Groups Seek To Block Scott Ballot Influence

November 13, 2018

The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to prevent Gov. Rick Scott from using his official powers to influence ballot counting or the certification of results of his hotly contested race for U.S. Senate.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court in Tallahassee, came amid a recount in Scott’s race with Democratic U.S.  Sen. Bill Nelson — and amid a torrent of litigation about ballot counting. Scott and his campaign have alleged irregularities in Democrat-rich Broward and Palm Beach counties, including Scott last week asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate.

As governor, Scott’s administration includes the Department of State, which oversees elections. Also, Scott serves on the Florida Elections Canvassing Commission, which is scheduled Nov. 20 to certify the results of the general election.

The League of Women Voters and Common Cause are seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would prevent Scott from “engaging, in his capacity as governor or using his authority as governor, in any decisions, directives, control, or influence, either direct or indirect, over the processing and counting of ballots in the 2018 Florida election for U.S. Senate, including but not limited to enjoining defendant (Scott) from participating, in his role as a member of the Elections Canvassing Commission or otherwise, in the certification of the results of the 2018 Florida election for U.S. Senate,” according to a court filing.

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

7 Responses to “Groups Seek To Block Scott Ballot Influence”

  1. anne1of2 on November 14th, 2018 10:35 am

    Scott needs to stay out of this close race recount. Is all of this done just to prove FL people can’t count votes ever? I still haven’t recovered from the Gore/Bush election when a woman ran my ballot through the machine at Ferry Pass and yelled there was another vote for the candidate I had voter for. I swear, I was afraid to walk outside! FL precincts are a piece of work. Now I tell them what happened to me before I turn in a ballot. Both parties need to hang their heads in shame!

  2. Mark Smith on November 13th, 2018 5:40 pm

    Remember ‘hanging chads’.

  3. Concerned Citizen on November 13th, 2018 10:57 am

    Liberalism is a mental disorder, these Democrats can’t handle losing and will do anything necessary to rig an election.

  4. Denny on November 13th, 2018 9:56 am

    Since he has a personal stake in the outcome, he should have acted ethically by recusing himself.

  5. Mike J. on November 13th, 2018 9:51 am

    Did these same groups object in 2000 to Al Gore Jr overseeing to certify the vote in Congress as Vice President of the US and official President of the Senate? He had the courage to certify the vote (even though he lost) over the objections of several Democrats in Congress who tried to get him to rule against the vote. But now you have a Republican overseeing a vote certification and these group cry. The liberals can’t be fair.

  6. Bewildered on November 13th, 2018 9:45 am

    We would all be better off to keep lawyers and special interest groups out of any and all elections. How much brains does it take to tabulate votes? .Count each and every VALID vote and be done. Gillum used his family members to cast fraudulent votes in this election for mayor – so naturally that is creating doubt of his legitimacy in this election. Who knows what wheels Scott greased and on and on. Tell special interest groups from Chicago and other places to mind their own business. Good grief people – enough of this circus.

  7. Voter on November 13th, 2018 2:56 am

    This was planned.