Dateline: 09/30/02

U.S. Congress will monitor Florida vote
The U.S. Congress will monitor voting in South Florida during the upcoming Nov. 5 general election after more voting "irregularities" were reported in the state's Sept. 10 primary elections.

At the request of Rep. Mark Foley (R-Florida, 16th), House Administration Committee Chairman Rep Bob W. Ney, (R-Ohio, 18th), has agreed to send an election monitoring team to polling places in Florida's Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the main battlegrounds of the historic 2000 presidential voting debacle.

As reported by the Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, Foley spokesman Chris Paulitz, stated that Rep. Ney had request the monitoring team be sent to Florida because "we [Congress] always get things second-hand" when voting problems happen. 

According to Paulitz, the election monitoring team will include as many as 10 congressional aides with both "legal and non-legal" backgrounds. 

Rep. Foley has also asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to conduct a Justice Department investigation of reported voting irregularities in Florida's state and national Sept. 10 primary elections.

Miami-Dade, Broward officials blow primaries
Already infamous as the scene of confusing ballots, hanging chads, under and overvotes, and re-recounts of the 2000 presidential election, Miami-Dade's Sept. 10 primary elections fared little better as late-opening polls prevented many people from voting. In addition, county officials estimated that thousands of other votes went uncounted.

In nearby Broward County, poll workers not fully trained on new touch-screen voting machines were often unable to assist voters, the County failed to send out sample ballots prior to the election and the relocation of several polling places further confused and inconvenienced many voters.

In addition to congressional monitors, the Miami-Date County commissioners voted on Sept. 27 to bring in their own independent, non-partisan group to watch its polling places on Nov. 5.

As reported in the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami-Dade will ask the non-profit, Washington D.C.-based Center for Democracy, known for monitoring elections in countries like El Salvador and Russia to monitor the November general election.

"One thing is for sure: We need help," one Miami-Dade County commissioner was quoted as stating. "And we need all the help that we can get."

Key Florida races
Races to watch on the Nov. 5 ballot in Florida include:

Governor: Incumbent Republican Jeb Bush, President Bush's younger brother is opposed by Democrat Bill McBride and a group of write-in candidates. [All candidates via Project Vote Smart]

U.S. House of Representatives: In the 13th District, former Florida Secretary of State, Republican Katherine Harris faces Democrat Jan Schneider. Incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Miller is retiring. Harris gained national notoriety during the controversial 2000 presidential election when she certified Florida's electoral votes for George W. Bush while recount protests were still pending. [All Florida House races via Project Vote Smart]

U.S. Senate: Neither incumbent Senators Bob Graham (D) or Bill Nelson (D) are up for re-election this year. [All U.S. Senate races]