Updated Nov. 5 | 11:15 p.m. EST

Broward sees few voting problems

By LARRY WHEELER
Gannett News Service

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The election meltdown many had feared failed to materialize Tuesday in South Florida as hundreds of polling places from Miami to Palm Beach opened on time with few glitches reported.

It appeared the thousands of additional poll workers, special training for county employees and emergency preparations paid off in Broward and Miami-Dade, where polls were being watched closely by civil rights groups, federal officials and even an international human rights organization.

Monitors reported only scattered problems.

"It has been a variety of miscellaneous things, but not nearly as significant and widespread as in the primary," said Elliot Mincberg, legal director for People for the American Way, a voting rights group that had poll watchers throughout the state. "The additional scrutiny clearly has done a lot of good."

Mitch Ceasar, chairman of the Broward County Democratic Executive Committee, spent the day traveling to polls throughout the sprawling county and said he was satisfied the technology problems appeared to have vanished for the most part.

Officials were expecting a 45 percent to 50 percent voter turnout among Broward County's 978,297 registered voters, the largest voting block in the state.

Ceasar was concerned low turnout would hurt Democrat Bill McBride's chances of unseating Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"The Republicans know negative ads suppress turnout. Add the component of technology, long lines and all the negative ads and that spells a lower turnout,'' Ceasar said.

Some Democratic voters said they would have preferred former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who lost to McBride in the primary.

"I wanted her to get in because she was the only honest one among them,'' said Lenore Friedman, 80, who nevertheless voted for McBride.

Roderick Bobbs, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, said he voted for McBride ``because I want to send a message to George Bush that we don't want his brother as governor anymore and we don't want him as president anymore.''

Jeb Bush's family ties also were on the mind of Lou Ackerman, service manager of a Melbourne, Fla., car repair shop.

"The debates, the commercials, they didn't mean a thing,'' he said. ``(Jeb) Bush has a brother in the White House, and it's better for Florida. I figured, go with the clout.''

The ballot Florida voters faced Tuesday was one of the longest in history with 11 proposed amendments to the state constitution in addition to the candidates running for governor, Congress and local offices. In Broward County, there were even more boxes to check off on the touch-screen voting machines pertaining to proposed changes to local government.

The combination of a lengthy ballot, touch-screen voting machines, and large numbers of voters made for long waits at the six precincts set up in the sprawling community clubhouse of Century Village, a gated community of about 16,000 residents in Pembroke Pines.

"It took me about an hour and a half to vote," said Herman Citron, 79. "Despite the wait, it was a pleasure to be able to vote."

In some rooms, elderly voters stood in long lines that curved around the walls. In another room, chairs had been set up and voters moved from seat to seat.

"My precinct was very smart to have us seated," said Lenore Friedman, 80. "It's not easy to stand for an hour."

Although America's seniors are famous for their high voter turnout, not everyone was willing to wait.

Ruby Waxman, 75, and a friend walked into the clubhouse shortly after noon but came right back out.

"The lines are just ridiculous," said Waxman. "We'll try back later."

Robert Rogers, 49, stood outside the small community center near his Lauderhill home, showing two neighbors the sample ballot he had used to help him get through the lengthy touch-screen menu.

"I've been talking to people and encouraging them to vote," Rogers said. "I told them that if they had a problem I would even take them to the polls to vote. Some people get discouraged easily. But if you want to change anything you got to get out and vote."