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Confused Voters Need More Help

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2008

Florida's Presidential Preference Primary, held Jan. 29, clearly demonstrated the immediate need for voter education, not only in Hillsborough County, but throughout Florida.

I believe we can and must do more to ensure that every voter is fully informed and prepared to cast their vote with confidence.

Information lines to our office were flooded with calls on Election Day - mostly from voters who needed help. Many calls were from voters who were confused about what they could vote for, whether their vote would be relevant to the final convention delegate count, and even their party affiliation.

Some did not understand Florida's closed primary election system. Independent voters cannot participate in either primary contest; however, all registered voters could cast ballots for or against the Amendment 1 initiative.

Another point of confusion occurred with residents who are registered in another Florida county but have recently moved to Hillsborough County and wished to vote here. Their registrations had to be verified in the Florida Voter Registration System.

I am concerned that additional challenges may surface in the Aug. 26 primary and Nov. 4 general election.

In addition, at those elections, voters in Hillsborough County will cast their ballots using a new paper ballot system, as mandated by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature. While the paper ballot system will provide a higher degree of confidence and a paper trail, it will be a completely different way to vote.

To avoid confusion and assist voters during the transition, it is imperative that the supervisor of elections office carry out a multifaceted education program to reach out to voters. While resources will be expended to carry out these efforts, costs will be significantly defrayed by funding from the Help America Vote Act, previously passed by Congress.

My staff and I have diligently examined and re-examined all certified paper ballot systems currently available in Florida. We are now confident to recommend to the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners a system we believe is the best to maintain accuracy while providing the wisely mandated voter verifiable paper audit trail.

With the integrity of our election systems uppermost in our minds, we must work diligently to inform voters of recent changes while continuing to ensure safe, secure and accurate elections.

Buddy Johnson is Hillsborough County supervisor of elections.

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