Divide Florida’s Electoral Votes

I respect the constitutional right of the Florida Legislature to determine the manner of choosing electors in the presidential election. I also respect its stated wish to ensure that the 6 million voters of Florida are not disenfranchised.

In considering what to do, I hope the legislators will bear in mind the fact that the majority (more than 51%) of Florida voters voted for candidates other than George W. Bush. The more than 3 million people who voted for either Al Gore, Ralph Nader or Pat Buchanan would certainly be disenfranchised by the selection of a slate of 25 electors for Bush.

The only fair way to settle this issue is for the Florida Legislature to divide the slate of electors according to the actual percentages of the vote; 12 for Bush, 12 for Gore and possibly one for Nader, or one uncommitted. Buchanan did not get even 1% of the vote and thus should not have electors allocated to him.

ALLEN MURDOCK

Los Angeles

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Erwin Chemerinsky’s proposed “simple” solution of splitting Florida’s electoral votes (and handing the election to Gore), misses the point that none of the states excepting Maine and Nebraska split their votes (Commentary, Dec. 7). If, in fact, all 50 states gave electoral votes proportionately, Gore would lose votes. (For example, Gore would pick up 12 or 13 of Florida’s votes, but he would have to give up nearly half of California’s 54 votes to Bush.) To only split Florida’s votes at this time would have the appearance of “simple” cherry-picking.

BETSY FULLMER

Fullerton

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Florida held an election under Florida law, and however it came out (i.e., is determined to have come out by the courts), that is conclusive. Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution precludes ex post facto legislation. The Florida Legislature cannot now supersede the prior law and its consequences with a new law. If it could, then any legislature could preempt the result of any presidential election and toss out a result achieved even with two-thirds of the vote. There can be no argument with the archaic right of the legislature to determine how presidential electors are chosen, but Florida did it already and cannot do it over.

GILBERT S. BAHN

Moorpark

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The Democrats object to the election being decided by the Republican Florida Legislature. They prefer it to be decided by seven Democratic judges on the Florida Supreme Court.

GARY A. ROBB

Los Angeles

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Why is it that in the Seminole and Martin counties cases the Republicans say it is wrong to squelch the right of individual voters who voted with good intent? However, in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties the other voters with the same good intentions are not getting the same support. I believe that at the very least the 2,000 absentee applications/ballots in Seminole that Republican operatives tampered with should be thrown out. Those individuals who illegally tampered with the ballot applications--with the assistance of Republican elected officials--knew (or should have known) that their actions were against Florida election law. And that, if they were caught, their actions would cast doubts on the validity of the absentee ballots that were subsequently accepted.

As far as this Democrat is concerned, if Gore can’t win Florida’s votes officially, as he should, then Bush should only “win” by being selected by the Florida Legislature. The mantra of Democrats for the next four years will be “Bush selected, not elected.”

SIDNEY JACKSON

Huntington Beach

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The palpable rancor evident in Wednesday’s letters commenting on Judge N. Sanders Sauls’ ruling is disturbing. Whoever ultimately prevails will have done so pursuant to the country’s established rules and procedures. Bush has every right to claim that a fair application of election laws has resulted in his victory. Likewise, Gore has every right to challenge those rules, or the application thereof, in court. However it turns out, no one will have “stolen” the election. We should all take a deep breath, drop the vitriolic rhetoric and celebrate the fact that we have a system that can handle even these complicated circumstances.

EDWARD M. YOUNG

Pasadena