

the local Dem club is telling everyone to vote absentee.

[flpoljunkie]

9. Good for them! It is our only remedy at this point, if they are not

required by the courts to lease optical scan machines.

[Not Me]

4. I live in his county, and sent this letter

Mr. Cowles,

I am a registered voter in Orange County, and have serious reservations about non-auditable electronic (touchscreen) voting machines; especially given Florida's laws around mandatory recounts when election results are close. Further, the security and operation of these machines in other parts of the country this year have been problematic.

To that end, I and many others are pleased to know that Orange County will not be using them this November.

I note that you take a different stance, as noted in the following article.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_FLORIDA_VOTING_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

After reading the article, I would like to ask why you believe that these machines are more accurate and reliable than the paper system that we use here, or other mechanically compiled machines which CAN produce an audited recount if necessary.

I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply.

Best regards,

xxxx xxxxxxxx

[ibegurpard]

5. He SHOULD erode voter confidence

until the elections departments take the necessary steps to make elections fully auditable.

[madfloridian]

7. I have zero confidence in Hood. Two Dems in our county left off ballot.

Here is an article I posted earlier today which got lost in the shuffle. To have two in the same county not qualify is odd. I realize this is not about voting machines, but it is pretty bad. Even his GOP opponent thinks it is nitpicky. I know this guy, and he would make an excellent candidate.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040720/NEWS/407200363/1004
SNIP..."LAKELAND -- Even the man who Bill Fenton wants to oppose for the Florida House thinks he should be allowed to run. Fenton, a Democrat, was not allowed on the ballot when qualifying closed Friday because state Division of Elections officials said he had not put the proper notation on his check to pay his filing fee.

Rep. John Stargel, R-Lakeland, who would run against Fenton if an appeal is approved, said Fenton should be allowed on the ballot."

SNIP..."Fenton and Democratic state Senate candidate Stan Zemankiewicz found themselves left off the ballot when qualifying closed. Zemankiewicz, who had been running against Republican state Sen. J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales, (Katherine Harris's cousin), said Friday that he thought the state computers were just running behind Friday because he had checked and been told the division received his fee.

But election officials said they didn't receive all the necessary paperwork from Zemankiewicz...."END SNIP

[IndianaGreen]

8. They are stealing the election right in front of GAWD and everybody

Marion County in Indiana rejected the touch screen voting machines because they were unreliable and they provided no audit trail.

We are using the optical scan machines that at least saves the paper ballot in case there is a recount.

[Dirty Hippie]

10. Ion Sancho is committed to fair and accurate voting

I've voted in Leon county for many years and I've never encountered any problem.

We use a paper "bubble" ballot that is fed into a scan machine. The actual ballots are saved. If your ballot contains a mistake it is rejected by the machine and you are allowed to redo it.

Ion is absolutely passionate about voting. We are lucky to have him.

[MallRat]

11. I don't "team players" running my elections. I want TRUTH-TELLERS.

:argh: