WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (AFP) - International observers invited for the 2004 US election found access to polling stations difficult in Florida and Ohio, a watchdog group said Thursday.
"One of the surprising things we learned is that most voting jurisdictions have no mechanisms for non-partisan polling observation," said former Canadian cabinet minister David MacDonald.
"A system needs to be put in place that allows for international and domestic non-partisan poll observation."
In 2000, President George W. Bush was not selected over Democrat Al Gore for more than a month, after a Supreme Court decision effectively decided the Florida contest.
Global Exchange, an international human rights organization, invited observers for the 2004 vote.
The international observers, who made an initial US visit in September, look to return on October 29 for the November 2 vote in Missouri, Ohio and Florida, the three US states that are expected to have close races, the group said in a statement.
"We would like to urge the remainder of the election boards that we have contacted to certainly seriously consider allowing the observers, because we do not see any harm except increased accountability and transparency," said Australian Irene Baghoomians, one of the observers.
In Florida, only Leon county has consented to the presence of observers in polling places, the group said, while Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale and Broward counties have not responded.
In Missouri, Columbia and St. Louis counties gave a green light to the observers and will allow them to recount the ballots, the group said.
However, in Ohio, the observers have been given permission to observe voting only in Cuyahoga county, near Cleveland, Baghoomians said.
10/21/2004 19:33 GMT - AFP