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Senator wants candidates' photos included on ballots

 
Published March 20, 1990|Updated Oct. 16, 2005

Sen. Javier Souto, R-Miami, says Florida voters are entitled to more information when they cast their ballots. He proposes that candidates' photos be placed alongside their names on the ballot. "There may be 20 Pat Smiths running, or 10 Jim Smiths or five Javier Soutos, you never know," he said. "It's important for voters to know who they're voting for."

But the chairmen of the Legislature's elections committees both oppose the idea and say it has little chance of passing.

Senate Ethics and Elections Committee Chairman Tom Brown,D-Port Orange, said the concept would be expensive.

"That's assuming people know (candidates') faces before they know their names," said Brown.

House Ethics and Elections Committee Chairman Norman Ostrau, D-Plantation, agrees.

"To anticipate what would have to be done is just mind-boggling," he said.

Brown said putting photos on the ballot could work against minority candidates.

Souto, a Cuban-American, called that "completely preposterous."