Florida to Implement Flawed 'No Match, No Vote' Three Weeks Before Voter Registration Ends

[flpoljunkie]

Florida's 'no match, no vote' enforcement could be too much, too late

Mike Thomas

September 11, 2008

Charlie Crist understood the bitterness felt by minorities after Florida's infamous 2000 election, when nearly 1 in 7 ballots cast by blacks for president was tossed. Crist moved to heal these wounds. He backed restoration of voting rights for felons and ensured there would be a paper trail left by every vote.

So I am baffled as to why his administration now will risk dragging Florida through another racially tinged voting controversy. This one concerns the verification of voter registrations.

It is not a bad idea. It is just that the timing --only three weeks before the end of voter registration -- is all wrong.

So here we go again, with Republican election officials making decisions that disproportionately will affect Democratic voters in a crucial election now rated as a tossup in the polls.

Why is there a need to suddenly throw this in the works at the last minute?

The verification law, commonly called "no match, no vote," first was approved by the Legislature in 2005.

It requires that applicants put an identifying number on voter-registration forms -- usually a drivers-license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. That number then is checked against state or federal databases to confirm the person's identity.

It sounds simple enough. But that's not the case.

People write down numbers wrong. Government clerks write down wrong numbers. An applicant might write his name as Mike Thomas on the form, but the Department of Motor Vehicles has him listed as Michael R. Thomas. These glitches disproportionately affect minority applicants. Asian names can be confusing. Hispanics can use different surnames. Blacks often use nontraditional spellings.

Florida is only one of four states to pass a no-match, no-vote law, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law.

more...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-miket1108sep11,0,2240401.column

[pinkpops]

1. Sounds like an attempt to use a PIN -

What a mess. How many times have you had to call an 800 number and give them your mother's maiden name or the name of your first pet, your high school mascot, etc.? What happens when the state database goes down or there is a network disruption in the middle of an election (hackers take note). Do we have a secure connection to each voter site? Who has access to the database, and what is best-evidence in case of a dispute - are the original forms available? Do they intend to print the codes and send them to the precinct? Fraught with problems.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Mike Thomas explains what will happen at the article's conclusion.

So there should be several hundred thousand registrations raining down on the Department of State in the next few weeks. And those that are flagged will be kicked back to county election officials, who will have to contact the voters so they can fix the problem, all before Nov. 4.

Maybe I've lived in Florida too long to believe this will work.

Those voters who aren't contacted in time or don't see the letter will show up to vote only to be given a "provisional" ballot. To make it count, they will have two days to get to their county elections office and show identification.

Of course, low-income people with no transportation might be at a disadvantage here.

People need time to adjust to a law like this. And right this minute is not the right time.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-miket1108sep11,0,2240401.column

[crickets]

3. Mike Thomas raises an excellent point: Why insist on this *right before* the election?

It sounds like just another Voter ID-type requirement that has nothing to do with stopping election fraud. Its true intent is to shake voters off the rolls. Provisional ballots are often not counted; does anyone really believe Florida will keep counting them for two days after the election is 'over'? It stinks to high heaven.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Yes, it does 'stink to high heaven.'