Fla. Asks U.S. for Election Help

Florida asked the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday for help in preventing another election mess in November.

In a letter to Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft, Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith said confidence in the state’s efforts to reform its election system was shaken by problems in Miami-Dade and Broward counties during last week’s Democratic primary for governor.

“The fate of election reform in Florida--and perhaps our nation--rests upon an immediate and effective response,” Smith wrote.

In the Democratic primary, Bill McBride narrowly defeated Janet Reno after a botched election that called to mind the debacle in Florida during the 2000 White House race.

The balloting this time was beset with equipment failures and human errors despite a $32-million overhaul of the election system to get rid of punch-card ballots and install touch-screen voting machines.

Smith, Florida’s top election official, said the state is reviewing the problems and asked Ashcroft to “take whatever steps you deem necessary to participate in this review.” He also asked the Justice Department to assist election supervisors in ensuring a smooth general election.

President Bush’s brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, sent Ashcroft a letter supporting Smith’s request.

The problems were particularly bad in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Smith blamed lack of county poll worker training, a failure to practice using the new voting systems and poor organization.

Florida voting is a sensitive matter at the White House, which President Bush captured after a disputed election victory over Democrat Al Gore in which some Florida votes were not recorded because, among other things, ballot cards were not punched all the way through.