Same Problem in Duval Cty (largest in the State) Early Voting Dispute Continues

• "Why can't they just do what is right, instead of being forced by the courts?":

A coalition of African-American ministers and civil rights activists is keeping the issue of early voting in Duval County alive, even though the Supervisor of Elections office and a city attorney say there is not enough time to set up four additional sites for voters. Speaking at a downtown rally supporting Amendment 5, which would increase the state's minimum wage, the Rev. Willie Bolden of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said, "Why can't they just do what is right, instead of being forced by the courts?" Bolden and other ministers are considering legal action over the early voting issue. They point out a federal lawsuit was filed in Volusia County to increase early voting sites, successfully. With nearly 500,000 registered voters, Duval County is the largest county in the state with only one early voting location. And voters in predominantly African-American precincts still hold lingering resentments over the 2000 presidential election, when 27,000 Duval County ballots were thrown out. While many felt disenfranchised, elections officials say many ballots were no good because people "over"- or "undervoted," i.e. did not complete the ballots properly.  [more ]