Uphill

The latest news on the Florida 16th Congressional race-

WEST PALM BEACH -- Absentee ballots sent to voters in the 16th Congressional District will not include a notice informing voters that Joe Negron has replaced resigned U.S. Rep. Mark Foley as the Republican candidate, elections supervisors in that sprawling district said.

An e-mail to the eight supervisors from the state Division of Elections offered guidance for posting signs in voting booths to clear up confusion that may arise when they see Foley's name on the Nov. 7 ballot. The challenger in the race is Democrat Tim Mahoney.

The agency also advised a clarifying notice be included in future absentee ballot mailings. But the eight supervisors said they would follow a legal opinion issued Thursday by the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections that state statutes do not allow for notices to be included in absentee ballots.

``The memo from the state did not cite any statute,'' Martin County Elections Supervisor Vicki Davis said. ``My job is to conduct elections according to the law. I will be following (the association's) opinion.''

That's the way it should be Ms. Davis. Not following the election laws can lead to manipulation by either party or even the correct results in a race being overturned.

How will this ruling effect Negron? Educated voters will know who is really running, its the uninformed voters one can't predict. Some people will always vote the party line also. Negron and the media will certainly get the message out about who people are really voting for.(Never underestimate the intelligence of voters.) Still I see a tough race ahead in the Florida 16th and a Democratic victory could very well happen.

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