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ACLU Seeks to Delay October 7 California Recall Vote
Aired August 18, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's taking more twists than a good mystery novel. Now that the cast of characters is set in California's recall election, the ACLU is fighting to bring down the curtain on the October 7 vote.
Our Bob Franken in Los Angeles now with all of the details.
Hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
And the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties union is filing a claim saying that people in six counties of California, the most populous ones, by the way, are not getting equal protection, as required by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution because those six counties continue to use the famous punch card machines, which were so discredited with all of the stories of hanging chads in Florida. In fact, there is a court order to replace them before the next election, but that next election was supposed to be March. Now with the surprise, October 7 election, the state is proceeding using the punch card ballots and the results, says the ACLU, is that -- to quote from the motion from the filed -- "the assured result is that they will disenfranchise not less than tens of thousands of California voters in six counties."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSENBAUM, ACLU: These machines are defective. The secretary of state has decertified their use as defective, unacceptable or obsolete machines. The amount of money, the amount of time, the estimates are something like $66 million if it goes forward. That sort of money ought not to be expended until we have a ruling from a court as to whether or not these machines can be used.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So in a few hours, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers will be going before the federal judge asking him to delay the election. Now this is different from a suit that was also filed in federal court in Monterey county. That was one filed under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which claimed that California was changing election strategies without required permission from the U.S. Justice Department in four counties. It's a separate suit. It won't be decided for at least a couple of weeks. This one could have a decision in the next day or two -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: All right. Out Bob Franken, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 18, 2003 - 13:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's taking more twists than a good mystery novel. Now that the cast of characters is set in California's recall election, the ACLU is fighting to bring down the curtain on the October 7 vote.
Our Bob Franken in Los Angeles now with all of the details.
Hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
And the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties union is filing a claim saying that people in six counties of California, the most populous ones, by the way, are not getting equal protection, as required by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution because those six counties continue to use the famous punch card machines, which were so discredited with all of the stories of hanging chads in Florida. In fact, there is a court order to replace them before the next election, but that next election was supposed to be March. Now with the surprise, October 7 election, the state is proceeding using the punch card ballots and the results, says the ACLU, is that -- to quote from the motion from the filed -- "the assured result is that they will disenfranchise not less than tens of thousands of California voters in six counties."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSENBAUM, ACLU: These machines are defective. The secretary of state has decertified their use as defective, unacceptable or obsolete machines. The amount of money, the amount of time, the estimates are something like $66 million if it goes forward. That sort of money ought not to be expended until we have a ruling from a court as to whether or not these machines can be used.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So in a few hours, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers will be going before the federal judge asking him to delay the election. Now this is different from a suit that was also filed in federal court in Monterey county. That was one filed under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which claimed that California was changing election strategies without required permission from the U.S. Justice Department in four counties. It's a separate suit. It won't be decided for at least a couple of weeks. This one could have a decision in the next day or two -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: All right. Out Bob Franken, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
