Nov. 11, 2000

THOSE DISTINCTIVE BALLOTS TAKE OFF ON THE INTERNET

By STEVE FRIESS
Staff Writer

The Palm Beach County ballot snafu may cost Al Gore the presidency, but it will make Scott Arnold of West Palm Beach at least a cool $50. The real estate agent, 37, placed his sample ballot up for auction on eBay, the popular Internet site, early Thursday.

As word spread internationally about all the confusion the so-called butterfly ballot caused the presidential race, folks started running up the price of Arnold's precious piece of mail.

Of course, Arnold got it for free, as did about 650,000 other registered voters before the Nov. 7 election.

Final bids on Arnold's item won't be confirmed until Sunday afternoon, but it's unlikely it will rise any higher because dozens of other people are now also auctioning their sample ballots at much lower prices.

"I got the idea that this may be of interest to other people out there in the world, maybe historians or those who like the type of things that are now in the news," said Arnold, a Gore supporter who is uncertain whether he voted properly.

"I didn't think anything would happen. Now I've got people saying to me, `Geez, it's worth $51 now. What's it going to be worth a few years from now?' But I don't think I want to keep around a piece of junk mail for 100 years, just to pass it on to my kids and see if it's worth another $50."

eBay is a Web site famous for acting as a national rummage-sale center, with people seeking buyers for everything from valuable collectibles to household castoffs. A buyer must take the seller's word on the condition of the item, although many postings include a picture and description.

"This document could very easily be the most controversial and highest-profile ballot on American history -- and this is an actual sample ballot in great condition," one eBay seller screamed. "Years from now, when this election is talked about, you will be able to show everyone what the ballot in controversy looked like. Sheesh, you couldn't write fiction like this."

Hype notwithstanding, the highest bid of any offering on Friday was $91. That was the first sample ballot put up for bid, five hours before Arnold's. He was the second person to get into the act.

Memorabilia experts question whether such an item will escalate in price, especially if Texas Gov. George W. Bush eventually triumphs and the Palm Beach County controversy fades to a footnote.

"There will always be some interest, but I wouldn't put one in the safe deposit box and think you're going to make a fortune years from now," said Victor Mongeau, co-owner of Polikicks, a political collectibles store in Albuquerque, N.M.

"I can see there being buyers, but not that many."

More likely to rise on the collectible market are early editions of Wednesday newspapers that proclaimed Bush the winner, including The Miami Herald and the New York Post. One such Post was selling for more than $355 on eBay on Friday, but Mongeau predicted those would shrink in value if Bush does wind up the president.

American University student Katie Nee, 19, placed a $15 bid on one of the Palm Beach County sample ballots because she wants it for a scrapbook she's assembling about this election.

"I've been cutting out articles in The Washington Post and I'm trying to get some Florida papers, too," said Nee, who studies communications, law, economics and government.

"I've seen it on CNN, but I'd really like to have one. It'll be cool to have, to show my kids. I don't think they'll be worth money, but it's amazing history that's going on."

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