Leon County Elections Division
Supervisor of Elections for Leon County, Florida, which includes the state capital of Tallahassee
PROFILE
Ion Sancho
Guest
FROM Ion Sancho
To the Point
Voting security and hacking American elections TALKING POINT Many American voting systems have gone from paper ballots to voting machines and now to computers, which are vulnerable to hacking. How secure is the franchise? We talk with a local voting official who knows. Photo by April Sikorski Recent hacking of voting systems in several states — apparently by Russians — has caused doubts about the integrity of democracy in America. Last week, we heard about the growing concerns of federal intelligence agencies . But voting is administered separately in all 50 states — which often have different systems within their own borders. Ion Sancho is Supervisor of Elections in Leon County, Florida, where he was deeply involved in the contested presidential election in the year 2000.
Which Way, L.A.?
Could Voting Machines Steal the Election? In the year 2000, “hanging chads” on Florida's paper ballots put the presidential election in doubt. Two years later, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act , or HAVA, which provided federal subsidies for states to buy electronic voting machines that don't use paper at all. Dispute is raging over what it could mean for the integrity of next week's election.
To the Point
Could Voting Machines Steal the Election? In the year 2000, "hanging chads" on Florida's paper ballots put the presidential election in doubt. Two years later, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act , or HAVA, which provided federal subsidies for states to buy electronic voting machines that don't use paper at all. Dispute is raging over what it could mean for the integrity of next week's election. Both campaigns and many political pundits say Ohio could decide the election. How secure are its voting machines?
Which Way, L.A.?
Florida and the Politics of an Important Swing State Florida's political history has had its share of political action, not just in the 2000 election. In 1972, both parties held their conventions in Miami Beach. Now it's one of the most important swing states, with seniors, Hispanics and evangelicals living side by side. To the Point's Avishay Artsy went out to Plant City, a town 30 miles east of Tampa on the I-4 corridor. Home to half of the state's Republican voters, it's a barometer for the political direction of this swing state.
To the Point
Florida and the Politics of an Important Swing State Florida's political history has had its share of political action, not just in the 2000 election. In 1972, both parties held their conventions in Miami Beach. Now it's one of the most important swing states, with seniors, Hispanics and evangelicals living side by side. To the Point's Avishay Artsy went out to Plant City, a town 30 miles east of Tampa on the I-4 corridor. Home to half of the state's Republican voters, it's a barometer for the political direction of this swing state.
Which Way, L.A.?
Florida Voting Drama and the November Elections Remember the year 2000? Florida is at it again. Republican Governor Rick Scott and his Secretary of State Ken Detzner have set out to purge the voting rolls of thousands of suspected non-citizens. Two newspapers have concluded that Hispanics, blacks, Democrats and Independents are being targeted at a much higher rate than white Republicans. Are Republicans trying to disenfranchise Democrats and Independents? What's the potential impact in November?
To the Point
Partisan Battles in Swing States and the November Elections In tomorrow's Wisconsin recall election , the target is Republican Governor Scott Walker, and the issue is the rights of public workers. If tea partiers and big money can defeat the efforts of organized labor, what about other states and the presidential campaign? In Florida, Republican Governor Rick Scott and his Secretary of State Ken Detzner have set out to purge the voting rolls of thousands of suspected non-citizens. Two newspapers have concluded that Hispanics, blacks, Democrats and Independents are being targeted at a much higher rate than white Republicans. The Governor says, "Absolutely not true." But in a state George W. Bush won by 537 votes, anything could make a difference.
To the Point
Can Americans Expect Free and Fair Elections? The results will soon be in for New Hampshire, but election officials around the country are haunted by shades of the year 2000. Tomorrow, Arizona, Ohio and 24 other states will be watching the US Supreme Court for arguments about Indiana's voter ID law . Does it prevent fraud or disenfranchise poor and minority voters? Why do a third of all precincts nationwide use touch-screen computers, even though they're known to be unreliable? After Florida, 2000, Congress spent $3.9 billion on new voting technology. Are US elections better or worse?
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To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.