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Glades blacks' ballots tossed more than average
By William Cooper Jr. and Alexandra Clifton, Palm Beach Post Staff Writers Voters in black precincts in the Glades had their ballots disqualified three times more than the average of Palm Beach County. A Palm Beach Post analysis of 11 predominantly black precincts in Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay found that 23 percent of voters had ballots tossed because they either didn't vote for president or punched more than one hole in the presidential race. In black precincts countywide, 16 percent of the votes were thrown out -- more than double the rate for white precincts. Overall, nearly 7 percent of the 462,657 ballots cast countywide were thrown out. Poll workers blamed several factors: first-time voters, people who were too embarrassed to tell someone they voted for more than one presidential candidate and the inability of poll workers to reach the supervisor of elections office to get questions answered. Maude Vereen, a Belle Glade poll worker, said she realized voters were having difficulty when early that morning a woman said she voted twice -- once for president and once for vice president. "That's where the confusion came in," said Vereen, who worked at the precinct at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Glades officials and poll workers also said a lack of knowledge of voting, the fear of asking for another ballot and language barriers contributed. In all, there were 2,819 ballots cast in the black precincts in the Glades, 639 of which were thrown out. The number tossed was 22.7 percent of the votes. Poll worker Shirley Morris believes some people were afraid to admit they punched two candidates in the presidential race. While Florida law allows voters to receive a second ballot, few people asked for them, said Morris, who worked in a precinct at Lake Shore Civic Center. "Some people were embarrassed to ask for help," she said. "They didn't want anybody to know they made a mistake." Morris also said that some Haitian residents who came to vote left without casting a ballot because there were no Creole-speaking workers to help them. When poll workers called the supervisor of elections office about this and the other problems, they couldn't get through, Morris said. "We tried to call, but the line stayed busy," said Morris, who was not surprised that the Glades had a higher rate of votes being tossed. In South Bay, Mayor Clarence Anthony estimates 10 percent of voters were first-time voters and could have been intimidated by polling place signs that forbid talking and reminded voters they had only five minutes to vote. "I know I was nervous voting, with people watching and waiting for me to finish," Anthony said. Students from Glades Central High School in Belle Glade were among those first-time voters. The local Democratic Executive Committee registered 40 students, said Myrtis Rains, the group's Belle Glade president. Carlotta Hessing, a Glades Central senior, said she received help from a poll worker at her South Bay precinct. Without it, Hessing said, she probably would have voted improperly. "I do know I wanted my vote to count," said Hessing, 18. Local Democratic officials have sent representatives to the Glades area to record voters' complaints, said Dan Pfieffer, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Democratic Party. Pfieffer wouldn't say whether the affidavits are being used in the Gore campaign's legal battle. "We're just documenting statements right now," said Pfieffer, who added that attorneys and notaries are helping to certify voter's statements. Bill Washington, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, said his chapter is referring the complaints to the Miami chapter. Last week, the state chapter held public hearings about the problems with Florida's votes and will forward the results to the U.S. Department of Justice for the agency to launch an investigation.
bill_cooper@pbpost.com
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