2000 Election Fraud and Voter Suppression in Florida.

Main List: History of Republican Election Fraud, Voter Suppression and Campaign Smears

Last Updated: 10/31/2008

George Bush won Florida in 2000 by 537 votes, and as a result the US Presidency. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) conducted public hearings and investigations of election fraud in Florida, concluding that "many eligible Florida voters were, in fact, denied their right to vote, with the disenfranchisement disproportionately affecting African Americans."

The USCCR concluded that "statewide, based upon county-level statistical estimates, black voters were nearly 10 times more likely than nonblack voters to have their ballots rejected." ^[1]

The USCCR estimated that "approximately 14.4% of Florida’s black voters cast ballots that were rejected. This compares with 1.6% of nonblack Florida voters who did not have their votes counted." ^[1]

Approximately 11% of Florida voters were African American; however, African Americans cast about 54% of the 180,000 spoiled ballots in Florida during the November 2000 election. ^[1]

In Miami-Dade county, more than 65% of the those purged were African Americans, who represented only 20.4% of the population. ^[1]

The USCCR noted that Florida’s overzealous efforts to purge voters from the rolls was "conducted under the guise of an anti-fraud campaign." ^[1]

Many Florida precincts were not equipped to accommodate potential voters with disabilities. As a result, individuals with disabilities were simply turned away, and therefore disenfranchised. ^[1]

The USCCR noted "the purposeful use of erroneous listings to promote the state’s purging priorities and the permanent disenfranchisement of discharged felons." ^[1]

Although Florida's secretary of state [Republican Katherine Harris] denied any responsibility for the election problems, she nevertheless used her authority to influence the outcome of the vote count. ^[1]

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[1]
Article: Voting Irregularities in Florida During the 2000 Presidential Election - Executive Summary - United States Commission on Civil Rights, Friday, June 01, 2001