All Eyes On Florida As Election Looms
Posted October 29, 2012 07:15 am | Public News Service
MIAMI,
FL – Florida's early voting kicked off this weekend and,
with the state's history of election controversy, poll
monitors are on hand to make sure everyone who wants to
cast a ballot is able to exercise the right to vote. The
AFL-CIO is one organization monitoring the polls and its
executive vice president, Arlene Holt Baker, says
they're already hearing some troubling allegations of
tampering with the voting process in Florida.
As an example, she says, they've received several
reports of a phone message going out to African American
communities, telling people that they can use their
phone key pads to cast their votes.
"These are the kinds of things, this trickery, that we
expect to happen. We will be monitoring any group that
is attempting to intimidate or harass a voter in any
way."
There are also reports of entire communities not
receiving their requested absentee ballots.
Labor and community group volunteers will be on-site at
polling places to assist voters who encounter any
problems. There is also a hotline to report problems at
1-866-OURVOTE. For Spanish speakers, the number is
1-888-VEYVOTA.
Florida voters are required to bring photo ID with them
to the polls. These can include government-issued photo
IDs, student IDs, nursing home or neighborhood
association IDs, or debit cards with photo and
signature.
Holt Baker says her volunteers are working to ensure
people know what they need in order to exercise their
right to vote.
"We're gearing up for all kinds of shenanigans that
could possibly happen in Florida. Florida has a history,
and I think a lot of eyes will be on Florida this
election."
The Florida AFL-CIO is also working with 40 attorneys
who will be working in 10 target counties, and more than
200 volunteers, in addition to coalition partners. They
say their effort is strictly nonpartisan.