Williams was appointed to the council seat late last year. Each council primary is limited to voters who live in that district. Voters citywide will make the final choice on March 27 between the two candidates who survive each primary. Today's election is the first major one in Florida since the November presidential contest exposed the weaknesses of punch-card voting systems like the one Pinellas County uses. Like the presidential race, today's mayoral contest could be closer than coach-class airline seats.
Close races make any errors all the more serious.
Brown, the city clerk, has worked with Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark to minimize that chance. We are going to have large signs posted that that's the case. Workers at the 116 polling places will remind people to detach the tiny piece of paper completely from each hole punched before dropping the card in the ballot box. Voters who mistakenly punch the wrong hole can trade the spoiled ballot for a fresh one. Meanwhile Monday, the candidates campaigned furiously.