Columbia's Florida residents have suddenly found themselves at the center of attention since Tuesday's presidential election, with their state continuing to hold the 25 electoral votes which will determine the next president.
What began as one long Tuesday night has now stretched out into the longest few days in recent American presidential election history. The winner of the presidential election remains unknown two days after the polls closed.
The focal point of the deadlocked election is the controversy surrounding ballot forms in the state. Ambiguous labels on the "butterfly ballots" and seeming disorganization have caused many to question the validity of the state's election.
"It definitely looks questionable," said Aneeta Rattan, CC '03, a native Floridian.
"The ballot is definitely a shady thing. I can see how the old people could get confused," she added.
Florida resident Jeff Hensel, CC '01, witnessed the voter confusion in his state first-hand. "I saw tons of senior citizens complaining at the voting place. For every person complaining that the ballot was confusing, I'm sure there were three who messed up on it."
Although he voted by absentee ballot, Hensel was in his south Florida town on Tuesday. "I knew that the questionable ballots were an issue beforehand," he said. "My dad voted early and warned the rest of my family that it was easy to punch in the wrong hole in the ballot."
Many now claim that as a result of the ballot confusion, Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan drew in thousands of votes in the predominantly Jewish Palm Beach County. "You have to look at the demographics of southern Florida. Elderly Jews are not going to vote for Buchanan," Hensel said.
Susannah Jaffe, BC '02 and another Florida resident, was not surprised by the situation. "This stuff happens in Florida. We have some kinks to work out."
Florida Democrat William Hess, CC '03, shrugged off claims of improprieties in the counting process by saying, "They're just following the laws." He added, "I voted by absentee ballot. I'm glad I got my vote in."
Although as of Thursday the recount showed a decrease in Bush's lead, the Texas governor is still ahead in the contested race.
Rian Balfour, CC '04, voted in New York instead of registering to vote by absentee ballot in Florida.
"I never thought it would have been this close. If someone had told me a month ago that this would happen, I would have laughed in their faces. I would have voted in Florida by absentee ballot if I had known this would happen."
Balfour said that the controversy had validity. "There are ballot boxes missing in Liberty City, which is traditionally Democratic."
Balfour added, "I still think Bush will get Florida."
Several Floridian students were especially concerned with the role played by Jeb Bush, Florida governor and younger brother of George W. Bush, in the election process.
Roy Altman, CC '04, a Florida Democrat, said, "I voted for Gore, but I think Bush will win Florida. Jeb Bush may have caused some foul play though."
Balfour added, "The finger pointing happening now is valid because Jeb is governor."
Howard Forman, CC '01, does not believe in the allegations of impropriety. "I don't think there was anything dishonest in Palm Beach County. There is a Democratic election supervisor. I really don't think there was any malice," he said.
Jeb Bush defended himself and his state at a news conference Wednesday.
"I have the greatest confidence in the independently elected bipartisan group of county supervisors of elections that exist all across our state," he said.
At the same conference, the Governor recused himself from the Florida Elections Committee, in an effort to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Approximately 229 votes separated the candidates in Florida as of Thursday night, according to the Associated Press. Both candidates need Florida's 25 electoral votes to reach the White House.
Many Florida residents at Columbia voted for Gore, but most seem to share Hess' view that "Bush got the election."
William Daley, Gore's campaign chairman, vowed Thursday to fight on due to the circumstances and the closeness of the vote.
However, if the recount confirms a Bush win in Florida, Daley said that the possible election irregularities would be a basis for future legal challenges.
"If the will of the people is to prevail, Al Gore should be awarded a victory in Florida, and be our next President of the United States," he said.
