USA: TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARRIVE TO MONITOR FLORIDA VOTES IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Record ID: 649211

  • Title: USA: TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS ARRIVE TO MONITOR FLORIDA VOTES IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
  • Date: 2nd November 2004
  • Summary: (W7)MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 1, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDESHOT OF PEOPLE IN LINE OUTSIDE MIAMI DADE ELECTION HEADQUARTERS; WIDESHOT OF MIAMI DADE ELECTION SIGN ON BUILDING; CLOSE-UP PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE WAITING TO VOTE; MV PEOPLE WALKING INSIDE BUILDING TO VOTE 0.18 2. MV ELECTION WORKERS INSTRUCTING VOTERS IN FRONT OF VOTING MACHINE 0.28 3. MV OSCE ELECTION MONITOR OBSERVING VOTERS; MV OSCE ELECTION MONITOR WALKING OUT OF VOTING AREA 0.36 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KONRAD OLSZEWSKI, ELECTION ADVISOR FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, SAYING: "So far we have unimpeded access. We can access any stage of election administration and in fact we've been very welcomed by the Miami-Dade election supervisor here. She was very friendly and able to show us all aspects of early voting, all aspects of absentee ballots certification." 1.05 5. MV OSCE ELECTION MONITOR TALKING WITH ELECTION WORKER 1.08 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KONRAD OLSZEWSKI, ELECTION ADVISOR FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE SAYING: "We've had a little bit of difficulty in actually getting access to observe voting tomorrow on election day. The election law of Florida specifically names certain categories of people who could be present on election during the voting. Observers, both non-partisan, domestic observers and international observers are not there. The law only reflects poll watchers who could be sent by candidate, representatives or political parties." 1.41 7. MV PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE WAITING TO VOTE; SLV PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE ELECTION HEADQUARTERS 1.51 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KONRAD OLSZEWSKI, ELECTION ADVISOR FROM THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE, SAYING: "We cannot share any findings and any conclusions with you at this time. It would not be professional. Our standard professional approach is to observe the election, make notes, report to the headquarters and then when headquarters compares all reports, then we are able to speak as one voice as an election observation mission." 2.09 9. MV ELECTION WORKER INSTRUCTING VOTER; MV PEOPLE VOTING; CLOSE-UP OF WOMAN PRESSING BUTTON ON VOTING MACHINE 2.27 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SETH KAPLAN, MIAMI-DADE ELECTIONS PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, SAYING: "When you are doing the right thing, really don't mind who's watching. We feel very proud of the process that we have here. We think it's really well documented at this point that the past two weeks of voting have gone very well. Everybody who wants to watch is more than welcomed to do so. We think they will be able to tell a really good story about the way things are going here in Miami-Dade county." 2.43 11. MV PAN SHOT OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE 2.47 12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL MIRANDA, VOTER, SAYING "I think it's kind of disturbing because I think it shows how bad it went the last time here in Florida. I guess they are just trying to make sure things go really well here in Florida." 2.56 13. PAN SHOT OF BUILDING AND PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE 2.59 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RHONDA ROSE, VOTER, SAYING: "We scrutinize elections all around the world and I think they should be invited to scrutinize ours as well." 3.04 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAVIER QUINTERO, VOTER, SAYING: "I think it's good. I think it helps the process to make sure that it's something that's fair, that there is integrity to it. I think it's a good thing." 3.15 16. PEOPLE LEAVING ELECTION BUILDING 3.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th November 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA756DTV9ILOCYMLUADXSY7W33B
  • Story Text: A team of international observers arrive in Florida
    to monitor vote.

    International election observers from the
    Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
    arrived in Florida over the weekend and began monitoring
    early voting sites, meeting with election officials and
    talking to voters. Florida will be under the close watch
    of a multitude of observers from both national and
    international organizations.

    The crucial swing state could once again decide the
    election and everything is being looked at very carefully
    by both the Republican and Democratic parties as well as
    other non-partisan organizations.

    Unlike observers from the political parties,
    international monitors will not have access inside the
    polls in Florida.

    "We've had a little bit of difficulty in actually
    getting access to observe voting on election day. The
    election law of Florida specifically names certain
    categories of people who could be present on election
    during the voting. The law only reflects poll watchers who
    could be sent by candidate, representatives or political
    parties," said Knobbed Olszeweski, an observer from the
    OSCE.

    Despite the setback, the observers from the OSCE say
    this will not prevent them from doing their jobs. They
    will be interviewing people outside polling sites as well
    as being available if any problems should arise. The OSCE
    will issue a full report of their findings on November 4th.

    Many Florida voters remember all to well the election
    debacle of 2000 and are pleased with the idea of election
    monitors. "I think it helps the process to make sure that
    it's something that's fair, that there is integrity to it,
    said Javier Quintero, a Miami voter.


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