FL & MI Re-vote By Mail? Any Problem With That?

[tekisui]

The DNC, Governors and the Campaigns are trying to resolve the messes in FL and MI before the Convention. The latest proposal that seems to be getting approval from Dean, both camps and the states is a mail-in re-vote.

This would be considerably cheaper than a new Caucus or Primary. This would also re-enfranchise the voters of two big, important states. The voters were not involved in the process that stripped them of their vote, and should be respected.

I haven't heard if there are any negotiations on the SuperDelegates from MI&FL.

What are any potential downsides or unfairnesses in a re-vote by mail?

It seems like a good solution to me. And, it seems that the money could be raised to fund it, without having to take from the taxpayers of those states.

[JBoris]

1. Here in FL mail-in elections are allowed only for votes on issues...

... it is not allowed (by current sate law) to hold a mail-in election if there are candidates on the ballot.

[tekisui]

4. Could they call it a special election, or get around it another way?

[thunder rising]

7. Right! Break the law to pacify Hillary's tantrum. Let her turn blue!

[JBoris]

6. Yes they could, but it would require legislation. You've seen how our state senate "operates" LOL

[DrDan]

12. do you have a link for that?

From what I am reading, the Fl lawmakers are considering it.

No mention of it not being legal.

[JBoris]

23. Link from newsweek:

I heard the law mentioned several times last week, this is the only reference I found in a quick news search.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119901">link to full story

But obstacles remain. McLaughlin notes what he calls "tiny" provisions in Florida law that prohibit a mail-in election to determine a nominee. But Florida's legislature is currently in session, and could weigh in on such procedural hurdles.

[DrDan]

27. I wonder what that means - "tiny provisions" n/t

[JBoris]

29. I assume it means that it wouldn't take much to amend the law. n/t

[DrDan]

37. I would think so . . . or one open to a broad spectrum of interpretation

anyway - lets do it and get on with it.

We need to resolve this one way or another . . . And the voters in Florida will be voting in the GE, so imho their voice needs to be heard. Anything that keeps us polarized is not a good thing.

[Hugabear]

26. It's not a state election - it's a Democratic party function

This isn't a general election for public officials. AFAIK, each party determines how they will pick their delegates. If they wanted to pick delegates by having chimpanzees throw poo at a giant ballot, they could probably do that.

[rucky]

2. Sounds good to me.

If there's resistance to that idea, I'm thinking that it wouldn't be the idea as much as who foots the bill.

[tekisui]

3. Governors Corzine in NJ, said they could raise they could raise the money.

I think most Dem leaders are eager to get this fixed, and are willing to help anyway they can.

[rucky]

5. I think the states should pay, but in the interest of expediency...

that solution is best for the party

[thunder rising]

8. Why does Hillary want the poor to go hungry? I think NJ better house and feed their homeless.

[Jersey Devil]

32. It's ironic to me as a NJ citizen that Corzine can fix Fla's election but

not NJ's terrible financial debt problem. Despite the fact that NJ went pretty heavily for Hillary I don't think this will go over too well in NJ for Corzine who has to resolve some terrible financial difficulties for the state.

The redirection of his priorities from fixing NJ to helping Michigan and Florida solve their primary problems will be ammo for the Republicans when it is time for his re-election.

Sometimes I think our politicians are so isolated that they manage to get their heads up their own asses without any help.

[jackson_dem]

9. It is by far the cheapest way and allows for maximum participation

It isn't unfair but it does disadvantage one candidate more because this candidate benefits from as low turnout as possible and does worst with the groups (seniors, working folks, immigrants) whose turnout will be increased the most by a mail in vote as opposed to a caucus or even a regular primary.

[tekisui]

10. Well, I think it time to bite the bullet, and let what happens, happen.

All sides seem amenable to the proposal.

[pinkpops]

11. I heard the FL gov on MTP say they could send ballots to "all

the voters". I'm not sure what that means. All registered voters? All whom have not voted? I'm thinking it is a closed primary - is that correct? If so, would the ballots be sent only to registered Dems?

[Horse with no Name]

13. Hillary supporters better guard their mailboxes

before obama's "ground team" gets there. :scared:

[tekisui]

15. Are you serious?

You think they are going to tamper with mail and an election?

[Horse with no Name]

16. I wouldn't put it past them

They bused them in for the caucuses here and I have read accounts where there was bullying and intimidation used.
I put NOTHING past the obama campaign to win. Nothing.
They lie, they obfuscate, they threaten...I would NOT be surprised if they beat little old ladies over the head and stole their ballots to ensure that their "math" worked.

