Voters in Riviera Beach, a predominantly Black city of 30,000 in southern Florida, turned out in large numbers on 2 November 2004, driven by lingering grievances over the disputed 2000 presidential election. Long lines formed at polling sites, with many residents determined not to be disenfranchised again.
In that election, roughly 16 percent of ballots cast in Riviera Beach were discarded, about twice the statewide rate. The Supreme Court's decision to halt Florida recounts handed the presidency to George W. Bush, leaving many local Democrats convinced the outcome had not been legitimate.
Several voters said they received calls or flyers directing them to incorrect precincts. One resident found a flyer endorsing Democrat John Kerry but listing a polling location far from where she was registered, which she reported to electoral lawyers. Civil rights groups accused Republican operatives of targeting Black and Hispanic neighborhoods with similar tactics.
Touch-screen machines, which replaced the punch-card system blamed for ballot confusion in 2000, drew largely positive reactions, though some voters worried the absence of a paper record would make manual recounts impossible. Attorneys from the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition were on hand to assist voters and document complaints.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.