An international delegation of election observers said on Thursday they had been refused access to voting places by two counties in Ohio, while two in Florida had not responded to repeated requests to observe voting procedures. The group said election administrators in Franklin and Cayuhoga counties in Ohio had turned down their request to be present at voting precincts on Election Day next Tuesday. Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida had failed to respond to numerous written and telephone requests. Officials in Ohio said there were no provisions under state laws for outsiders to be present at voting places. Only poll workers, party representatives and police officers were allowed to be present. Some other counties, including Boone County and the city of St. Louis in Missouri and Leon County in Florida had previously agreed to allow the observers access. "I am shocked to find out that officials are not giving us access to the polls. It is sad and shocking," said Sergio Aguayo, a founder of Mexican electoral watchdog group, Alianza Civica. --More 0049 Local Time 2149 GMT
