Letter: All eyes again on suspect Florida

Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

Reading a recent Paul Krugman column in the Las Vegas Sun, my blood ran cold at his report of Florida's suspect activity regarding the voting results of this year's crucial election.

It seems that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ordered a list compiled to ensure that felons do not vote. When a judge forced the release of this list, it turned out that it contained the names of many African Americans who were not felons at all and would have been wrongly disenfranchised.

Mr. Krugman also passed on information reported by his colleague, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, who had reported that Florida state police officers have gone to the homes of many African Americans, purportedly to investigate suspected voter fraud. But Krugman said the state has released little information about this investigation, which looks more like an attempt to intimidate voters.

Krugman also reports that Florida is planning to use paperless voting machines, which will be impossible to check for accuracy if the presidential election once again hinges on this state's vote totals.

Will we suffer the same fate as in the year 2000? Law-abiding voters, who had serious doubts about that election, shouldn't sit idly by and do nothing as Florida once again appears to have a suspect approach to voting.

MADELYN OLDS