Judge: Florida law won’t allow polling place signs for (Foley) Negron

[truthpusher]

http://www.sun-herald.com/breakingnews/bn_328.cfm

Breaking News

(Last updated: 4:19 PM)

Judge: Florida law won’t allow polling place signs for Negron

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida law doesn't permit polling place signs saying a vote for former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, a Republican who sent suggestive messages to congressional pages, will go to a replacement candidate, a Democratic Party lawyer argued in court today.

The Florida Democratic Party sought a temporary injunction to stop election officials from using signs to tell voters that while Foley's name remains on the ballot, state Rep. Joe Negron will get his votes.

To remain neutral the signs would also say Democrat Tim Mahoney and unaffiliated candidate Emmie Ross each also would get the votes cast for them. Democratic Party lawyer Mark Herron, though, argued the signs still are political. "

That type of notice favors the Republican candidate," Mark Herron said. "There's no need to state that a vote for Mahoney is a vote for Mahoney."

Herron said the signs amount to campaign materials, which state law prohibits from being distributed or displayed within 100 feet of any polling place.

(snip)

link: http://www.sun-herald.com/breakingnews/bn_328.cfm

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Good

As Jim Baker would say, rule of law.

[robinlynne]

2. Interesting; the repubs created the law when a dem had to step off the ba

ballot for health reasons. love it when they have to eat their own poison.

[Vidar]

3. cool

[Akoto]

4. "Suggestive" messages?

"Do I make you horny" and "Go get a measuring tape" are only considered suggestive? Heh.

At any rate, good that they aren't changing the law.

[CaroleG]

5. Great to see someone put a stop to their crooked election schemes

[Hav]

6. .

Won't change much. I would guess that till November, pretty much everybody who intends to vote for the Repubs will be aware of that fact.

[Mich Otter]

7. Ran into this old news of Foley.

I have been away from DU quite a bit lately and don't know if this story got around. It is a real humorous one, http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/19/State/Nude_summer_youth_cam.shtml

[rocktivity]

8. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

:woohoo:
The function of an elections board is to run elections--it's the job of the political party to "market" candidates to the public. If it hasn't occured to the GOP to start distributing public service announcements and press releases about Negron, I humbly suggest that they stand at least 100 feet from the polling place and hand out flyers.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Taoschick]

9. So, it's "political" to have accurate information in the voting booth?

Come on....

This is just stupid. If a candidate is replaced after the ballots are printed, the voters should be entitled to accurate information, not stupid games.

I don't care what party is involved, voters shouldn't be subjected to games in the voting booth. They already have to be concerned about whether or not their vote will be counted, why pile on?

[LiberalFighter]

10. It is not the fault of the Democratic candidate that the Republican

resigned when he did.

Each have their responsibility.

The Election Board to ensure the candidates follow the law and they follow the law.

The political party to follow the law and provide support for the candidate.

The candidate to follow the law and campaign for themselves.

The voter to educate themselves about the candidates.


It is not the responsiblity or the law for the Election Board to educate the public about the candidates.

It is not the responsibility of the Election Board to campaign for a candidate because the deadline passed for the replacement to be official on the ballot. They are suppose to be completely neutral.

If "accurate information" about who will receive the votes were to be implemented for this case and others like it then it would be pointless to have the current law on the books. The voters also have the right to expect a candidate to stay on the ballot and not be replaced at the last minute and have time to educate themselves about the candidate.

In Missouri, Senator Carnahan was killed in a plane crash. They didn't even have a replacement on the ballot yet he beat Ashcroft.

[Taoschick]

11. Yes, it is pointless to have such a stupid law on the books

I imagine you believe the florida voters had a responsibilty to make sure their punch card ballots were completely "punched" when they turned them in....even though once removed from the machine, it's difficult to tell if the ballot was accurately completed? I take it you agreed with the r's that a ballot that was clearly punched for Gore, but had a chad hanging on by one corner should have been disqualified, right?

It's immoral to put obstacles in the way of voters, whether they be defective punch card machines or ballots with the wrong candidate's name. No one should have to jump through hoops to vote, no matter what party they belong to.

[LiberalFighter]

12. It is the responsibility of the Election Board

to make sure voters are able to record their votes so they are tallied correctly. If defective voting devices are used then it is not the fault of the voter.

If you knew anything about election law you would know that the intent of the voter is to be considered when determining the result. To say that a chad is hanging for Gore and there is not any indication of marking for Bush that it does not count as a vote for Gore is ludicrous on your part.

It is not an obstacle to the voters when the candidate fails to withdraw in a timely fashion as required by law. To allow a change in the ballot that close to the election places other voters at a disadvantage. What do you propose be done for those that vote absentee by mail or absentee at the Election Board before the candidate withdraws? It is enough that the party has the option of filing a replacement candidate prior to the election or even have a party caucus after the election to fill the vacancy if permitted under their law.

It is not a stupid law. It is a law that takes into consideration the necessity of conducting an election. Even with computerized machines it takes time to set up the machines for the election. Election workers have deadlines to meet under their state laws. After deadlines for voter registration they need to input the data into their computers from the various sources so that they are able to vote in the general election. Besides getting the ballots printed or set up for computer machines they need to generate voting lists for each precinct/ward. I would suggest you go down to your local election board to find out what they have to do each election.

If you think it is a stupid law then you should contact your state representatives and state senators to have it changed in YOUR state. Good Luck.


Again, the voters have a duty to educate themselves about the candidates running for office. If they don't read the newspapers, watch the news, listen to the news, use the internet then they are not likely to vote anyhow. They are probably living in a cave if they don't know that Foley resigned and who the replacement that was selected.