Hi Mary,
It's interesting, isn't it? My opinion is that we don't need to _wonder_
what to do with a close election. We have a process for deciding close
elections. The fact that some voters, or even _many_ voters were confused
is immaterial. Butterfly ballots have been used for a long time and both
sides have approved them. Are we saying that the voters have SUDDENLY
become so stupid or reckless that we should throw out the results of a
Presidential election because the approved ballot confused them? Do we
have to throw out every election when the PRESS reports that people were
confused by the ballot? How could we possibly establish statistics to
decide when we have 'enough' confusion and when we don't? (To repeat
myself, reckless voting is not a reason to throw out an election.)
In my opinion, what may change the validity of the election in Florida is
the fact that Florida law refers to the hole that is to the RIGHT of the
candidate's name. While I hate the idea of altering the process, I think
that the Dems have a point when they say that butterfly ballots are
therefore "illegal" in Florida. I think that this is an important point,
technicality or not. Let's give them their day in court. Let's let the
courts in Florida decide whether or not it is an illegal ballot.
If they decide it's an illegal ballot, how in the world can we accept the
count?
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Mary P. said,
But ultimately, it boils
down to whether the opinion of a party hack who likely did NOT see in the
ballot the confusing construction that many voters did should be sufficient
to invalidate the votes of the latter--which will determine the choice of
Palm Beach County, which will determine the choice of Florida, which will
determine the fate of the nation. The fact is, the confusion occurred,
unforseen as it may have been by both Republicans and Democrats. What do we
do now? What is fair?
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"Steady as she goes, Mister Sulu."
Jim
