[EM] Florida 2000 being repeated in Slovenia :)

[Toplak Jurij]

A story from Slovenia:

Mayoral elections were held last Sunday. In the town of Izola both of
the candidates received 4210 votes after the first count. Then two of
the ballots first said to be invalid were added to one of the candidates
and the final result is 4212 vs. 4210.

- on one of the ballots no name is being checked but the voter signed
his own name over one of the names of political parties. this ballot was
counted as invalid at first and later counted as valid vote.

- on one of the ballots the voter made two circles. one circle is made
around the name of one of the candidates. another circle is made around
the name of the party the other candidate belongs to. this ballot was
counted as invalid at first and later counted as valid vote.

- we use simple paper ballots. accoding to the law, the voter has to draw a 
circle around the
number written before the name of the chosen candidate. however, any other 
ballot
showing DOUBTLESS VOTER'S INTENT is valid. ballots are hand-counted. this
seems to be the first time in history of the country that ballots were 
double-checked. there is
absolutely no standard as to what is a voter's intent and what
constitutes a valid vote.

- the law allows the blind and handicapped voters to vote thru their
assistants. one of the handicapped voters was denied the vote thru his
assistant because the polling officials did not know the law.

- the law does not allow a recount in any case.

Now the losing candidate complained. He wants the two ballots described
above to be deemed invalid and the handicapped voter to get a chance to
vote. this way he would win. He also requests the recount.