History repeats itself From Granma International

WASHINGTON (PL)—Despite the measures adopted and harsh attacks from the civil society, irregularities are mounting in terms of the upcoming U.S. elections on November 2, which could be a repeat of events four years ago.

A report from the Electoral Reform Information Project, a bi-party organization, quotes various problems in these elections that could tarnish their transparency.

Failings include the technology, which caused a scandal in 2000 in Florida, where the system of perforated cards was used.

All eyes will be focussed on that state, because it will be one of the few to decide the result and the yardstick for electoral reform throughout the country, according to the report.

Although the authorities approved a change in technology, several million U.S. voters will exercise their suffrage rights via those machines.

However, the new systems have also caught the attention of various experts and civil organizations due to the ease of their being penetrated by computer hackers.

Moreover, the electronic voting machines are prone to failure or their results can be doubtful, given that as they do not print out a paper receipt, in the case of error there is no means of effecting a recount.

One of the first results of the last elections was the authorization granted to all citizens to vote prior to the official polling date.

The advance vote was previously only for citizens who had some external reason for not turning up at the polls on election day or who were not in the country at that time.

Voting began last Monday in four states, including Florida, a decisive territory in 2000 after a controversial count.

The scandal unleashed a 36-day lawsuit between Democrats and Republicans that was settled by the Supreme Court in favor of George W. Bush.

In barely three days various irregularities have been detected in that southern state, arousing Democratic suspicions, while the events of four years ago and the proven partiality of the authorities are not being forgotten.

Not only is the state governor, Jeb Bush, the younger brother of the president, but the woman who heads the territory’s electoral division, Glenda Hood, is a fervent Republican.

Already, incomplete voting slips, machine failures and citizens unable to vote due to their names not appearing on the list have been reported in that state.

For example, the system froze in Orange county, while in Hillsborough problems on the information network led to lines waiting more than two hours.

Given that situation, both Democrats and Republicans have organized large teams of lawyers to file charges in any area of the country where difficulties may arise.

The campaign for John Kerry, senator for Massachusetts and the Democratic presidential candidate, has announced that legal experts will be present at the polling booths to verify the process and prevent fraud by Bush’s party.

It is estimated that the vote will be close in some 20 states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, where there will be a mass presence of lawyers from both parties.

In order to try and avoid fraud once again various social organizations like the United for Peace and Justice coalition have joined the observers’ campaign.

Although nobody is daring to predict the winner in these elections, many are beginning to question the advantages of the reforms undertaken and doubts as to the transparency of the process are growing.



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