Florida Law May Disenfranchise New Voters

Strict Rules Aimed At Preventing Fraud May Keep Recently Registered Voters From Casting Ballots

(CBS)  It's crunch time for volunteers looking to register new voters. In Florida, Democrats and Republicans alike have registered more than 130,000 new voters in the last month alone, leaving election workers scrambling to get them all on the rolls by Election Day.

But as CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports, the state's stringent fraud prevention laws may keep some of those newly registered voters - and many others - from casting their ballots.

"This is just outrageous how many people are really into this election," says volunteer Aleisha Hodo.

The sheer volume of new voter registration applications, along with the state's so-called "no match, no vote law" has election observers worried that one mistyped number could disqualify a ballot.

"We have done the math and we have begun to look at how many people are not matched, not voting already, and it could be in the tens-of-thousands in the state of Florida," said Dierdre McNabb of The League of Women Voters.

For the first time, Florida law requires a voter's driver's license or social security number to match a state or federal database. It's done to prevent fraud. Several other swing states have similar laws, but none as strict as Florida's. Wisconsin dropped its own no match rule when a test run showed one in four voters would have been eliminated because of typos and other minor problems.

"Already we've seen that over 5,000 people, as of this last Monday, have had their voter registration applications rejected," says Tova Wang of Common Cause. "The county administrators admit that it's because of mistakes like typos and variations on people's names."

Take for example Tameka Collins. When she applied for an absentee ballot, the elections office sent her a letter saying her signature didn't match. She had to re-register last month, after being a regular voter for years.

"Now I feel like I have to go and vote in person, just to make sure it counts" Collins said.

Local election officials say they're trying to clear up the problems before Nov. 4.

"Our objective is to reach the voter as quickly as possible to resolve the issue," says Deborah Clark.

[hissteps4u]

I am so glad I left Florida so many years ago. The state is backwards in many ways and can not seem to get things write or have the gumption to make it right for voters

It is a real shame YET Florida Voters will not Vote Term Limits and Boot the Bums out of office so bent on keeping the professional Politicans in place rather than forceing change which is badly needed in Florida.

I yearn for the good old days in the early 70''s when Florida was respected.. Jeb Bush destroyed the state and The curent batch of Political leaders is garebage allowed to continue to pile up by day....

Shame on Florida and the People who refuce to do the right thing by the state and shame on the residence who refuse to hold their pOliticians accountable...

[grangerwoods]

VIDEOS JOHNNY MAC DID NOT SEE
PALIN IS ANTI-AMERICAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIi4rbIXbkw

Listen very very close from the 6 minute mark to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8&feature=related

Her own confirmation!

[im4honesty]

How is the Republican party up to their old tricks if all you have to do is some proper ID that identifies with your votes card? Why would that not be fair? Unless your want voters fraud.


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Posted by heart824

This is MUCH MORE than that!! I live in Florida where, during the 2000 election, roads were actually blocked around the polling places in lower income neighborhoods in heavily republican areas like Lee county. If you think this legislation, which has been enacted by the heavy republican majority, is anything less than tampering with the process... you are completely wrong.

[xrepublic4u]

MCCAIN IS RUNNING HIS CAMPAIGN A LOT LIKE HITLER RAN HIS!

[deedee993]

well said...quilt by association

[deedee993]

How about McCain''s 70th B-day party on a yacht owned by convicted Italian felon Raffaello Follieri. Also, McCain''s ties with Oleg Deripaska. Deripaska is an aluminum tycoon in Russia that also has extensive ties with the Russian mob and also has a very long rap sheet. McCain''s senior advisors (Davis & Manafort) worked w/ the Kremlin to take over Montenegro. That is some quilt my assoication.

[heart824]

How is the Republican party up to their old tricks if all you have to do is some proper ID that identifies with your votes card? Why would that not be fair? Unless your want voters fraud.

[heart824]

Great, maybe Ohio needs to do the same. If your license or social security card doesn''t match your numbers you don''t get to vote. Sounds fair to me. Just means less fraud in voting. Why would anyone disagree with that?

[deedee993]

I guess the Florida Republican party is pulling their old trick. Disenfranchise voters. So, the Democrats will have to BOYCOTT FLORIDA!!!! Enough is enough. The Florida Republican can''t ever win the fair way. What a bunch of low life babies. So BOYCOTT! Florida Orange Juice, Florida Theme Parks, etc!!! If the Government can''t stop them. The people have to take the election process back! This is America!!

[deedee993]

I guess the Florida Republican party is pulling their old trick. Disenfranchise voters. So, the Democrats will have to BOYCOTT FLORIDA!!!! Enough is enough. The Florida Republican can''t ever win the fair way. What a bunch of low life babies. So BOYCOTT! Florida Orange Juice, Florida Theme Parks, etc!!! If the Government can''t stop them. The people have to take the elections back!! This IS AMERICA!