Worry remains over seniors’ confusion at polls

MIAMI (AP) - Scarred by the debacle of the 2000 election, advocates for the elderly have expressed worry about confusion at Florida’s polls again due to changes in ballot methods.

No major issues have erupted in early voting aside from long lines. But an estimated three of five voters over the age of 60 will experience a change to paper ballots and optical scan machines, a statistic that led Doug Beach, secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, to send a letter cautioning seniors to familiarize themselves with the changes.

“The concern is that seniors wouldn’t be aware of the change and that that could cause problems at the polling place,“ said Jon Peck, a spokesman for the secretary. “This could have a significant impact if they’re not ready for it.“

Florida has a higher proportion of people 65 and older than any other state and its total population of about 3 million seniors is second only to California. An estimated 43 percent of people who voted in the state’s general election in 2006 were over the age of 60.

During the 2000 election, Palm Beach County emerged as the epicenter of election chaos after the butterfly ballot confused some voters, particularly older ones, and led them to cast their votes for third-party candidate Pat Buchanan instead of Al Gore. The ballot listed five presidential candidates on one side of the fold-out ballot and four on the other. Voters were asked to pick their candidate by poking a hole in the middle.

This is the first time all 67 Florida counties will vote by using paper ballots that will be counted by optical scan machines. Fifteen counties are moving from touch-screen systems, but they include the four largest in the state and the Elder Affairs department says they collectively account for more than 59 percent of the 60-plus population.

“The changes do mean voters in many parts of the state will be learning a new way to cast their ballots,“ Beach said in a letter to heads of aging agencies and seniors. “It’s especially important that all seniors understand how to use the new voting systems, to ensure that their votes are properly counted.“

Those who work with seniors say they haven’t seen any signs yet of major confusion at the polls, though worry remains it could emerge on Tuesday.

Scott Solkoff, an elder affairs attorney in South Florida who has been acting as a poll monitor, said so far the biggest issue has been wait times. During his shift Wednesday, he said one older woman fainted while waiting. Beyond that, he said poll workers so far have been accommodating of older voters’ needs.

“There’s some confusion at the polls, but they’re able to call over the poll workers and I haven’t seen an instance where the poll workers haven’t been able to help them,“ he said. “Many of them have vision problems, tactile programs — unable to move their fingers or their hands — hearing problems.“

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.