tom_thinks

Way to go Betty! This is from a press release on her site: BettyNet

TAMPA - U.S. Senate candidate Betty Castor joined with several prominent African-American elected officials today and urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate possible civil rights violations against African-Americans who were purged from voter rolls in Florida. The purge could have denied eligible voters mostly African-Americans their right to vote in the November elections.
In a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Castor and State Representative Curtis Richardson (D-Tallahassee), State Representative Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa), Commissioner Daisy Lynum (D-Orlando) and State Representative Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville) supported the request for a Justice Department investigation made earlier this week by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. <>"The state and federal governments must keep faith with the voters and ensure that every vote is counted," Castor said. "Too many people lost confidence in our election system after the 2000 voting fiasco. This year, every step must be taken to guarantee that all eligible voters can freely exercise their voting rights and that every single vote will be counted."
"I'm proud that Betty Castor is taking the lead to make sure that everyone who is eligible can vote and that their votes will count," said State Representative Curtis Richardson. "Her leadership on this and other issues like education, health care, and the economy are what makes her the best candidate to replace Bob Graham in the Senate."
"I was one of the first senators at the state level to call for a full investigation into irregularities of the voter purge process," said State Senator Les Miller. "I completely agree with the recommendation of the Civil Rights Commission and if we truly want to restore voter confidence the Justice Department should fully investigate what went wrong."
"Because of the travesty and injustice that occurred during the 2000 elections and in the purged voter process we must have this investigation," said State Representative Audrey Gibson. "It is the only way to right this horrible wrong."
"I'm proud to join Betty Castor in asking Attorney General for an official investigation by the Justice Department. The first way to restore voters' confidence in our voting systems is through an investigation into whether or not African-American voters had their rights violated," said State Representative Arthenia Joyner. "We must not allow for these crooked practices to continue if we hope to sustain the democracy we cherish so deeply."
Members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights requested the Justice Department investigate possible voting-rights violations that occurred during Florida's controversial purging of supposed felons from voter lists. Castor noted that the Florida Secretary of State is auditing the list, and the Senate candidate said she hopes the Justice Department goes through with a federal investigation.
"The public has a right to know if anyone sought to deprive Florida citizens of their right to vote," Castor said. "It is good that Florida election officials are auditing their own system, but a Justice Department inquiry is necessary to give voters confidence that the problem is being addressed properly. People are still upset about the problems Florida faced in 2000 especially the fact that so many African-Americans were disenfranchised. The federal government must keep its commitment to ensure every vote is counted and do everything within its power to restore public confidence in Florida elections."
The Castor campaign is also collecting petitions to deliver to Governor Jeb Bush demanding that new touch screen voting machines to be used in November's elections produce a verifiable paper records so that votes can be safeguarded.
"Voters deserve a verifiable record of their vote," said Castor. "Few people will have confidence in the system if the machines don't even provide a paper record."

Well that's one reason she's got my vote. Go sign her petition to support a paper trail and contribute to her campaign.