by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
A “stealth decision” by Supervisor of Elections John Stafford to change 22 voting precincts has local Democrats fuming.
The Democratic Lawyers Task Force and the Duval Democratic Party expressed outrage Tuesday after Stafford changed 22 voting precinct locations, impacting approximately 17,000 registered Democrats.
The precinct changes, coming within 30 days of the March 9 Democratic primary, were approved by the City Council Tuesday night.
According to Clyde Collins, chair of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee, 11 of those 22 precincts are in minority areas that had large numbers of Democratic votes disqualified by Stafford in 2000.
“The Democratic Lawyers Task Force will not permit another electoral fiasco like the presidential election of 2000,” said Collins. “Therefore, all voters should be immediately made aware of these precinct changes and each voter should receive a direct mailing informing them of new changes.”
Collins charged Stafford with intentionally targeting minority citizens.
“Stafford had over eight months since the last election in May to relocate precincts for the upcoming March 9 Democratic presidential primary,” said Collins. “It is interesting that Stafford never publicized his latest changes or notified registered Democrats of their precinct changes. Is this another stealth operation designed to create obstacles to prevent our minority citizens from voting?”
No, said Stafford, who said his office sent notices and letters to polling locations in November, requesting continued participation; placed a notice in local newspapers; posted signs at old voting locations; and mailed new voter registration cards with the new voting locations.
Stafford said he met with the City Council members affected by the precinct polling changes two weeks ago. He said he met with Collins, Democratic Women’s Information Network Voter Registration chair Ann Farra and attorney Leslie Goller on Jan. 22.
“We told (Collins) at that point the (precinct change) procedure,” said Stafford. “He voiced no concern. I don’t see what his problem is now.”
Stafford also said he is not in violation of polling place laws.
According to Florida Statute 101.71, “...the supervisor shall, not less than 30 days prior to the holding of an election, provide for the voting place for such precinct to be moved to another site that is accessible to the public on election day.”
The precinct changes are being moved for numerous reasons. One voting location, Fire Station No. 7 on Division Street, was declared a hazardous material site. Many locations had scheduling conflicts on March 9, including FCAT testing. Three locations did not comply with the American Disabilities Act and the remaining are either closed or under construction.
But those explanations didn’t placate Collins.
“Stafford’s characteristic ineptitude involves some 32,000 voters in 22 precincts, more than half of those voters are Democrats who will be going to the polls to select their candidate for president in 2004,” he said.
“This is just one more example of Stafford’s inability to perform his duties in a timely manner. He seems to be especially inept when it involves Democratic voters in Democratic votes.”
Stafford said Collins’ attack is not substantiated by facts but is a “personal attack.”
“Two thousand is over,” said Stafford. “Get over it, quit making excuses and work to make the system better.”