AP: Fla. Fixes Voting Machines, Recount Rules (uh-huh)

[Bossy Monkey]

Oct 31, 3:44 PM EST

Fla. Fixes Voting Machines, Recount Rules

By DAVID ROYSE
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The state that turned the 2000 presidential election into turmoil with confusing butterfly ballots and hanging chads is conducting elections differently this time around, embarrassed into overhauling everything from its machinery to its recount rules.

But one thing is still the same going into Election Day - it's far from clear who is going to win the state, and the prospect of another recount remains.

The most obvious change that Florida has made since 2000 is its equipment - the infamous punch-card ballots with their hanging and pregnant chads have been replaced by optical scan systems and touch-screen machines.

Most of Florida will use the optical scan systems, which worked pretty well four years ago. Voters fill in an oval or complete an incomplete line on a paper ballot to indicate their choice, and an optical scanner reads their ballot.

(more)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FLORIDA_RECOUNT_RULES?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[central scrutinizer]

1. just move along quietly

nothing to see here, just move along.

[olddem43]

2. I'm sure Jeb has everything "fixed"

[Bossy Monkey]

3. "Fixes" WAS a fairly unfortunate choice of words, wasn't it? n/t

[rullery]

4. 15 Florida counties use the touch-screen machines

which have no paper trail. My county, Lee, is one of them. Until we see Kerry declared as the winner in Florida, I will not trust these machines.