Green Party Denounces Irregularities in Florida Vote.

• Position: Brief Article

Outlines proposals to make electoral system more democratic, Monday, November 13, 2000 Palm Beach Governmental Center Courtyard, 301 N. Olive Street, Palm Beach, Florida

A national Green Party delegation that arrived in Florida on November 11 to examine voting irregularities and monitor the Palm Beach County recount expressed concern over the numerous obstacles voters in Florida encountered on November 7. "People are now well aware of the terrible confusion the butterfly ballot caused," said delegation leader Medea Benjamin, who was the Green Party California Senate Candidate, "but they are less aware of serious problems in other parts of the state, particularly those faced by members of the black community."

The Green Party delegation heard from black voters who complained of having to show two forms of ID, their names not appearing on the register, being refused a second ballot if they had made a mistake on their first one, and polls closing while they were still waiting in line. Black men who had never been arrested were accused of being felons and therefore ineligible to vote. The Greens denounce these irregularities, as well as Florida's law denying felons the right to vote for the rest of their lives, a policy that has disenfranchised one-third of the black men in Florida.

The Greens call on the nation to use...