David Cardwell: The University of Florida Election 2000 Conference

(CNN) -- David Cardwell served as head of the Florida Division of Elections in the 70s. He previously worked for the House of Representatives as the staff director in charge of ethics and elections (1979). He has represented both Republicans and Democratic candidates, committees as well as cities and counties. He is also the author of Ethics and Elections: The Law in Florida. Cardwell has been in private practice since 1982.

CNN Moderator: The Miami Herald-sponsored recount showed George W. Bush would have won by 140 votes. Do you think this is, at last, the final count?

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David Cardwell: I don't think it is the final count. There is another recount going on with a consortium of news organizations including CNN. This recount has not been finished, though early reports indicate that it may be consistent with the Miami Herald findings. That recount effort should be completed in the next few weeks. So that may be the final recount, but who knows. For some there may never be a final count.

CNN Moderator: Who is attending the Florida Election 2000 Conference and what are the objectives of this meeting?

David Cardwell: The conference is sponsored by the University of Florida, College of Law, the College of Journalism and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The conference has brought together many of the participants in the 2000 presidential election recount, including lawyers and journalists to discuss what happened, what lessons did we learn from it and in particular, as the panel this morning addressed, the intersection and of law and the news media. The College of Law expects this to be the first in a series of conferences examining the election process and what changes should be made.

Question from chat room: What do you know of the other non-media industry political and grassroots groups that are, or have conducted recounts in Florida, too?

David Cardwell: There are some non-media groups. Judicial Watch is the one that has perhaps been the most active. At this time I am not aware of the status of their recount efforts.

Question from chat room: What is being done about the ballot issue so there will be no misunderstanding in the next election?

David Cardwell: Well, the governors' task force on election reform will be adopting its final report today. And it has several recommendations on improvements to the ballot design, more voter education and other steps to be taken to try to make it easier for voters to understand the ballot and accurately cast their vote.

Question from chat room: Is it true that the majority of undercounted votes were in predominately black and Hispanic voting precincts?

David Cardwell: There were a significant number of under votes in African-American and Hispanic precincts, but I am not sure if that was the heaviest concentration statewide. That issue was discussed in this morning's panel here at the law school conference, and many on the panel felt that the under votes in those precincts may have been due in large measure to the fact that there are more first time voters in those precincts than elsewhere. Being less familiar with the voting process they may have made more mistakes than would voters more accustom to voting.

Question from chat room: David how can a recount of old, used ballots be recounted and considered evidence of anything?

David Cardwell: There is a concern, particularly with the punch card ballots, that if you recount them through the machines, numerous times, that they could get worn and not be as capable of being accurately counted. But these recounts that are being done now are manual recounts, and that should not be a factor. However, the issue still remains what standard is followed in counting the ballots? So I caution anyone looking at either the Miami Herald or other recounts carefully review the procedures and criteria used to arrive at the result.

CNN Moderator: Are representatives of other states attending today's conference? How might the rest of the nation benefit from these election analyses and improvements initiatives now underway?

David Cardwell: There are some here from other states, I don't know if there are any election officials. The conference is being broadcast on some PBS stations. It is also being video taped and a transcript will be available in a few weeks. I expect the conference to be closely reviewed by those interested in the election process because this is the first gathering of some of the key participants in the Florida recount.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us today?

David Cardwell: The Florida election seems to keep going on and on. Today is a big day for election law in Florida.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, David Cardwell.

David Cardwell: Thank you. Glad to be here.

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