Yael Harlap said,
> Here we know that a large number of votes
> were in error, and we know why.
Now me:
Again, I disagree. We don't _know_ what the heck happened. Maybe they were
protest votes. Why not? What if someone didn't punch anything? Does that
mean that we "know" that they _intended_ to vote but were confused, and
therefore we should give them a second chance? No, we have decided in
advance, how to process votes.
Butterfly ballots are used all over the place and have been used for a long
time. I agree that we should _consider_ reforming the ballots which may
confuse elderly or uneducated or illiterate or reckless voters. Maybe
Florida, with its unique populace, should have led the way in this regard
and didn't. Maybe we should all consider a new rule, (carefully considered
and discussed first) that specifies a re-vote if double-punches exceed a
certian threshold. That threshold should be considered in advance and
carefully, deliberately debated and decided.
But not right in the middle of an election!
Finally, do we want our Presidential race to be decided by voters who are so
reckless in their voting that they don't take care to do it right? What is
that? Government by the stupidest, imposed on the rest of us? Adams would
be spinning!
Obviously it's not my call. I'm putting my faith in the system, even if,
this time, it comes down to lawyers. This is what the legal process does
best, IMHO. They rationally dissect every possible point and make an
informed, measured, intellectual decision. It's a time for cool heads and
the legal process can certianly provide that, er, those.
"Stay the course.
A thousand points of light
all focused on a single spot."
Jim L'Hommedieu
ps- I'm quoting President Bush, not endorsing Governor Bush.
PPSS- I certianly empathize about the confusing ballot however. I mean, if
my 74 year old Dad came out of the voting booth confused, I'd feel badly for
him. I'm not a monster. It's just that counting should be an intellectual
process, not an emotional one.
