June 11, 2004

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  Florida elections division chief quits amid controvery on voter rolls
  
  By Bob Mahlburg
  Tallahassee Bureau
  Posted June 8 2004

  
  

  TALLAHASSEE · The head of Florida's elections division resigned Monday amid reports he was feeling political heat over a push to purge thousands of suspected felons from the state's voter rolls.
  
  

  
  

  Ed Kast has told associates that he was uncomfortable with growing pressure to trim felons from voter rolls in time for the fall election.

  
  

  "Ed had made a number of comments that the nature and timing of this felons list was not something he was responsible for. I think he felt in good conscience he could no longer be involved in the operations."
  
  In the 2000 election, which President Bush won after taking Florida by 537 votes over Al Gore, there were accusations that thousands were wrongly disenfranchised when the state purged the voter roles of suspected felons.

  
  

  
   

  • 9:39 am
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