More than 18,000 eletronic ballots in Sarasota County failed to record a vote in Jennings' race against Republican Vern Buchanan, who won by fewer than 400 votes to replace former Rep. Katherine Harris, a Republican. Full Story »
Posted by Melva Hackney
This "he said, she said" story glosses over what actually happened, barely mentioning the notion of ballot design. No big picture given here. Needs an election integrity viewpoint.
The data is important, but it's not good journalism because there's not enough data. Needs maybe a sentence on why the problem wound up in congress and maybe a sentence or so on why 18,000 didn't show up (I can think of one perfectly innocent reason). Also, can we accept it as good journalism when a quote like this is let stand without question or explanation? "It could have been ballot design,'' Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Michigan, said of the 18,000 ballots that showed no vote in the congressional race. "But the simple fact is Mr. Buchanan did win the election and will remain as a member of the Congress. ... The result, I believe, is without question.'' Not my ellipsis and not a rhetorical question.
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