Gov. Bush: Poll watchers can, should challenge voters

His remarks come amid concerns that excessive scrutiny may put a damper on the election.

Joni James and Tamara Lush - October 28, 2004

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday he would have no problem if Republican poll watchers challenge the eligibility of voters before they cast ballots on Election Day, despite growing concern that it could create gridlock and scare away qualified voters.

"I don't think it will cause problems," Bush said. "I do think that people who are not eligible to vote shouldn't and the people who are should."

The Florida Republican Party has not decided whether to instruct poll watchers to challenge voters Tuesday, spokeswoman Mindy Fletcher said.

But Democrats say a GOP list of 2,663 newly registered voters in Duval County who appear to have incorrect addresses indicates Republicans are planning such a strategy.

"It's despicable," Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox said. "Their goal is to harass people enough that they'll give up their right to vote or not go to the polls."

[...] Among other election-related issues Wednesday:

* Bush said he has recused himself from the Election Canvassing Commission, which certifies the state's final vote.

* In Broward County, officials searched for 58,000 ballots that have not been returned. Officials said they sent 126,220 absentee ballots on Oct. 7-8, yet half of those have not been received by elections officials. The U.S. Post Office denied any responsibility, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said its investigation found no criminal violations. Elections officials planned to send new ballots by overnight mail to any voter requesting a new form.

* In Pinellas County, officials acknowledged that nearly 300 St. Petersburg voters received absentee ballots that were missing the second of two pages.

Supervisor Deborah Clark's office mailed the missing page to affected voters along with an explanation and a postage-paid envelope.

* State elections officials urged county supervisors to post signs or put up ropes to ensure privacy for voting booths after reports of campaigning at early voting sites.

* Computers used to check voter registrations were slow or malfunctioning in Broward, Duval and Hillsborough counties. On Tuesday, Hillsborough County's registration network went down for about 30 minutes. Workers used the telephone to verify registrations.

* Long lines at early voting precincts were reported throughout the Tampa Bay area and the state. Hillsborough reported 43,000 early voters as of Tuesday. Early voters in Pinellas reported lines of more than two hours in some locations.

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