[tekisui]

18. Well, I don't think so.

Definitely not beating little old ladies.

[Jersey Devil]

14. I believe they said all who did not vote Republican in the primary

because their votes counted and they cannot be allowed to vote in both the Dem and Rep primaries

[Horse with no Name]

17. But that isn't fair either

IF they thought their vote didn't count and they tried to sway the republican primary...only to be told their vote counts NOW?
That is some SERIOUS disenfranchisement there.

[tekisui]

19. If they chose to vote puke, then they may have to live with it.

We can't let every puke vote now, in the Dem re-vote.

[Horse with no Name]

20. But the GOOD Democrats who crossed over to vote were told their vote did NOT count

only to be told now that it will.
You don't see a problem with that?

[tekisui]

21. I do see the problem.

But, we are faced with problems all around, and need to chose the least bad solution. We can't let pukes vote in the re-vote. As for the crossover registered Dems, I don't know. Should they be allowed to vote in BOTH Party's Primaries?

[Horse with no Name]

22. You tell me. In the interest of fairness...yes.

In the interest of Democracy...it cannot happen. Only one vote per person.
But it doesn't mean that it doesn't stink to high heaven.

[dkf]

24. The whole thing is screwed up. What a mess.

I bet the good Dems voted for McCain too. Best of a bad lot you know.

[bluestateguy]

25. The postage will have to be paid for

Otherwise some grabby "group" will sue and bitch and complain about people who can't be bothered to pay for a 41 cent stamp.

We don't have time for that, so whoever pays for the primary will have to pick up the postage.

[Maribelle]

28. Oh great, now that we've bastardized the votes of millions, let's try to repair it on the cheap.

And let's keep insulting the intelligence and integrity of millions of Floridans, shall we.

[pinkpops]

30. Sorry - that's not what it is about. What it is about is that

the count is very close and everyone is using hyperbole to give themselves a moral edge. Of course Florida should participate. It is a shame that the DNC made the rule and that FL and MI violated the rule. The DNC should not have done what they did, and the states should not have made it worse by ignoring the rules. But on the other hand there was no political campaign waged in either state. No opportunity for Edwards, Clinton, Obama, etc to take their case to the voters. You may say that that's ok, because everyone had the same shot at it, but that's not true, because everyone does not have the same name recognition. Anyhow, argue it however you want, this whole song and dance is not about the rights of the voters. It is about getting an edge in the delegate count.
Sorry - thatis how I see it.

[Maribelle]

38. The real shame, that very few acknowledge, is that the DNC could have done 50% like the RNC did.

That's the pitiful part of this. All the bobble heads have totally failed to acknowledge huge mistakes made by the DNC. And, of course, Obama supporters do not want to even hear about this.

This is more than a shame - - this is a political blunder of epic proportions that affects millions of innocent voters.

[rainbow4321]

31. Officials are saying it would be a 90 day process

Too long, in their opinion, from what I read in a LBN news link.

Others are saying that with such a huge number votes being mailed, there would be lots of bugs to work out and they would want to use the first time "mail in votes" attempt with something less vital at stake (as in something else besides choosing the next prez).

[BeyondGeography]

33. An unworkable, logistical nightmare

==But as much as he likes the idea, Fitzgerald cringes at the idea of testing it for the first time in a statewide race that could determine the next leader of the free world. Fitzgerald said the idea really has to be tested out on a more limited scale to work out potential bugs and assure voters that it can really work.

In Oregon, the mail ballot program was tested for about 15 years before the state used all-mail balloting in the 2000 presidential election.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent said logistically it would be impossible for the county to handle sending 76,000 ballots to all of the county's registered votes and tally them in less than 90 days, while also conducting four other elections between now and May 6.==

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080308/NEWS/803080384/1146

[mmonk]

34. Seems inexpensive enough. Use absentee ballots.

[Vinca]

35. It seems like it would be a solution that would be very time consuming

and prone to election fraud. Whatever they do, it should happen on 1 days and settle this mess once and for all. I don't want Hillary whining about lost envelopes 6 months into an Obama administration.

[joeranscot]

36. mail in votes

I dont know if as many voters would be voting this time,
but I have a question, if the delegates have been stripped from these two states, are the super delegates also banished to? and if not, why not? To me there shouldnt be any representation from these two states till all voters have been represented.

[tekisui]

39. The Superdelegates from FL & MI have been stripped, as well.

As of right now, no delegates are counted, pledged or super. They are wrangling with how to seat the Pledged delegates> I have not heard anything at all about giving the Superdelegates their seat back.