FDLE to investigate missing absentee ballots

[dolstein]

FDLE to investigate missing absentee ballots

By AMY SHERMAN

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local agencies are investigating why up to 58,000 absentee ballots have not reached Broward County voters.

FDLE launched the investigation Tuesday after being contacted by county elections officials. The Broward Sheriff's Office, Broward Supervisor of Elections and the U.S. Postal Service are cooperating in the investigation, said Paige Patterson-Hughes, spokesperson for FDLE's South Florida region.

. . .

Exactly how many absentee ballots are missing is unclear. About 58,000 were mailed out on Oct. 7th and 8th and Salas said elections officials know that not all of those ballots are missing because some have been returned.

. . .

As of Tuesday evening, the county had received 127,320 requests for absentee ballots and had mailed the majority of them, Salas said. So far, 50,778 absentee ballots have been returned.

Here is how absentee ballots are mailed: Each day, absentee ballot requests are processed at the voting equipment center in Fort Lauderdale. Then a courier, who is a full-time elections employee, drives the ballots to the Oakland Park Boulevard post office.

. . .

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10028901.htm

This is ridiculous. Why hasn't the Florida Democratic Party issued any public statement? Why is it that the only solution being proposed is to encourage people to vote early if they haven't received an absentee ballot yet? I don't see ANY evidence that the Florida Democratic Party or the Kerry campaign is doing anything to minimize the damage. I don't care if this is embarassing to local Democratic officials -- he have a national election at stake fer Chrissakes.

[MADem]

1. Where is the goddamn FBI?

This is an interstate transport issue, and a potential violation of FEDERAL LAW. The FBI should be on this like GANGBUSTERS.

[Rjnerd]

2. No, the stuff didn't cross state lines.

But it is a job for the postal inspection service. Those guys have a reputation as making game wardens look generous to a fault. In the old days, post offices had whole systems of catwalks and one way mirrors, so the inspectors could watch what was going on with the folks sorting. (Now, TV camera's are cheaper)

[Moderator]

3. Postal inspectors are already investigating

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=936309

[Nicholas_J]

7. What do you mean they didnt cross state lines

Many did, as Florida has a large percentage of dual state resident.To say nothing of those who live outside of the United States. So many do cross state lines.

[MADem]

8. Only if the GOP STOLE IT first!!

But they interfered with the interstate transport of the US MAIL--a FEDERAL crime. If you think every single one of those ballots was intended for an alternate Florida address, I find that doubtful in the extreme.

[Zorra]

4. The FBI has been compromised and is loyal only to the republican party.

They will do nothing.

[flordehinojos]

5. Doesn't the Florida Department of Law Enforcement work for Jeb Bush

If the FDLE does indeed work for JEB BUSH ... why are they the ones to investigate Jeb's "the bush house will stick to the florida voters and therefore to the american people once again"!?????????
I don't get it!

[msanthrope]

6. Why, yes, they do work for Jeb, but why should

that concern you??? (sarcasm)

[beniciodeltoro]

9. If we let this stand we deserve to lose

plain and simple