XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN OCT 17, 2004 19:04:58 ET XXXXX

CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AS VOTING BEGINS IN FLORIDA: DNC/KERRY BALLOT COLLECTION CALLED 'UNLAWFUL'

**Exclusive**

As early voting begins Monday in the sunburn state of Florida controversy has already developed around a Democratic National Committee/Kerry-Edwards election manual.

The election manual titled -- "FLORIDA VICTORY 2004" -obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT, advocates an apparent unlawful "BALLOT PICKUP" drive by campaign volunteers.

The DNC Kerry/Edwards manual states:

"In Florida, it is legal to handle ballots. This means it is possible for the campaign to canvass base neighborhoods, pick up completed ballots and deliver them to Early Vote locations. We will incorporate these deliveries into our Early Vote canvassing program."

But Florida State election law - as detailed at: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/absenteevoting.shtml - is in sharp contrast and conflicts with the Dem plan.

"A designee may pick up an absentee ballot for a voter on election day or 4 days before election day. A designee may only pick up two absentee ballots per election, other than his or her own ballot or ballots for members of his or her immediate family. Designees must have written authorization from the voter, present a picture I.D. and sign an affidavit. Candidates may pick up absentee ballots only for members of their immediate family."

It is not clear as this transmits, if any Dem operatives have yet collected ballots. A legal challenge will be filed to stop any action, top Republican sources tell DRUDGE.

Dem officials point to difference between blank and completed ballots.

The exhaustive how-to FLORIDA VICTORY 2004 manual runs 26 pages with an 18 page appendix. It is signed by the DNC, Kerry Edwards, Florida Democrat Party, Kerry Edwards Campaign Chair, Florida Victory 2004, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and Florida SEIU.

Developing...

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And they're off!

No kidding; I can't figure out if I'm disgusted but not surprised upon reading this, or what; it just makes my stomache hurt.

They'll find some way to fuck up this election, i can see it now, we'll have some shit similar to the last election

there has been 4 years to get it right....::crosses fingers::

maybe it won't neccessarily be florida this time, and there has also been 4 years to figure out how to rig this election

Yup, Jeb has had four years to get it right this time.

--PunkDavid

Shows how much you know about Executive Powers in Florida. The Governor has little oversight in this area. Short of appointing a supervisor of elections who then watches over each county, he has little stage time.

That and the President's his brother, so even if he did hold strong oversight with respect to election reform, I doubt he'd give the Dems the satisfaction of yelping favortism when it's all said and done.

In Jefferson County, Colorado someone has been calling people with absentee ballots and saying that there was a mistake on the ballot and the absentee ballots are no good.