Governor Rick Scott’s Senate campaign filed a lawsuit late Thursday against the Broward County elections supervisor asking that she turn over records regarding how ballots are being counted. Despite protesters gathered outside Broward Board of Elections Headquarters, Judge Carol-Lisa Phillip said Supervisor Brenda Snipes must allow inspections of records detailing the counting and collection of ballots cast in Tuesday’s election.
Judge Phillips found that Supervisor Snipes violated that law by failing to turn over the information to attorneys for Scott’s Senate campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee and that she must comply with today’s order on or before 7:00 p.m. tonight.
The parties asked and got an emergency hearing as the votes must be certified by noon Saturday.
The lawsuit was filed about the same time Scott ordered state law enforcement officials to investigate the Broward and Palm Beach voting operation.
Scott has a narrow lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and the race may be headed to a recount. His lead narrowed as final ballots in heavily Democratic Broward and Palm Beach counties were counted Wednesday and Thursday.
The Nelson campaign spokesman Dan McLaughlin issued a statement saying that all votes should be counted accurately and that Scott’s action “appears to be politically motivated and borne out of desperation.”
Nelson is 76-years-old and is paid an annual salary of about$174,000. His retirement payment will beabout $139,000 annually. City LinkMagazine, Cornell’s Legal Information Institute, Miami Herald, POLITICO LLC,Washington Post, WLRN Public Radio, and WPLG Local10.com contributed to thisHistoric City News report.
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