>1.
>
>The attention focussed on Florida seems to be partly an abberation of the
>electoral system and the miscalls in the media. (If we went by popular
>vote then there would be no point in trying to call a state.) Florida
>is in the spotlight partly because of the close vote there, partly
>because of the flip-flops in calling the state, and partly because of
>the order in which returns came in. If we went by popular vote, and
>voting results were not made public until all the results were in, the
>politicians would have much more difficulty figuring out who or where
>to sue.
>
>2.
>
>One of my concerns about the various recounts is that we are not
>trying to correct ALL errors, but just the ones in the media
>spotlight. There may be dozens of other problems in other states that
>could swing the popular vote to Bush, but we are not looking at those.
>
>3.
>
>Everyone on this list knows that polls have a margin of error, but
>this election reminds us that elections have a margin of error, too.
>The Florida election is TOO CLOSE TO CALL. By thinking that there
>really IS a right answer to who won, we prolong the process, tempt the
>candidates to even more sqabbling, leave the "losing" side embittered
>when a necessarily arbitrary decision is finally made, and discredit
>the US government in the eys of its citizens and the world. Maybe we
>should just agree that if the margin is less than 0.5% on election
>night then we honestly say it's too close to call and settle it
>right then with the toss of a coin (or a candidate).
>
>
> _
> | | Robert W. Hayden
> | | Work: Department of Mathematics
> / | Plymouth State College MSC#29
> | | Plymouth, New Hampshire 03264 USA
> | * | fax (603) 535-2943
> / | Home: 82 River Street (use this in the summer)
> | ) Ashland, NH 03217
> L_____/ (603) 968-9914 (use this year-round)
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>
I especially like the last half of point three. But more seriously, like many
I have been following the discussions on this (and other) newsgroup(s) with
some interest. I have learned a lot (I think) about voting and estimation of
voting results.
However, my perspective on this is that if an agreement cannot be reached as to
what the results of Florida are, it seems to me that no candidate has an
electoral majority (it will be as if Florida went for Buchanan or Nader). The
constitution provides a mechanism to follow when an electoral majority is not
reached; the election goes to the House of Representatives, with each state
delegation getting one vote.
If this is not deemed to be palatable, then maybe in the coming months someone
will begin the process of amending the U.S. Constitution. But until the
constitution is changed, there is a constitutional mechanism for deciding this
election.
Just my 2 bits worth,
Dan Nordlund
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