Panel to look into Fla. vote-count hold-up

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MIAMI, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Miami-Dade County (Fla.) Mayor Carlos Gimenez has formed a committee to look into why it took so long to count ballots in many precincts in his county.

"We need to put it in context," Gimenez told The Miami Herald. "I believe that there are different operational issues at those precincts."

Gimenez sent letters to Miami-Dade District commissioners Lynda Bell, Sally Heyman, Dennis Moss and Rebeca Sosa, asking them to take part of the group and identify other community leaders who could participate.

The commissioners were chosen for their ethnic and political diversity, and because lines in some of their areas were excessively long.

"We could always stand for improvement, and we will," Heyman said at a commission meeting Thursday.

Election workers finished counting absentee ballots Thursday morning, about 40 hours after the polls closed.

"Generally, I think Miami-Dade County conducted a very good election," said Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Penelope Townsley. "Am I embarrassed or disappointed by some of the things that happened? Absolutely. But I have to focus on simply getting it right."