he scrutiny being applied to the 2000 presidential vote reveals an uncomfortable truth about American elections known to anyone who has ever volunteered as a poll worker in a campaign. Every year, in every county, elections are held that are fraught with error, confusion, jammed machines, lost or discarded ballots and disenfranchised voters.
The spotlight threatens to cause a contagion of recounts. Secretary of State William Galvin ordered a recount in all Boston precincts last week, concerned that thousands of votes on the eight ballot questions may have been ignored. In New Mexico a partial recount of the presidential vote is under way, and supporters of both Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore are keeping an eye on Iowa, where any recount request must be made by Thursday.
Turning over the rock on the American electoral process has not been pretty. But some things seem clear.
First, the Bush campaign's injunction against the ongoing hand count in four Florida counties ought to be rejected at today's federal court hearing.
Let's forget for the moment the seeming inconsistency in the Bush campaign argument that hand counts are more prone to human minsinterpretation than machines, when Bush officials were all too happy to accept hand counts in New Mexico and in Florida's more conservative Seminole County - where they seem to have helped Bush.
The reason the hand count should continue is that machine irregularities are well documented, and the alternative, while tedious, is workable. Most reasonable people, regardless of party, can agree that a ballot that has been punctured but not cleanly - so that a hanging ''chad'' of cardboard still clings to it - is an intended vote. The Florida hand count, unlike others around the nation, is not counting scratches, smudges or other more ambiguous markings. And Republican and Democratic officials alike are participating.
Second, a state court challenge being heard tomorrow should also be turned back. This involves thousands of ballots in Palm Beach County that were invalidated because they were marked twice. Yes, the design of the so-called butterfly ballot can be confusing. But confusion alone is not sufficient reason to have a revote. Unless a judge rules the entire ballot violates Florida law, those with two punches must be invalidated whether by machine, by hand or in the courts.
Third, the punch card ballot should be permanently retired, as it has been in Massachusetts, as inefficient and antiquated, the buggy whip of politics. All that it can claim in its favor is that it's cheap. A uniform ballot ought to be adopted for federal elections with modern technology. Shortly after the country returns to normal - as it surely will - a non-partisan commission should be formed to to determine which of the many new voting methods are most accurate, efficient and fair, and a process should be developed for adopting that method.
It will cost money and time to move the nation's electoral system into the 21st Century, but it will be worth it.
