Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mail-In Revote

This one is truly a mystery to me. Why are so many prominent Democrats opposed to the idea of a mail-in revote primary in Florida?

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, an Obama supporter, called the mail-in primary "a well-intended but half-baked plan" that would be "fraught with problems."

Also in opposition are the eight other Florida Democrats in Congress, including Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Alcee Hastings, who support Clinton.

The two presidential campaigns were hesitant about a mail-in vote.

"In my view, there are two options: Honor the results or hold new primary elections," Clinton said in a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Washington. "I don't see any other solutions that are fair."

A campaign spokesman later clarified that Clinton supports holding a primary identical to the Jan. 29 contest.

Obama campaign officials questioned the fairness of a mail-in election.

"My bottom line is I do want to make sure that the Florida and Michigan delegations have an opportunity to participate in the convention," Obama said Wednesday. "And we want to figure out an equitable way to do that."

I'm especially troubled because I actually find myself on the same side of the issue as Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Sort Of) for once:

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., one of the most vocal supporters of a mail-in election, brushed aside the poll and the concerns from the congressional delegation.

"If anyone has another way of accomplishing this or of honoring the earlier results without splitting the convention, it needs to be put on the table - and now, before it's too late," Nelson said in a statement. "Time is short, and we need to make available for public comment a workable plan. The bottom line is this: We all agree that the voters of Florida must be heard."

I have speculated that Wasserman Schultz's opposition to the plan was merely because she is a Clinton supporter, but then how do you explain Wexler's resistance, or that of the entire Florida Democratic congressional delegation? And what about the Obama campaign itself? What is it that is so patently unfair or inequitable about mailing ballots to all registered Democrats in Florida? Or, to put it more accurately, what is it about a mail-in revote that is less equitable than a standard primary election?

I've seen a lot of complaints from folks like Wexler and Wasserman Schultz about the mail-in, but I've yet to see anything specific about why the process would be "fraught with problems." Under the circumstances, it seems to me that the mail-in revote is the least expensive and least burdensome way to guarantee a legitimate allocation of Democratic delegates from Florida, and I can see no particular reason that it would be more problematic than a regular election. The proposed timetable (gray box, here) is reasonable as well.

If the objections are based on a concern over potential voter fraud, I'm willing to be persuaded, but why would a mail-in ballot be any more fraudulent than any standard election? I know that Oregon, for example, has done mail-in voting successfully for years, so the process is not without precedent, nor is it especially challenging or difficult to conduct.

I'll be asking Rep. Wasserman Schultz about this if I have a chance. But, in the meantime, please, if you can give me specific reasons why the mail-in revote is a lousy idea, I'm all ears.