Talk:Terry Baum

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Green Party literature generally says 1659 votes, the Examiner consistently says 1651. I don't know who's right. Tualha 23:52, 9 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Unfortunately the case appears to be going against her. The relevant statute and precedents seem quite clear; the ballots were not correctly filled out, and the statute says they must be, and gives the department of elections no discretion. Baum's attorney did not seem to address earlier instances where such votes were counted, at least in oral argument - don't know about the filings.

I am tempted to suggest the law (or perhaps even the state constitution) should accept any ballot where the intent is clear. But then you get into discretion issues - is the intent on this ballot clear? How about this one? Can you make out this name? Who decides, and how? Florida and pregnant chads and weeks of work, all over again.

Perhaps a better solution would be to continue to require a clear and unambiguous vote, with all T's crossed and I's dotted; make the ballots as clear and simple as humanly possible; and educate voters as to the necessity of getting it right, so that hopefully they'll do it right and these cases won't come up.

Tualha 20:37, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)