What About Ballot Spoilage?
I watched the network and cable election coverage and was unimpressed. Granted, they did a good job of not jumping the gun. But one thing they should have learned from Florida 2000 was not evident last night. Where was the discussion of ballot spoilage?
All the number talk regarding Ohio is based on the current difference in counted votes and whether that lead of Bush can be overcome by the provisional ballots. The provisional ballots are those that were challenged when cast at the polls. But what about ballots that were cast at the polls but rejected by the tallying machines either because a ballot had no vote for President or more than one vote for President- the so-called spoilage? These were the infamous hanging and pregnant chads that are the most memorable images of 2000 - the Judge with the magnifying glass looking at the punch card, with his eye so enlarged by the glass. I hope we see that Judge again on TV, this time being interviewed as an expert in how to sincerely and legitimately attempt to determine the intent of an American voter. That Judge and his glass who many in the media in 2000 seemed to treat as almost a comedian, to me was instead an inspiring player in a drama about the true spirit of American Democracy - to go to every effort to see that the vote of every American is properly counted.
In Ohio, 69 of the 88 Counties still use punch card ballots. As the Democratic lawyers approach the Ohio vote count, the chad related problems will again arise as a central issue. Here is a link to an Article from the Cinncinati Enquirer back in August pointing out the great likelihood that this would be a problem. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/14/loc_voting14.html
Ohio should technically be up in the air for a week or two, as the overall vote count is reviewed, provisional ballots are contested, spoiled ballots are examined and overseas ballots come in, though it does seem more likely at this point that Bush will still edge it out. But while Ohio is up in the air, all reasonably close States will probably be put through the same review processes, especially where the spoilage counts are high.
The shame of the media on election night 2004 was the failure to even mention ballot spoilage.
All the number talk regarding Ohio is based on the current difference in counted votes and whether that lead of Bush can be overcome by the provisional ballots. The provisional ballots are those that were challenged when cast at the polls. But what about ballots that were cast at the polls but rejected by the tallying machines either because a ballot had no vote for President or more than one vote for President- the so-called spoilage? These were the infamous hanging and pregnant chads that are the most memorable images of 2000 - the Judge with the magnifying glass looking at the punch card, with his eye so enlarged by the glass. I hope we see that Judge again on TV, this time being interviewed as an expert in how to sincerely and legitimately attempt to determine the intent of an American voter. That Judge and his glass who many in the media in 2000 seemed to treat as almost a comedian, to me was instead an inspiring player in a drama about the true spirit of American Democracy - to go to every effort to see that the vote of every American is properly counted.
In Ohio, 69 of the 88 Counties still use punch card ballots. As the Democratic lawyers approach the Ohio vote count, the chad related problems will again arise as a central issue. Here is a link to an Article from the Cinncinati Enquirer back in August pointing out the great likelihood that this would be a problem. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/14/loc_voting14.html
Ohio should technically be up in the air for a week or two, as the overall vote count is reviewed, provisional ballots are contested, spoiled ballots are examined and overseas ballots come in, though it does seem more likely at this point that Bush will still edge it out. But while Ohio is up in the air, all reasonably close States will probably be put through the same review processes, especially where the spoilage counts are high.
The shame of the media on election night 2004 was the failure to even mention ballot spoilage.
posted by Tom Blake | 9:02 AM
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