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
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.
