FL Secretary of State proposes changes of elections laws

[Freddie Stubbs]

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

The Secretary of State's office on Wednesday proposed changing election law to give Florida voters more privacy at their polling sites next year and give those who cast provisional ballots a week to prove their eligibility, instead of two days.

The measures would also establish the secretary, an appointee of the governor, as the ultimate referee when disputes arise from different interpretations of election law by county supervisors.

The proposals appear to give the secretary sweeping powers and could create a showdown with the 67 county supervisors. They were also not run past the Republican leaders of the Florida House and Senate.

Ion Sancho, the Leon County elections supervisor and frequent critic of interference from the governor's office in the elections process, did not return a call from The Associated Press to comment on the proposals Wednesday.

more: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050216/APN/502161235