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![handle is hein.civil/uscdgo0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
STATUS REPORT ON PROBE OF ELECTION PRACTICES
IN FLORIDA DURING THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The Commission has undertaken a formal investigation into allegations by Floridians of
voting irregularities arising out of the November 7, 2000 Presidential election. The
Commission has held two fact-finding hearings in Florida to examine whether eligible
voters faced avoidable barriers that undermined their ability to cast ballots and have their
ballots counted in this closely contested election. The probe is intended to uncover, for
example, who made the critical decisions regarding resource allocations for Election Day
activities, why were these decisions made and what specific impact these decisions had
on distinct communities.
Voter disenfranchisement appears to be at the heart of the issue. It is not a question of a
recount or even an accurate count, but more pointedly the issue is those whose exclusion
from the right to vote amounted to a No Count.
We emphasize that voting technology reforms and assurances that uniform and accurate
standards for counting and recounting ballots shall be implemented are encouraging and
significant. These measures standing alone, however, are insufficient to address the
significant and distressing issues and barriers that prevented qualified voters from
participating in the Presidential election. It is our hope that Florida officials, as well as
officials in other jurisdictions, will promptly resolve these major problems, which they
allowed to occur, instead of hoping with the passage of time the public will forget.
In total, over 100 witnesses testified under oath before the Commission, including
approximately 65 scheduled witnesses who were selected for the two hearings due to
their knowledge of and/or experience with the issues under investigation. The
Commission heard testimony from top elected and appointed state officials, including the
Governor, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Director of the Florida
Division of Elections and other Florida state and county officials. A representative of
Database Technologies, Inc. [Choicepoint], a firm involved in the controversial, state-
sponsored removal of felons from the voter registration rolls also testified.
We also heard the sworn testimony of registered voters and experts on election reform
issues, election laws and procedures and voting rights. Also, the Chair and Executive
Director of the Select Task Force on Election Reforms established by Governor Jeb Bush
testified before the Commission. Testimony was also received from the supervisors of
elections for several counties, county commission officials, law enforcement personnel,
and a states attorney. In addition to the scheduled witnesses, the Commission extended an
opportunity for concerned persons, including Members of Congress and members of the
Florida State Legislature, to submit testimony under oath that was germane to the issues](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.civil/uscdgo0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)