A day after Florida's election left top state races too close to call, a Democratic party leader directed staffers and volunteers to share altered election forms with voters to fix signature problems on absentee ballots after the state's deadline.
The altered forms surfaced in Broward, Santa Rosa, Citrus and Okaloosa counties and were reported to federal prosecutors to review for possible election fraud as Florida counties completed a required recount in three top races.
But an email obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida shows that Florida Democrats were organizing a broader statewide effort beyond those counties to give voters the altered forms to fix improper absentee ballots after the Nov. 5 deadline. Democratic party leaders provided staffers with copies of a form, known as a "cure affidavit," that had been modified to include an inaccurate Nov. 8 deadline.
Apparently, the Florida Democratic Party is looking for a fall guy, as the Naples Daily News reported "Democrats hire investigator to identify who altered Florida form used to fix ballots". And some Democratic officials are trying to distance themselves from the scandal.
"This is a very serious issue. FDP is right to investigate this matter immediately and should share results with the appropriate government agencies, interested press and party officials," said state Rep. Evan Jenne, who represents Broward County, where one of these altered forms was found.
Rep. Shevrin Jones, another Broward Democrat, said he also is trying to find out exactly what happened.
Jones said he talked Friday to Terrie Rizzo, the party's leader, who assured him that the official state document was not altered by “party leadership” but rather an individual. Jones said Rizzo explained that the investigator was hired to find out who altered the form distributed to party staffers and volunteers.
Jones said Rizzo’s explanation helped put him more at ease, and he said the election process should be protected at all cost.
“Beyond looking at who did it, we can’t afford to have people lose faith in this process that we call democracy and we have to protect that,” Jones said.
The 2020 elections are going to be lit.
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