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Jeb! wont even consider paper ballots (unless they are for Repuplicans)

Lots of voters are wondering if their votes will be counted correctly this November. In Florida, every county that uses touch screen voting machines for elections uses optical scan machines for absentee ballots. These counties already have the technology and training to count paper ballots. All they need is a little more equipment to handle the overflow and, possibly, a few extra hours on election night to finish counting.

No, sez Jeb!, because despite the fact that his own party is encouraging their partisans to vote absentee due to the perception of problems with touch screens, his official position is that everything is just fine the way it is.

Two Democratic lawmakers wrote to Gov. Jeb Bush Thursday asking him to order 15 counties that use touch screen voting to give voters a choice in November between the electronic machines and those that read paper ballots.

Senate Democratic Leader Ron Klein of Boca Raton said he doesn't have misgivings about touch screen machines, used in his county of Palm Beach, but said enough people are concerned about the lack of a reviewable paper trail in electronic voting to warrant making paper ballots optional.

"People are nervous about the touch screen voting machines," Klein wrote to Bush in a letter also signed by House Democratic Leader Doug Wiles of St. Augustine.

Klein and Wiles said the 15 counties that use touch screen machines already have paper-based optical scan machines available to read absentee ballots, but conceded they didn't know how much it would cost for those counties to buy additional equipment to give voters the choice of technology.

A Bush spokesman said the governor won't adopt the proposal because he has "every faith and confidence" in both types of voting systems. Jacob DiPietre also said that under state law, officials in each of Florida's 67 counties, not the governor, choose what system to use.

People for the American Way, a liberal group, also wrote to Bush Thursday urging that Florida voters get the same choice.

Earlier this week, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, asked his county manager to determine whether the county should abandon its touch screens in favor of paper ballots. The idea drew a negative response from the head of Miami-Dade's Election Reform Coalition, who said there wouldn't be enough time to test a new system or train poll workers on it.

Florida’s e-voting machines have no auditable paper trail. if you want your vote to count, you must vote absentee via optical scan ballot. This means requesting and filling out an absentee ballot form your county elections supervisor.

Hillsborough County residents

(More information: General Hillsborough County info)

Here’s a link to all of the Florida county elections supervisors. You need to contact your local county elections supervisor in order to request an absentee ballot.

Follow the “continue...” link to learn more about voting absentee in Florida.

Voting Absentee in Florida

The following list of frequently asked questions is from the Hillsborough County supervisor’s web iste, and is therefore somewhat specific to county residents, but the rules are the same no matter where you reside in Florida - any registered voter can request and vote an absentee ballot. You do not need to actually be absent on election day. So follow this link and contact your own county supervisor and request an absentee ballot today.

ABSENTEE VOTING

Who is eligible for an absentee ballot?
If you are a qualified registered Hillsborough County voter, you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot.

How do I obtain an absentee ballot?
An absentee ballot may be requested for a specific election or for all elections in the current calendar year. The request can be made in person, by mail, fax, E-mail or by telephone. You can also fill out a request on-line by clicking here. The absentee request must include the voter's name, address, birthdate and signature if a written request. Only the voter or a designated member of his or her immediate family or legal guardian can request an absentee ballot for the voter. If the voter has designated an immediate family member or legal guardian to request an absentee ballot for him or herself, the designee must provide the required request information for the voter and the designee's name, address and relationship to the voter.

When are absentee ballots available?
Absentee ballots are mailed approximately 30 days prior to each election to those voters who have requested an absentee ballot. A qualified voter may vote in person at either of the two offices of the Supervisor of Elections during the two weeks prior to an election.

WARNING - In Hillsborough County, this form of in person early voting involves using paperless touch screen machines - the kind that are flawed and leave no paper trail.

For other available early voting sites, please call our office at 813-272-5850 for additional information. Within four days of an election, a designated person may carry out up to two ballots for anyone as long as the required request information is provided and the voter specifically authorizes the person to pick up the ballot in writing. There is no limitation on number of carryouts for immediate family members.

How do I return my absentee ballot?
Absentee ballots must be returned in the envelope provided. The envelope must include the voter's signature, the witness information and signature. Voted absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day at the County Center office of the Supervisor of Elections or not later than 7 p.m. at the Robert L. Gilder Elections Service Center. A VOTED BALLOT CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT A POLLING PLACE. If you request and receive an absentee ballot and later decide to vote at the polls, take your absentee ballot with you to be cancelled at your polling place.