Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Constituents of Georgia's 3rd congressional District are letting Rep. Mac Collins know they are upset by the controversy over the presidential ballot recount in Florida, Collins said Tuesday.

The 3rd District includes Fayette County.

Voters also are stating, by a margin of 90 to two, that they believe it is wrong to change ballot counting rules now that the election is finished, he said. "We haven't seen this much constituent interest in an issue in some time," Collins said. "Those who have contacted me said they are concerned that post-election politics is hijacking the vote counting process."

By 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Collins' office received more than 90 calls, letters or e-mails about the Florida recount of the presidential election between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The furor over the recount erupted after Democrats rejected a machine recount of the Florida election. The recount confirmed a slim Bush victory.

Democrats demanded a hand count of ballots in several Democrat majority counties because many ballots were rejected for being improperly punched or filled out. Most of the constituents who have contacted Collins said that if people make mistakes on voting, their ballots should be invalidated. Most also expressed concern that the hand count introduces bias and the potential for fraud into what was formerly an impartial and fair mechanical process, he said.

"I can accept Mr. Bush's defeat if it was a real defeat. I cannot accept a defeat that was taken under false pretenses," one constituent wrote in an e-mail. Collins said another constituent called and said, "The Democrats are now stating that the blanks left on the ballots were not intended to be blank. I have left blanks when I didn't understand something or know about an amendment."

"Ninety-six percent of the people in West Palm Beach voted correctly and had no problem with the ballot," said another constituent. "Why are we allowing the 4 percent of those who couldn't do it right to overturn George Bush's victory?"

"These calls, letters and e-mail have come from teachers, professionals, workers and housewives," Collins said. "Many have called for reform to prevent such a mess reoccurring, yet they have also noted Florida's election was fair.

My constituents are concerned that while the machine-based vote counting system was impartial, the hand count allows bias to creep into the counting process," Collins added. "They want the two campaigns to respect the original recount, and let the electoral process continue.

"I urge both campaigns to heed the people of Georgia's 3rd congressional District and stop the legal maneuvers," Collins said.

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