Democrats' suit: No Foley notices at polling sites

[Truthiness Inspector]

Democrats' suit: No Foley notices at polling sites
By JENNIFER LIBERTO, Times Staff Writer
Published October 14, 2006

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TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Democratic Party doesn't want signs in polling places stating that a vote for the disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley is really a vote for his replacement, state Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart.

Foley resigned two weeks ago after it was learned he conversed in a sexual manner with congressional pages. The Republican Party of Florida named Negron to run in Foley's place against Democrat Tim Mahoney.

Florida law requires Foley's name to remain on the ballot, however, which gives Democrats an advantage in the race, political experts say.

The Florida Democratic Party filed an emergency injunction in Leon County Circuit Court on Friday asking a judge to stop elections supervisors from placing signs describing the situation in the eight counties that make up Foley's old congressional district, which stretches from Palm Beach to Charlotte counties.

More:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/14/State/Democrats__suit...


The article states that the judge will be considering this on Thursday.

[rocktivity]

1. NO ELECTIONEERING AT POLLING PLACES

That's what newspaper ads, public service announcements, flyers, and e-mails are for! If only Foley's name can be on the ballot, then only Foley's name SHOULD be on the ballot!


rocknation

[KharmaTrain]

4. You Forgot About The Yard Signs Out Front

Every polling place I've ever been to have been plastered with signs. They could put some obnoxious banner outside the polling place.

If the court rules in favor of the Repugnicans, it opens the door for future manipulation...as name switching could be seen as a "secret surprise" weapon...along with free advertising in the polling place. But then this is Florida...

[rocktivity]

14. Even yard signs have to be a certain distance from the polling place

And if people want to stand a certain distance from the polling place and hand out flyers explaining Foley's situation, that's okay, too. But under no circumstances should the place itself be giving out information about a candidate who is not supposed to be on the ballot.


rocknation

[LTR]

2. Smart move

Why call attention to it?

I'm sure many of the people in the district don't even realize Foley's been replaced, and that a Foley vote automatically transfers to the GOP candidate.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Its OK as long as the Dems can post signs that say...

...a vote for Foley is a vote for a pedophile. Thats fair.

Don

[Jack Rabbit]

5. I think the law is nuts

Voters have a right to be informed, which means to at least know for whom they are voting.

Changing the law so that this can be done more easily in circumstances like this would be good election reform, as opposed to passing legistion to see how many voters can be disenfranchized or how much accountability we can take out of the counting process, which are bad election reforms.

[RandiFan1290]

7. The GOP has every right to inform their voters

of the change through the mail, TV, or posters. The Supervisor Of Elections has no business using tax dollars to inform GOP voters of this change. They also have no business posting this change in polling places.

[originalpckelly]

15. I don't know if there is much hope for our country...

when my fellow Democrats seem to be willing to allow wrongdoing to unpunished. How can you even conceive of doing such a thing after 5 years of being treated this way? If we want this shit to never happen again, we must be willing to stop the dirty tricks.

[originalpckelly]

6. Those Democrats ought to be ashamed...

very ashamed. That is a horrible thing to do. Why doesn't the candidate down there just try to win the old fashion way, instead of doing this? It makes us all look as corrupt as the Republicans.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. Um.. are you serious?

[originalpckelly]

11. Very serious...

and this sort of acceptance of wrong-doing when it helps us is WRONG! What the hell is wrong with us? Come on already, you know if this was a Democrat it would be fair to inform the voters of the difference. People ought to be able to choose whomever they wish to, I just want them to choose Democrats. I'd rather lose an election than play dirty like Republicans. You ought to be ashamed as well for making exceptions to right/wrong when it is a Democrat. Everyone must be held to the same level of integrity.

[KingFlorez]

9. It's the Republicans being corrupt

They want to put up signs for their candidate in the polling booth

[originalpckelly]

12. Informing someone of a ballot irregularity...

is what should happen. It isn't right to win an election based upon a technicality.

[KingFlorez]

19. That is for the party to do, not the board of elections

It has nothing to do with winning, it's just not legal for them to do this

[RandiFan1290]

10. Foley didn't have to drop out

He missed the deadline and has to remain on the ballot. It is not the job of the SOE or Florida tax payers to fund the GOP campaign to elect Negron. The GOP has every right to inform their voters. Just keep it away from polling places and keep my tax dollars out of it.

[originalpckelly]

13. I'm sorry, but there is a difference between putting a normal...

campaign sign up at a polling place, and telling voters how to vote if they wish to vote for a Republican.

[rocktivity]

16. It is the responsiblity and expense of a POLITICAL PARTY

to tell voters who their candidates are--NOT the board of elections. And like Randifan said, Foley didn't have to drop out.


rocknation

[BlooInBloo]

17. It's been asked, but let me verify: Are you for real?

[kestrel91316]

18. Thank you. You, at least, seem to GET IT.

[Gabi Hayes]

20. really! what was it the pugs used to say about "RULE OF LAW?"

let's follow the letter of the law whnn it comes to everything pug, hey?

strict construction, and all that.

where in the Fla election law does it specifically ordain that signs be put up to inform the voters when a candidate who quit too soon still has his name on the ballot, and another has taken his place?

if it's NOT THERE in WRITING, so sign should appear

pretty obvious, isn't it?

follow the rule of law