The August 26th Election in Lake Worth - The Ugly Truth

This is a playlist of the entire City Commission meeting that took place last night, a Friday, starting at 5:30 p.m. Attendance was much greater than I expected, which is a testament to how seriously Lake Worth residents take their voting privilege and their shock at how the election was run that day. The Mayor did a good job of keeping the meeting on track, reminding people that this was to be an airing of the problems they experienced with the voting process that day. It was not about rehashing or challenging the results of the election. This rule was adhered to, with a few exceptions. The beginning of the meeting was a little rocky, but it smoothed out as it went along. There was a strong sense of purpose that I felt throughout.

You will be astonished at the multiple layers of failures in the voting process. Included are descriptions of ill-prepared and under-trained poll workers dealing with a new "off the shelf" technology for the first time, consistent instances of long-time voters being told they couldn't be found in the system, which resulted in many people having to place provisional ballots. The total number of those ballots used in Lake Worth is unclear and their safe-keeping suspect. The Canvassing Board's review of these ballots led many to be uncounted due to "clerk error," not the voter's error or based upon whether they were eligible to vote. In the video, you will hear of people being "called back" to cast a regular vote later in the day. How many were called? Some just heard that you could go back from word "on the street." Some couldn't go back due to work or family commitments. Polling locations are exposed as being ill-suited for being a polling location. One of those discussed was the Oasis Rehabilitation Center on 12th Avenue South. We also find out how cavalierly the Canvassing Board treats the requirements of the Sunshine Law. Much of their meeting was conducted in whispers. One comment made by a member of the Canvassing Board was that "it is not their job for you to be able to hear us." And on, and on, and on...

The meeting ran almost 3 hours. The Commission departed from it usual 2 minute limitation on public comment and let people fully describe their experiences on that Tuesday. Questions were asked of some who spoke and at times there was a dialog between the dais and the podium. It was apparent that the City Attorney and City Manager were keeping a list of some of the details of these incidences. That list will be presented at a future City Commission meeting, perhaps as early as next Tuesday night. The city is going to make an effort to communicate with other municipalities about their experiences on this past election day to see if a unified approach to address these problems is necessary and feasible.

During the day, I will attempt a pared-down and condensed version of some of the more poignant moments. Its shorter length will be more viewer-friendly, but I really do encourage you to watch the entire meeting from start to finish. So, grab the popcorn. Take breaks from time to time.

I left astonished how little things have changed from Palm Beach County being the epicenter of the 2000 Presidential election debacle, and how things have probably gotten worse. Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher needs to be held accountable for these operational lapses, much more so than her bureaucratic fortress needs to remain impenetrable, which seems to be her over-riding goal.

If you couldn't attend the meeting, and experienced similar problems on election day, you can email me at wesblackman@gmail.com with your accounts and I will forward them to the Mayor, City Commission and Administration. Or, you can go ahead and do that yourself by finding their email addressees here.