The scene in Florida continued to escalate in the wake of accusations and a voter fraud lawsuit filed against Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes by Governor Rick Scott.
Crowds gathered outside the Broward elections office where the canvassing board was preparing to meet on Thursday, chanting “Lock her up!”
Snipes is under fire for alleged election rigging as the county’s election office, in a Democratic bastion, suddenly “found” 78,000 new votes since Election Day.
As the state faces looming recounts in key races after razor-thin margins separated candidates on Tuesday, questions are swirling about Florida’s election laws and whether, as Republicans contend, Democrats are working overtime to “steal” the election. The hashtag #StopTheSteal is accompanying social media discussions as ballots were recounted and inconsistencies revealed.
— Jenn__Thomas (@jthomas1951) November 9, 2018
@wsvn: Live: Protesters gather outside Broward Supervisor of Elections office in Lauderhill #StopTheSteal https://t.co/tmGzwQO79d
— Terry Kinder (@tkinder) November 9, 2018
Progressive candidate Tim Canova joined other voices pointing out the questionable results coming from the southern portion of the Sunshine State, calling Snipes, a Democrat, a “serial election rigger.”
We’re got ~40 Republican protesters in front of @BrowardSOE today. Janet Klomburg: “We want (Snipes) in handcuffs. We want her whole staff locked up. This race was stolen from us.” Stands near prop “found votes” demonstrators set up. pic.twitter.com/62Yxf9Gzxe
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Protesters began to arrive in force at the Broward elections office Friday, demanding action against Snipes and Democrats and the “lack of transparency,” as called out by Scott, whose US Senate race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is facing a recount.
Republican protestors show up at @BrowardSOE singing “we aren’t going to take it” and chanting “#stopthesteal” pic.twitter.com/T58OpEwFcj
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
“The Supervisor is unwilling to disclose records revealing how many electors voted, how many ballots have been canvassed, and how many ballots remain to be canvassed,” Scott’s lawsuit alleged.
Hunter Pollack, who lost his sister Meadow in February when she was gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, urged others to join the stand against corruotion.
Today we’re taking back our democracy.
We cannot sit idly by as corrupt officials try to flip races and steal elections.
Join @AndrewPollackFL at 11:45am to protest at the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office.
1501 nw 40th ave LauderHill, Florida 33313
— Hunter Pollack (@PollackHunter) November 9, 2018
The Miami Herald’s Alex Harris reported that Snipes refused to take questions Thursday even though she had promised to do so after a meeting.
Brenda Snipes, with @BrowardSOE, dodges questions and leaves after repeatedly saying she would take questions after this meeting. Reconvening tomorrow at 1pm to have canvassing board review 238 provisional ballots (205 in dispute + 33 provisional early votes) pic.twitter.com/oiG1d5CFg7
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
There were more than 600. These are just the ones they think are legit and worth approving, but it’s up for the canvassing board to judge
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Angry Floridians are demanding answers and refusing to stay silent as the races in question all just happen to be challenged by Democrats.
Republican protest crowd doubles to about 60. Chant of lock her up breaks out pic.twitter.com/PfBHkbokha
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Christian Rowell, a 16-year-old volunteer with @AndrewPollackFL, says “The Sheriff’s Office, the school board, the SOE, we know they’re all corrupt.” Now leading a chant of “indict Brenda Snipes” pic.twitter.com/gMy12lZ6uf
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
A woman in a T-shirt supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum showed up and was shouted down by the crowd. The governor’s race between Gillum and Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis is heading to a machine recount as 0.44 percentage points separated the two as of Thursday night, with DeSantis in the lead, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
A lone woman in a Gillum T-shirt has shown up and ENRAGED this crowd. They’re trying to block her from the TV cameras with signs and shouting her down pic.twitter.com/vOJcpnr2pk
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Meanwhile the questionable actions in Broward continue to be under scrutiny.
Panhandle Republican Rep. @mattgaetz is here and calling for the state to take control of Broward elections. “We cannot continue to allow this to be the banana republic of Broward.” pic.twitter.com/XGvT36KANN
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Why not call election, scrap them, and fire Brenda Snipes for not doing her job. Legally all results should be submitted 30mins after polls close. This is 100% Democrat shenanigans.
— Pinch ⭐️ (@BBPHredux) November 9, 2018
It’s fucking ridiculous, they are going to force Rick Scott to get involved as Governor in his own senate race so they can say he’s illegitimate. All dem shenanigans, Snipes should be fired immediately.
— Pinch ⭐️ (@BBPHredux) November 9, 2018
“Here’s what makes no sense: Where did the 70,000 ballots come from in Broward County? Where did the 15,000 ballots come from in Palm Beach County?” Scott said Friday in Naples, according to Florida Today. “So you’re not telling us. I’ve asked for FDLE to do an investigation. I mean, it just, it makes no sense. We have to be naive to believe that they’re not trying to steal the election.”
As protesters were kept outside Friday afternoon, lawyers for Republicans and Democrats were arriving for a scheduled Canvassing Board meeting.
1pm. Canvassing meeting is supposed to start, but press and protesters are being kept outside. Dem and Repub lawyers are being let in. Lots of Lauderhill cops here, some brought a box of security wands to scan people.
— Alex Harris (@harrisalexc) November 9, 2018
Pretty tense outside the doors of the Broward elections office pic.twitter.com/vg1Jrs2F0I
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) November 9, 2018
Well, at least one Republican lawyer and a Democratic state rep got in. Still waiting on info for reporters and the public
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) November 9, 2018
“I will not stand idly by while unethical liberals try to steal an election,” Scott said at a press conference Thursday night at the governor’s mansion.
Unless @FLGovScott steps in and orders law enforcement to Broward County, Brenda Snipes will do all she can to steal this election.
Broward’s Supervisor of Elections office is a corrupt stain on the entire state.
Enough is enough.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) November 8, 2018
What’s happening in Florida is unacceptable. The #Broward Elections Supervisor has been pulling stunts like this for years and we’re not going to let her get away with it. https://t.co/v4f0yZVk3Y
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) November 8, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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