Discussion Questions

Aired September 16, 2003

A federal appeals court ruled on Monday to delay California's upcoming recall vote. The decision follows an argument by the ACLU, which stated that some of the older voting machines would disenfranchise, or take away, the voting rights of minorities. Some Republicans are calling for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1. What is a recall? Who is at the center of the California recall election? What was the original date scheduled for the recall election?

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2. Why did the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sue to have the election delayed? What argument did the federal appeals court provide in its decision to delay the election? What is a punch-card ballot? Why were these ballots ruled invalid by the federal courts after the disputed 2000 presidential election?

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3. Who stands to benefit most from a delayed election? Why could a March election benefit Gov. Gray Davis? Why might Republican candidates oppose postponing the election?

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4. What are some of the benefits and drawbacks for the people of the state of California if the election is held in October or if the election is delayed until 2004? Do you agree with the federal appeals court's decision to delay the election? Why or why not?

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Related Links

CNN.com: Appeals court blocks California recall (http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/15/recall.delay/index.html)

Find Law.com: Court of Appeals order (http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/elections/svrepvshlly91503ord.pdf)

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: The U.S. Constitution (http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=457&pageId=3009)

Keywords

inherent, ACLU, punch-card ballot, embattled, appeal