They are also stating, by a

margin of 90 to 2, that they believe it is wrong to change ballot counting

rules now that the election is finished, according to Collins, himself

an easy winner in last week's election.

"We haven't seen this

much constituent interest in an issue in some time," Collins said.

"Those who have contacted me said they are concerned that post-election

politics is hijacking the vote counting process." By 10:30 a.m. on

Tuesday, Collins' office received over 90 calls, letters, or e-mails about

the Florida recount of the presidential election between Vice President

Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush.

The furor over the recount

erupted after Democrats rejected a recount of the Florida election because

it confirmed a slim Bush victory, Collins said. Democrats demanded a hand

count of ballots in several Democrat majority counties because many ballots

were rejected for being improperly punched or filled out.

Most of the constituents who

have contacted Collins said that if people make mistakes on voting, their

ballots should be invalidated. Most also expressed concern that the hand

count introduces bias and the potential for fraud into what was formerly

an impartial and fair mechanical process.

"I can accept Mr. Bush's

defeat if it was a real defeat. I cannot accept a defeat that was taken

under false pretenses," one constituent wrote in an e-mail.

Collins said another constituent

called and said, "The Democrats are now stating that the blanks left

on the ballots were not intended to be blank. I have left blanks when

I didn't understand something or know about an amendment."

"Ninety-six percent of

the people in West Palm Beach voted correctly and had no problem with

the ballot," said another constituent. "Why are we allowing

the 4 percent of those who couldn't do it right to overturn George Bush's

victory?"

"These calls, letters

and e-mail have come from teachers, professionals, workers, and housewives,"

Collins said. "Many have called for reform to prevent such a mess

reoccurring, yet they have also noted Florida's election was fair. My

constituents are concerned that while the machine-based vote counting

system was impartial, the hand count allows bias to creep into the counting

process. They want the two campaigns to respect the original recount,

and let the electoral process continue."

"I urge both campaigns

to heed the people of Georgia's Third Congressional District and stop

the legal maneuvers," Collins said.