by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The Help America Vote Act — a near laundry list of improvements for the elections process nationwide — won’t make its impression on registered voters until 2004, but local representatives say Florida “is light years ahead of everybody else.”
“We’re definitely ahead of the curve,” said Dick Carlberg, assistant supervisor of elections. “As a result of the 2000 election, we evaluated the existing system and from there began enacting statutes that we felt would make a positive impact. Many other states never did that.”
Florida Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood concurred.
“Florida has led the nation in its election reform efforts to ensure that every registered voter should have the opportunity to vote and to ensure that every vote should count,” she said. “The goal is perfection.”
Though reasonably well positioned to make improvements where needed, Florida does have some work to do as HAVA unfolds in stages “when funding is made available.” Among the more costly and complicated amendments to the state’s existing system will be a new statewide voter database.
“Right now, in Duval County, everyone has their own unique number,” said Carlberg. “But that number may be the same as someone else’s in another county. There will be no duplicate numbers in the statewide system, but it will take a while before we can have it up and running.”
An extended 2006 deadline is expected.
Further revisions state that “sensitivity training” must be administered to poll workers prior to elections; a mere extension of what Florida is already doing.
“Currently, we have been providing sensitivity training to a certain extent,” said Erin Moody, communications director for the Supervisor of Elections Office. “We’ll just be expanding that so that they will be better equipped to assist voters with disabilities or special needs.”
Voting equipment in compliance with the American Disability Act must also be available at every voter precinct.
“We plan on complying no matter what,” said Carlberg. “It will be a challenge to administer, but we’ll do it.”
Despite the work to be done, Supervisor of Elections John Stafford was quick to point out the potential good of HAVA far outweighs any perceived deterrents such as cost and manpower.
“HAVA is an encouraging step toward election reform that benefits voters and sets clear standards for elections administrators.”