Why not uniform standards for all voters?

OUR OPINION: REFORMS NEEDED FOR NATIONWIDE ELECTION INTEGRITY

Miami Herald   28 November 2004

Look beyond the national results of the November election to the voting process itself, and this becomes clear: Much more must be done to make voting a uniform and fair process for all.

In New Mexico, where vote-tallying problems in the 2000 presidential election were eclipsed by Florida's hanging chads, the count of the 2004 vote was just completed last Tuesday. In Ohio, the presidential vote was marred by myriad apparent violations, and controversy about the count continues. In many other states, including Florida, absentee-ballot voters encountered nothing but frustration and were disenfranchised.

Curse shaken

The good news is that Florida shook off the curse of the hanging chads with relatively smooth voting this time. Sure, mistakes need to be addressed but not on the scale of the 2000 debacle. Yet despite reforms of the last four years, Florida still reflects some of the weaknesses that are apparent in the entire U.S. electoral process.

The most glaring of these is the lack of uniform-voting standards, the cause cited by the U.S. Supreme Court for canceling Florida's presidential recount in 2000. Each of the 50 states has broad discretion to set standards for voter registration, how ballots are qualified and so forth. In Florida and most other states, counties also create standards, which increases confusion and the risk of inaccuracy. The lack of uniform standards should be addressed nationwide.

In Florida, disparities still exist in Florida, even after the 2000 humiliation. Though the Legislature ditched punch cards and directed Florida's 67 counties to use electronic-voting machines, 15 counties installed touch-screen machines while the other 52 use optical scanners. The touch screens lack a paper trail, whereas optical scanners provide one producing two separate and unequal voting standards for Floridians. The Legislature should mandate single standards in voting equipment and in absentee ballots, too.

Nonpartisan officials

Another problem is that election officials throughout the country run as party-affiliated candidates, and their partisanship creates mistrust and suspicion. A panel appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to review the 2000 debacle recognized the potential conflicts of interest for Florida election officials and recommended that they run as nonpartisans. The Legislature ignored that good advice but now must address it, as should other states. Elections officials appointed or elected should be nonpartisan.

Chances for national reform may seem slim with a White House and congressional majority quite sanguine about this year's election results. But voters can and should push for reforms. Voters should demand a uniform, impregnable balloting system that provides a paper trail and promotes accuracy ensuring that every vote is counted.