Just before Election Day, I debated one of Diaz de la Portilla's brothers, a lawyer working for the GOP. It was on Al Jazeera, whose gigantic Middle Eastern audience could not possibly have grasped the truth re: Florida's elections, because my adversary's every statement was a whopping lie, and I had little time to nail them properly. He lied with the belligerent vigor of a true believer (the brothers' parents are right-wing Cuban exiles), so he was either lying for the Greater Good (as he imagines it) or, in his own mind, not lying.
In any case, it's interesting to note that his top talking-point was that the electoral process had been going swimmingly in Florida--no problem! This despite the (usual) news of long, long lines in Democratic precincts, due to systematic shortages and machine breakdowns: five-hour waits for (would-be) voters in Miami-Dade, six-hour waits for (would-be) voters in Ft. Lauderdale (where they ran out of paper ballots), seven op-scan machines kaput in Duval County, and so on. None of this made any difference to Diaz de la Portilla, who just kept saying that all was well at Florida's polls. I guess that wasn't really true; for now his brother Alex, a state senator, has come out with this sweeping plan for the "reform" of Florida's elections--a plan that's clearly meant to make it harder for all non-Republicans to vote, as critics have observed. Such fake "reform"--advanced by liberals and conservatives--will keep on getting serious attention, until we can break through with some hard truths about what's really happened to American elections, and what's really needed to reform them. Certainly it won't be easy--perhaps it isn't even possible--but our only option is to try, and keep on trying. MCM Overhaul of Florida Voting Rules Is Proposed By <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/gary_fineout/index.html?inline=nyt-per>GARY FINEOUT Published: April 15, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/us/16florida.html TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Republican lawmakers, who control both houses of the Legislature, have proposed sweeping changes to the state's election laws, including new procedures on registering voters, and requiring voters to use a provisional ballot if they move shortly before an election. The rules would also prevent anyone, including those with video or audio equipment, from getting within 100 feet of a line of voters, even if that line is outside a polling place. This would also prevent anyone from offering legal advice to voters in line. State Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Republican from Miami and sponsor of the legislation, said the changes were a response to complaints and problems in the 2008 elections. "We see where there were flaws, where there were holes that have to be filled," Mr. Diaz de la Portilla said. The legislation, for example, would bar election supervisors from placing anything on the envelope of absentee ballots that lists a voter's party affiliation. It would also give state election officials the ability to call for a recount and set new standards for audits of voting machines. Mr. Diaz de la Portilla said nothing in the legislation was intended to benefit "any particular political party." But voting rights groups were critical of the legislation, as were Democratic lawmakers. "We should be making democracy more open, not putting obstacles in the way of people accessing their government," said Senator Charlie Justice, a St. Petersburg Democrat. Elizabeth Westfall, a senior lawyer with the Advancement Project, a voting rights group, predicted that the measure would shut down voter-registration drives in Florida by outside groups like the <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/national_association_for_the_advancement_of_colored_people/index.html?inline=nyt-org>N.A.A.C.P. The legislation would require voter-registration groups to turn in applications within 48 hours after they are first filled out. "This is really Draconian," Ms. Westfall said. She also criticized the provision that would require voters who move less than a month before an election to vote with a provisional ballot. She faulted the state for failing to make early voting easier. Gov. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/charlie_crist/index.html?inline=nyt-per>Charlie Crist ordered polling places to stay open longer last year to accommodate throngs of voters who showed up for early voting. Mr. Diaz de la Portilla defended the requirements for turning in voter applications promptly. He said it was important to make sure the state's voting rolls were accurate. "People hold onto things and don't turn them in and don't meet deadlines," he said. Ever since the chaotic recount in the 2000 presidential election, Florida has repeatedly come under fire by voting rights groups and labor organizations. Some of the proposed changes may have to be reviewed by the Department of Justice. Because of past voter-discrimination complaints, five counties in the state must have any changes to registration procedures cleared by the federal government. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to Mark Crispin Miller's "News From Underground" newsgroup. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to newsfromunderground-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com OR go to http://groups.google.com/group/newsfromunderground and click on the "Unsubscribe or change membership" link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, then click the "Unsubscribe" button on the next page. For more News From Underground, visit http://markcrispinmiller.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
