The 2000 presidential election put voting technology at the forefront of Americans’ minds. Florida’s problems on election night – with confusing “butterfly” ballots and errors due to hanging chads – contributed to subsequent recounts and a months-long controversy. A Supreme Court ruling ending the recounts led to George W. Bush’s victory over Al Gore.
Efforts to streamline the voting process increased in the wake of the 2000 election, though reports of data irregularities plagued the 2004 election as well. In the 2008 election, at least 24 states are using electronic voting in some form – but early voters are already reporting flaws. And Florida is in the headlines once again – this year, the U.S. will test Internet voting for overseas voters registered in the state’s Okaloosa County.
2004 presidential election
Turnout: 64 percent of the eligible Americans voted in the 2004 presidential election.
Photo: One of the “butterfly” ballots that generated controversy in 2000’s election.
