Jennings Sues for Revote in Florida-13...and More Legal Action to Come
Florida state officials today certified the alleged 369-vote "win" of Republican Vern Buchanan in Florida's 13th Congressional District, despite the failure of the district's ES&S iVotronic machines to register votes for Congresss on the ballots [sic] cast by18-21,000 voters.
Democratic candidate Christine Jennings has filed suit in Circuit Court calling for a new election. Defendants in the case are her Republican opponent Vern Buchanan, Secretary of State Sue Cobb, state Division of Elections director Dawn Roberts, the Canvassing Commission (which includes Governor Jeb Bush) and Sarasota Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, whom Velvet Revolution has called upon to resign.
A second lawsuit for a revote will be announced tomorrow. Velvet Revolution is supporting this suit by non-partisan groups Voter Action, People For the American Way Foundation, the ACLU of Florida, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. A press conference to announce this lawsuit court challenge will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
In a press conference today, Vern Buchanan accused "lawyers and the special interest groups" of mounting a "deliberate and shameful attempt to erode voter confidence in the outcome of this election, which shows a blatant disrespect to the voters and a disregard for the electorial [sic] process." Hear that upside-down version of reality here, where you can also hear Buchanan say, "This vote has been counted, recounted and counted again."
Click here for more on the lawsuits.
Miami Herald-Tribune's coverage of the Florida-13 debacle can be found here.
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Continue reading for details of tomorrow's press conference.
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
November 21, 2006
CONTACT:
Drew Courtney or Nick Berning (PFAWF) – 202-467-4999
Brandon Hensler (ACLU) – 786-363-2722
Florida Voters to Sue for Revote In Sarasota Congressional Race
Voter Action, People For the American Way Foundation, the ACLU of Florida, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce a lawsuit calling for a revote in Sarasota County’s portion of Florida’s 13th Congressional District.
Speakers at the event will include Reggie Mitchell of PFAWF, Lowell Finley of Voter Action, and Larry Spalding of ACLU-Florida. The event will also feature one of the Sarasota voters who will be plaintiffs in the suit.
When: 1 p.m.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Where Front Steps of the Leon County Courthouse (2nd Judicial Circuit)
301 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Who: Reggie Mitchell, Florida Legal Counsel, People For the American Way Foundation; Lowell Finley, Co-Director, Voter Action; Larry Spalding, Legislative Counsel, ACLU-Florida
