Election-Campaign Law

More on the FL Do-Over

By Paul Gronke

Florida's Mail-In Primary Plan Opens RiftsThe Florida Democratic Party "is pushing forward with a plan for recontesting its primary, largely with mail-in ballots, despite vigorous opposition from Democrats in the state's congressional delegation as well as concerns from the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama," according to the Washington Post.CQ Politics has obtained a draft version of the plan."The idea is to combine a vote-by-mail process with in-person voting centers around the state to accommodate anyone who needs assistance. A slew of details are still unresolved, including how to pay the $10 million price tag and exactly how to work with state officials to verify voter signatures on mailed ballots."

I really like this option. This is exactly what Colorado is going to do for 2008. It addresses the concerns of those who want a chance to mobilize on election day; it avoids disenfranchisement of mobile voters or voters with bad addresses on the polls (a concern expressed by Michael McDonald); and it deals with those who believe voting by mail discriminates against minorities (even though we have no evidence of this, and some contrary evidence).

Full post as published by Election Updates on March 13, 2008 (boomark / email).