Common Cause calls for complete re-vote in botched FL-13 election (18,000 e-votes "lost") [View All]

http://heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061110/BREAKING10/61110006&start=1

The nonpartisan group is also calling for an independent investigation into the high number of undervotes in the District 13 Congressional race. More than 18,000 voters, nearly 13 percent of those who showed up at the polls, cast votes in other races but not in the tight Congressional race between Democrat Christine Jennings and Republican Vern Buchanan. It represents a massive undercount compared to other counties, including Manatee, which reported an undercount of 2 percent.

“Sarasota County voters deserve an explanation,” said Ben Wilcox, Executive Director of Common Cause’s Florida office. “The machines should be impounded, audited and tested to determine if voters were unable to cast a ballot and why. A 13 percent undercount is unacceptable and this election should not be certified. Election officials should conduct a revote in this county.” An undervote rate of this magnitude is statistically improbable.

In 2004, according to a report released this summer by the Brennan Center for Justice, the residual vote rate for these machines in "top of the ticket races" i.e., President was 0.7%. And the residual vote rate for “bottom of the ticket races" — i.e. ballot initiatives — was only 6.7%.

“Something clearly went wrong,” said Wilcox. “To certify this election would make a mockery of democracy.”