Nearly 500 provisional ballots don't make cut

TAMPA - Hurrying to file preliminary results of the general election with the state Thursday, the Hillsborough Canvassing Board threw out nearly 500 provisional ballots, most for people who tried to cast ballots but were not registered to vote.

The three-man board also approved more than 265 provisional ballots - the paper ballots handed to voters whose eligibility at a particular precinct was questioned for one reason or another.

After a general election that saw long delays at most polling places, the board set an interesting precedent in one case when it approved the provisional ballot of a woman who insisted upon filing it simply because she got tired of waiting in line for a touch screen voting machine.

In another case, the Canvassing Board reviewed the provisional ballot for a woman who was listed as deceased on her precinct register. After the voter filled out the provisional ballot, elections workers dug up data showing they had erroneously listed her as deceased. That led to the approval of the provisional ballot, and a quip from Canvassing Board member and County Judge James V. Dominguez.

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Another thing that needs done is a longer time alloted to certify the ballots. When the rules were made the population was smaller.