Author: Stephen Ham
Date: 15:43:02 11/17/00
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Dear Thorsten and Michael, I don't know if you guys are serious or just joking. If you are joking, I know it's fun to mock the USA. But then, I've travelled outside the US many times and am shocked at the obvious errors and inaccuracies that get represented as truths in other countries. I wonder if that's the case here. Thorsten seems concerned that not all the votes are being counted. Thorsten, all the votes in Florida have already been counted (except for the absentee ballots which are allowed to be received until 11/17/00 and are being tabulated now). Bush has already won in the vote count for the general election. But, as any prudent state should, if the margin of vistory is too small, an automatic recount is conducted. Bush won that again but by a slightly smaller margin. Where matters get messy is that the Democratic party then claimed that their previously approved ballots were confusing to voters in certain locations (i.e. West Palm Beach, Florida) and so have petitioned the courts to conduct hand recounts in certain counties within Florida. Some ballots needed to be punch holed, but for whatever reason, some people didn't punch any clear holes in their ballot. The reasons for this are not clear (voter stupidity? machine error?). Thus there are some arguments regarding whether a vote has been cast or not, if the ballot was not clearly perforated as it should have been. Some ballots merely have dimples or depressions in the paper. That's largely what the controversey is about. Also, it's clear that the Democratic party would ideally like to recount and recount until they are told they've won. Given the slim margin for Bush, human error and machine error could theoretically change the result. Anyway, while the process seems messy for the moment, this is democracy in action and is proof that everyone's vote counts. The system works but clearly there's room for improvement. Can you name a country where this same slim result would have been handled any more efficiently and fairer? I don't think that country exists. Sincerely, Stephen
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