Check out the state computer expert who is conducting the investigation of the Sarasota election.

[trumad]

SARASOTA - With nearly 18,400 votes lost or uncast in a hot congressional race, elections officials began a recount Monday in five counties and promised a fair examination of the voting machines -- only to have a lawsuit filed and questions of partisan bias crop up by day's end.

The campaign of Democrat Christine Jennings, who trails Republican Vern Buchanan by only 373 votes, voiced concerns about the GOP ties of a computer expert hired by the state to check the touch-screen voting machines in Sarasota County.

<snip>
The computer expert, Professor Alec Yasinsac of Florida State University, is a registered Republican who actively supported GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher this year and loudly protested Democratic tactics in the 2000 presidential recount.

Yasinsac, who has worked for the National Science Foundation and the Defense Department, told The Miami Herald by e-mail: ''I would ask that you reserve judgment until I announce our team. I am confident that the professional credentials and balanced viewpoints will speak for themselves.'' He also acknowledged that he has ``been active in party activities.''

`BUSH WON'

Here's what he told the Tallahassee Democrat on Dec. 3, 2000, while wearing a ''Bush Won'' sign on the steps of the Florida Supreme Court: ''I'll never be a passive political participant again.'' It was a week before the case was decided.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16005826.htm

[bonito]

1. Good catch K&R

You should put this in the fla forum also.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

2. He sounds like just the man to conduct to conduct and promise

"a fair examination of the voting machines" in Sarasota, FL. :sarcasm:

Can we describe Florida as a "banana republic" yet?

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I like this Christine Jennings! She's alert and pro-active.

THAT's the kind of Democratic candidate we need in Florida.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. 13% undervote

I guess ES&S wasn't passive either.

[soup]

6. Over 25% in 5 Sarasota precincts

and 6 showing between a 20 and 25% undervote.

Interactive map here:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?CATEGORY=Election03

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. I saw that

and those precincts are largely comprised of seniors.
Clearly these machines discriminate against older people, and violate the "equal protection clause".

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. They never give up

do they?

They've got it all figured out about how to rig everything because they know they can't win any other way.

I hope Jennings is aware of this?

[Scurrilous]

7. NY Times November 30, 2000 :

Florida Governor Backs Lawmakers' Efforts to Bypass Courts and Select Electors

<snip>

"Earlier this week, the Republican leaders of the committee announced that they had set aside two hours today for members of the public to comment on the possibility of a special session. Fearing that the public comment session would be dominated by Republican partisans, organizers in the Democratic Party quickly rounded up dozens of people from Palm Beach, Duval and Miami-Dade Counties who were eager to share Election Day horror stories with the Legislature.

Many flew here on Tuesday night on a jet chartered by the Democratic Party, which also paid for their rooms at the local Days Inn, and then bused them to the Capitol complex at 7:15 this morning so that they would be the first in line at the sign-up desk for public remarks.

The strategy was a smashing success for Democrats.

The group made up 68 of the first 72 people who signed up to speak. As a result, anyone watching the proceedings on C-Span or news broadcasts was treated to a parade of voters who, one after another, implored the committee members not to intervene in the election.

One man, a Baptist preacher from Belle Glade, drew loud applause when he likened the Republican leaders of the Legislature to bank robbers. An irate young mother said, "Knowing what I know about what you are thinking of doing, I wish the next election were tomorrow." She drew applause, too, as did 69-year-old Sylvia Shapiro of West Palm Beach, who told the panel, "I don't need somebody else to vote for me."

When Senator Lisa Carlton, one of the Republican leaders of the committee, tried to interrupt or limit some comments, she met with stubborn defiance. One 19-year-old woman said, "I drove seven and a half hours by myself, and I'm not going to be stopped." By the time the two hours allotted for public remarks had ended with the 62nd speaker, not a single Bush supporter had spoken. This left Alec Yasinsac, No. 64 on the list and an ardent Republican, fuming. "It was an organized effort to prevent opposing views," Mr. Yasinsac said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/30/politics/30LEGI.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5070&en=977f9f36fb476644&ex=1163653200

[formercia]

9. Just like the GOP Mob

that was trying to stop the count in Fla?

[BeFree]

11. That is a post

just screaming to be it's own thread. What a great story! Too bad the legislature doesn't deem it of too much import to hear what citizens have to say. But they had to have their precious two hour limit, eh? Talk about organized effort to prevent opposing views.

Anyway, what a great organizing operation the Dems put on to get citizens voices heard, eh?

[cui bono]

10. k & r