How Jeb and Sue control Florida's election supervisors. Not good.

That is Jeb Bush, of course, brother of the president, so-called, and Sue Cobb, his Secretary of State. That office is now chosen by Jeb, and the Secretary of State (as it has been since Katherine Harris's day) has no legislative oversight.

Here is the website for the Secretary of State, which links to the Division of Elections of which Sue Cobb is in charge.

http://www.dos.state.fl.us/

And here is one of the best and clearest descriptions of how they are tying the hands of the district election supervisors.

Tallahassee Meddles Locally



I thank the Ledger for its clear editorial on this.

Election Questions

Audit report doesn't calm voting worries

"The Florida Department of State says it will be ready for the 2006 elections. We're not so sure.

The promise of readiness came in the wake of a critical audit showing weaknesses in how the state monitors, reports and spends federal election money. With less than three months before the primary elections, Floridians need to hear more than promises. They deserve confidence their votes will be accurately recorded and counted.

The report, prepared by state Auditor General William Monroe, details significant gaps in accountability procedures. For example, the report says the Division of Elections didn't have a written procedure for testing and certifying voting equipment under the federal Help America Vote Act. Such a checklist (which has since been developed) could provide a public paper trail for the state's testing of various systems intended to aid blind and mobility-impaired voters. It could also help shed light on the state's failure to approve handicapped-accessible equipment that allows blind and mobility-impaired voters to mark a paper ballot.

The state also lacks a comprehensive list of voting equipment in use in each county, the report says -- which might explain why Volusia County officials took delivery on handicapped-accessible equipment that had been modified, and, by state law, was no longer considered certified."

Making people aware of what they will do to keep us from voting and counting those votes, is the crucial first step toward folks understanding the situation.

From here, it looks like Florida still leads the nation in messing with the peoples' votes, followed closely by Ohio.

the Ambassador's post in Jamaica.

That one kind of slipped up on me...don't know much about her.

Unbelievable.

approved the amendment to the State constitution. Go figure?

I remember how they presented it as being such a good thing, how it was like being in the dark ages to have an elected one. Unfortunately at that time, a lot of people were just not paying serious attention.

I couldn't believe why any one would give up the right to elect cabinet officials? But then again, Sandra Mortheim and Katherine Harris were both elected, so it doesn't seem to really make a difference.

I assumed appointed. I am going to do a search, as you may be right.

I was trying to remember how I voted, but the publicity was so convincing....I might have voted yes not paying attention.

http://www.evote.com/features/2002-08/082002harris.asp
Katherine Harris, the states Chief Election Officer, stepped down as Secretary of State to comply with Florida law after discovering that she had made a procedural mistake. Florida's resign-to-run law requires candidates to file a letter stating their intent to resign immediately when he/she qualifies to run for another office. If candidates don't do so, state law says they must resign immediately. When Harris qualified to run for the 13th Congressional District, the letter should have been filed that day. So what does Katherine Harris have to say?

"I made a mistake in not filing a letter of resignation at the time I qualified for my congressional race," Harris said at an emergency news conference, where aides quickly took her away while reporters attempted to continue their line of questioning.

Harris claimed that she didn't think the law applied to her, since her elected position was to be abolished January 1, 2003. The position of Secretary of State is being turned into an appointed agency head, and Governor Jeb Bush will choose her successor."

who the hell paid much attention to such things, especially after having a SOS like Jim Smith for so many years?

I wonder how any election in Florida (or any other state now) can inspire confidence in the legitimacy of a fair outcome.

I happen to share the outrage of Mr. Sancho. I think Arthur Anderson is wrong, and may have lost his way. I am rather sorry we donated to him as a Dean Dozen. Guess that'll happen sometimes.

Voting rule would reduce trust, Sancho says



Agreed, Mr. Sancho. And here is the capitulation of Arthur Anderson in Palm Beach. Way to misinterpret, Anderson.

Elections chief welcomes greater role in state



I don't trust the Secretaries of State under Jeb Bush to conduct elections here at all. Picking who does the tests is tantamount to controlling them.

:hi: