Leon County (Systematic dirty tricks and registration problems affecting students and minority voters, machine problems, poll worker misfeasance)

Possible Malfeasance

038511 11/02/04, 11:04 AM PST Other ballot-related problem FAMU Grand Ballroom, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Caller saw pollworker take ballot from African American woman (name unknown).

After voter left, pollworker threw ballot away and told caller that pollworker can't put ballot in machine; voter has to do it. Voter had already left.

Dirty Tricks

036232 11/02/04, 9:42 AM PST Voter Intimidation Leon County, Florida voter was contacted by phone and asked who she was voting for. when she told them "Democratic" party

she was told she could vote by phone. She felt intimidated.

039708 11/02/04, 11:53 AM PST Registration-related problem High Road, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Filled out registration twice. No registration in the mail. There was no record of registration at all.

055949 11/12/04, 8:34 AM PST Voter Intimidation Palmer-Monroe Community Center, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Neighborhood canvassers for Move-On.org were told by several residents (African-American near Plamer-Munroe Center) that over the weekend 10/30-10/31) canvassers wearing Kerry stickers told them they could vote Tuesday and Wednesday. One woman reported that she was told there was a special day for Democrats to vote - Wednesday 11/03/04. Two women reported that they had received voter registration cards in the mail on 11/2, even though they had them already and had not requested new cards & didn't know why they had been sent. Move-On rep. advised them to take then to the Election Supervisor. [P]

Machine Problems

028804 11/02/04, 5:28 AM PST Machine problem; Other ballot-related problem John Wesley United Methodist Church; 1738 Old St Augustine, Leon County, Florida Instruction say use blue or black ink; however, the machine isn't reading blue ink and people's ballots are rejected

032005 11/02/04, 7:10 AM PST Other ballot-related problem Leon County, Florida Instructions say blue or black ink can be made; however, the machine does not read blue ink. Therefore, several ballots have been rejected

040294 11/02/04, 12:09 PM PST Machine problem Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Ballots not being accepted by scanners. Required multiple attempts. Some poll workers said it was because of blue ink but problems occurred even with blue ink.

056042 11/12/04, 10:03 AM PST Machine problem Leon County, Florida Voter was not able to vote due to machine /poll worker. Her claim was that she went through proper procedures and pulled her ballot through the machine and it came back and did not go through she is very upset because her vote may not be counted unless she goes through some type of procedure. She had to leave for work

Voter Suppression:

042855 11/02/04, 1:54 PM PST Other polling place problem Grand Ball Room at FAMU , Tallhassee, Leon County, Florida Students at FAMU arrived at polling place bu was told that she was at the wrong place. She went to another polling locations and was told that the polling locations that she went to was correct. Student went back and was allowed to vote. Carller says a number of FAMU students are being turned away and told that they are at the wrong place. Supervision of election was called. Tons of people at FAMU are being turned away or give provisional ballots. It is a historically Black college.

056021 11/12/04, 9:37 AM PST Identification-related problem; Long lines Canopy Roads Baptist Church, Leon County, Florida Caller expressed concern that people were being asked for identification. Lines stretched for 2 miles(?).

Possible Malfeasance

045181 11/02/04, 3:25 PM PST Registration-related problem Leon County, Florida When voter registered to vote at Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles she was told to register in Broward County and that she would be able to vote in Leon County at the courthouse.

045418 11/02/04, 3:36 PM PST Provisional ballot problem Leon County, Leon County County, Florida voters directed to fill out provisional ballot by poll workers knowing precinct incorrect. Potentially impacting multiple voters.

045873 11/02/04, 3:35 PM PST Registration-related problem Leon County, Florida calling for her husband. They moved from Broward County and are registered to vote in Leon County. He has voted in Leon County before. When he went to vote today, he was told he's not on the list because he is still registered in Broward County

047144 11/02/04, 4:23 PM PST Provisional ballot problem Astoria Park, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida The caller's friend has moved and went to vote where she thought her new precinct was. She was told that she was in the wrong place, but was told that she could vote a provisional ballot. The caller called the SOE and was told that it won't count and they are both very upset. She would like a call back tomorrow to let her know how this problem is going to be solved. [P]

055910 11/12/04, 8:01 AM PST Absentee-ballot related problem Jackson Bluff Palmer-Muroe, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Voter came to precinct where registered with absentee ballot not completed. Wanted to surrender absentee ballot and vote regular ballot. Was told he must vote absentee at the courthouse.

Voter Intimidation

033663 11/02/04, 8:50 AM PST Voter Intimidation Killeran Country Club, Leon County, Florida The manager of the country club is intimidating Democratic voters and not allowing Kerry/Edwards supporters campaign and hold up signs. The manager is having large men come to the cars of people with Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers and "escorting" them to and from the polling site.

041016 11/02/04, 12:45 PM PST Voter Intimidation; Machine problem First Christian Church, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Voter felt he was being discriminated against because he was told his name was not on the list even though he could see his name. He was required to point out his name on the list.

Registration Problems:

053503 11/05/04, 12:27 PM PST Registration-related problem; Problem based on student status County Courthouse, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Caller states she re-registered where she goes to school. Got voter registration card but left it at home. Went to courthouse to vote / or find out correct polling station. Was told she wasn't registered at all. Was then turned away.

055613 11/11/04, 12:04 PM PST Registration-related problem tallahassee, leon County, Florida voter registered in leon county in september. never received voter registration card. he called to verify registration with supervisor of elections and he was advised he was not registered. he tried to vote at precinct 23 before he called supervisor of elections.

055970 11/12/04, 8:50 AM PST Polling place inquiry Tallahassee Community College, Palmer Monroe Community Center, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Voter's registration card says precinct 2305. She arrived there, they informed her she should be at 2502. After arriving at this precinct, she was told that she should be at precinct 2507. Basically, this voter was given the run around and wrong information about her correct precinct.

033532 11/02/04, 8:11 AM PST Registration-related problem Leon County/ Florida City, Miami Dade County, Florida, Registered in Miami-Dade, lives in Tallahasee, Fl. Attempted to re-register in Tallahasee, FL three times with college democrats registration drive, started in July and stopped in September.

038724 11/02/04, 11:14 AM PST Registration-related problem Tallahassee, Miami-Dade County, Florida Originally lived in Miami, but, moved to Tallahassee to attend school. While at school, she changed her voting address through a group of people who had come to the school to register voters. She called the Supervisors of Elections in Tallahassee and Miami and neither had notification of her change of address. She states that there are many students at her campus who report that they had registered with this group and none of their registrations were processed. She was able to fly back down to Miami to process her vote, but, the other students she spoke with were unable to do so.

Absentee ballot problem

055587 11/11/04, 11:34 AM PST Absentee-ballot related problem leon co. ag. station, tallahassee, leon County, Florida clerk showed she requested absentee ballot. voter says she neither requested absentee ballot nor voter absentee

055960 11/12/04, 8:42 AM PST Registration-related problem; Identification-related problem Tallahassee Community Center, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida Voter registered 3/04 has not received his card. roommate did same yet received his card. Both went to their precinct (2305). Voter was turned away - called Supervisor of Elections - was told his birthdate was 1/1/1888.

056009 11/12/04, 9:25 AM PST Absentee-ballot related problem 1420 Paul Russell Rd, Leon County, Florida Four voters had problems receiving requested absentee ballots.

Statistical study of lost votes and misvotes: http://www.flcv.com/fla04EAS.html

Leon and Alachua Counties: Students at Florida State, Florida A&M, and University of Florida. some of whom signed petitions to legalize medical marijuana or impose stiffer penalties for child molesters, unknowingly had their party registration switched to Republican and their addresses changed. Switching voters' party affiliations does not affect their ability to vote, but changing addresses does, because when voters shows up at their proper polling places, they will not be registered there. About 4,000 potential voters in all have been affected. http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=3574