Politics

Panel Outlines Election Fixes

November 9, 2001 / 8:41 AM EST / AP

Minimum federal standards should be set for poll worker training, provisional ballots and accessible polling places, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights says.

The commission outlined its recommendations for Congress at a time when lawmakers are trying to work out partisan differences in various election proposals. The commission spent the whole year looking at problems in the 2000 elections and reviewing the various reports aimed at fixing those problems.

"The commission is releasing its recommendations for national election reform today in this time of national security crisis when it is even more urgent that we ensure the integrity of our democracy," said Commission Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry.

"We must make certain that elections are fair and everyone who is eligible has a chance to vote. Otherwise, we undermine the basic premises on which we fight this battle against terrorism," she said.

Berry said federal mandates in certain aspects of elections are "absolutely necessary" to protect the rights of all voters.

The commission said in its report released Friday that "any system that allows so many people to be denied their right to vote cannot be permitted to continue in its current form."

The report said the time has arrived to shift the election focus from the problems in Florida to ensure that federal changes prevent similar difficulties in the future. In Florida, voters complained they were not allowed to vote, given improper instructions and had problems with faulty election equipment.

The report raised questions about the states of Washington and Oregon where heavy use of mailed-in ballots provides inadequate protections for some voters, such as the disabled and those with language barriers.

Among the commission's recommendations for minimum standards:

Provisional ballots that allow everyone to vote, even if their eligibility is questioned at the polls. The ballot could be held until later.

Adequate resources to ensure that all people have an equal opportunity to vote and have their votes counted.

Appropriate guidelines to ensure that poll workers are properly trained and the election boards are prepared.

Appropriate data collected and publicly reported immediately following an election to ensure that shortcomings in state and precinct election systems are readily identified.

Language assistance and assurance of physical accessibility to both polling places and voting materials.

Restoration of the right of former felons to vote, once certain requirements are met.

Adequate voter education materials.

Voting equipment that has acceptable error rates.

And, rules addressing state efforts to purge voters from the voting rolls.