Election dysfunction: In yet another of his growing list of quirky electoral decisions, Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush has ignored the suggestions of local elections officials and the company that supplies our touch-screen voting machines, and called for county and city elections to go forward. He allowed Miami-Dade and Broward counties two weeks’ reprieve, but called for several communities with elections slated for Nov. 8 to stick to that date, whether all polling places have power or not.
Let’s keep in mind that some people in South Florida have been told not to expect the power to be back on until Nov. 22, just in time for Thanksgiving.
From the Miami Herald:
Both the county and Election Systems and Software, the company that manufactures Miami-Dade’s voting machines, have warned state elections officials that the Nov. 8 date is too soon to ensure smooth operations at the polls. Their date of choice for all six upcoming local elections: Dec. 6.
”The governor’s office worked with the Department of State and local officials to complete a thorough evaluation of conditions and needs,” Bush spokeswoman Deena Reppen told The Herald. “The governor feels that this will provide a good window of time to prepare and execute the election.”
A memo sent Friday from ES&S to state elections officials warned that holding elections Nov. 8 “would put the election success at too high of a risk.”
”Time and the ability to plan is the most important element of running a trouble-free election,” the memo said. “Nov. 8 does not allow the time needed to manage and assure the myriad of tasks can be completed and tested.”
The memo said ES&S could go along with holding elections on Nov. 15 but that there are ”inherent risks” with that date and that Dec. 6 was the first choice.
When told that the company had raised such concerns, Reppen, the Bush spokesperson, said she stood by her original statement that the governor had confered with the various affected parties and arrived at a “good window of time.”
Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections Lester Sola acknowledged the governor-mandated election schedule poses a “challenge.”
”Ultimately, the elections department and the supervisor of elections are responsible for making sure that the elections are held, and they’re held correctly. That is my job,” Sola said.
Sola noted that the governor’s office has committed to help Miami-Dade overcome the obstacles associated with holding elections so soon — including the possibility power may not be fully restored to all polling places.
”They stated to me on the record they would provide the generators and whatever other resources were needed to make sure the elections were pulled off correctly,” Sola said.
Following on the heels of the botched Wilma response (for which Jebby took token responsibility, then pointed his finger at citizens who, he said, didn’t prepare adequately), I’m sure these elections, like all those in Florida in the past five years, will run smoothly and there will be absolutely no question about the results.
Look out! Flying pigs!
