CNN Sues for Access to Fla. Voter Rolls

[newyawker99]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - CNN has sued Florida's elections office to get access to a state list with names of possible felons who may need to be deleted from voter rolls. The state uses the list to provide names of possible felons to county elections officials, who must review them to determine if individuals should be removed from the rolls. The list is of interest to journalists because of the potential for mistakes.

After the 2000 election, in which George W. Bush was declared the winner in Florida by 537 votes following five weeks of recounts and challenges, there were widespread claims around the state by people who said they were prevented from voting even though they weren't felons.

CNN said "there is enormous public interest in scrutinizing the potential disenfranchisement of such a large pool of citizens in what portends to be a closely contested presidential race."

The lawsuit was filed after the Atlanta-based news organization was told May 24 that a representative would have to travel to Tallahassee to view the list in person and may not make a copy.

MORE.....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12694-2004Jun3.html

[BabsSong]

1. Just saw this buried a few pages back and want it bumped

Tells a bit about what games they are still up to in Florida.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Jeb Bush Admn. is cLaiming that because so many of the names

Jeb Bush Admn. is cLaiming that because so many of the names are wrong, of the people labelled "suspected felons," it would violate the privacy of the people on the list to let CNN copy the list.

Of course, it's a violation in the first place for the Jeb Bush Admin. to recklesly label people "suspected felons."