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Bush Cautiously Endorses Election Reform
US President George W. Bush Tuesday cautiously endorsed an election reform report presented by a commission headed by former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
"These are some of the core principles underlying the commission's report and they are principles that should guide us all," Bush said on receiving the report from the panel at the White House.
"The United States Congress should listen to them and follow their lead," he said.
The report by the National Commission on Federal Election Reform put forward 13 recommendations for election reform, calling for giving federal funds to states to upgrade their voting equipment, creation of uniform statewide standards for counting ballots, asking broadcasters not to project winners until polls close in all 48 continental states and turning the Election Day to a national holiday.
Without addressing the 13 recommendations, Bush endorsed the general principles underlying the report -- modernize voting equipment and improve ballot design; protect ballots cast from overseas; enforce existing civil rights laws; and maintain the primary role of states and localities in election administration.
Bush will review specific proposals to remedy problems such as a lack of uniform standards, obsolete voting machines, and baffled citizens casting invalid ballots, the White House said.
The commission began its work after disputes over Florida's ballots delayed last year's presidential election results for 36 days.
Republican Bush finally prevailed over former Democratic Vice President Al Gore when the U.S. Supreme Court on December 12 canceled a ruling that had allowed recounts of disputed votes in Florida.
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