Voting Process in Florida

* “For Blacks, Nov. 7 Carries Taint of 1960s Injustices” (Dec. 21), on the irregularities of the voting process in Florida, was an important addition to the dialogue regarding the recent election. But it’s not only black people who feel the impact of the Republican election actions. The disenfranchisement of black voters is an insult to all those, both black and white, who gave their lives to the struggle for equal voting rights and an injury to the progress we all made as a society in the civil rights era.

While President-elect George W. Bush and his handlers piously call for unity and a political cease-fire, they continue to blast away at the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others who want to get to the bottom of the Florida vote shenanigans. I and many others of all races stand behind Jackson on this one.

This election result may be legal, but it will never be legitimate until we get some answers to the serious questions of impropriety in Florida.

NEIL REICHLINE

Sherman Oaks

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I was deeply saddened to read that “a third of African American voters say they are angry and have less intention to vote for president in 2004.” That seems to me like lying down and taking the blows when attacked by a mugger.

As a progressive white man, I want to respectfully ask these people to reconsider and to fight even harder to make sure their votes count. We desperately need them in our efforts to make this beloved country of ours a fairer and freer place for all Americans.

BRIAN STOTT

Valley Village

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According to Eve Hill and John Seeley Jr. (“Now See Florida Voting Through Eyes of Disabled,” Commentary, Dec. 22), minorities, the elderly and the handicapped were systematically disenfranchised because of the butterfly ballot, misleading sample ballots, difficult-to-manipulate voting styluses in voting booths and election sites that were not accessible to the elderly and handicapped. Why don’t they just say what they’re thinking? It was obviously a vast right-wing conspiracy.

MICHAEL MANDEL

Los Angeles