TALLAHASSEE An administrative law judge ruled Friday that the 15 counties that use touch-screen voting systems must be able to perform manual recounts in extremely close elections. Voting-rights advocates hailed the decision, saying it possibly opens the door to allow a paper trail for the touch-screen machines, which more than half the state's voters use. But a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Glenda Hood said, "This ruling takes Florida back to 2000," referring to the specter of hanging chads and pregnant dimples on the Palm Beach County butterfly ballot during the presidential recount that instigated the legislature's ban on all but optical-scan or touch-screen voting systems. The solution to ballot problems: get rid of any way to check. Clever. Next week in the news: Banks suggest eliminating ATM receipts. |