Florida Braces for Election Day Chaos as Both Parties Prepare to Monitor Voting

Strategic Insights -

Miami's legal community is mobilizing its forces for the showdown in Florida, where the outcome of the presidential election could be decided. Almost 3,000 lawyers have been recruited by Sen. John Kerry's campaign to monitor voting in all 67 counties, with a plan to respond to any voting problem within five minutes. Republican lawyers are equally prepared to protect President Bush's interests in the state where the 2000 election was decided. The battle for Florida has heightened tensions, with both sides vowing to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Key Takeaways:

  • Almost 3,000 lawyers have been recruited by Sen. John Kerry's campaign to monitor voting in all 67 Florida counties.
  • Republican lawyers will monitor the election to ensure that the laws and rules are applied evenly and consistently.
  • The presidential campaigns have assembled substantial legal teams in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and other battleground states.
  • Potential issues include the validity of signatures on voter registration cards, absentee ballots, and provisional ballots.
  • Election laws varying from state to state are adding to the confusion, with some states allowing provisional ballots to be counted while others do not.
  • Voting machine technology could also be a challenge, particularly if different voting machines are used in different counties.
  • The predicted high turnout could lead to more ballots being challenged, particularly if inexperienced voters make mistakes on their ballots.
  • Democratic poll watchers will look for efforts to discourage certain citizens from voting through challenges to their identity or the authenticity of their registration.

Statistics:

  • 1.5 million new voters have registered in Florida since 2000.
  • 75% of Floridians are expected to vote in the election, up from 69% four years ago.
  • 1.4 million Floridians (about 12% of registered voters) have already voted in person or by absentee ballot early.
  • Estimates suggest that more than a third of Florida's voters will cast ballots before Election Day.

Sources:

  • The Orlando Sentinel (October 21, 2004)
  • Susan MacManus, a longtime Florida political analyst, as quoted in the Miami Herald
  • Hayden Dempsey, a lawyer for the Bush campaign, as quoted in the Miami Herald
  • Stephen Zack, a Miami lawyer and former Al Gore campaign official, as quoted in the Miami Herald
  • Joe Raedle, Getty Images, and Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press, for photographs.