Florida election officials report they spotted federal immigration enforcement at or near two early-voting sites this week, prompting election supervisors to contact the FBI over concerns of potential voter intimidation ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicles were spotted Monday outside the Northeast Branch Library in Tallahassee, Leon County’s busiest early-voting location. The vehicles remained for approximately 10 minutes before leaving, according to county Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley. Early filed a formal complaint with the FBI despite receiving no complaints from voters.
“Voters should never experience intimidation from anyone when they are voting, and that includes being intimidated by law enforcement or any other governmental officials,” Earley told News Service of Florida.
A day later, WPLG Local 10 obtained video reportedly recorded by a man who works across the street and was driving past the Murray Nelson Government Center, an early-voting site in Key Largo. The footage showed masked federal agents conducting a vehicle stop near the entrance.
According to Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies, Border Patrol officials said they were attempting to pull over a suspect who turned into the government center, where agents apprehended him. Hodies said her office was continuing to investigate the incident and had contacted the FBI.
“It’s hard to take these phone calls from voters who are frightened. Their voices are shaking,” Hodies told Local 10.
Federal law restricts bringing armed personnel to polling places, with a narrow exception for repelling armed enemies of the U.S. Election officials said federal authorities had previously assured them immigration enforcement would not occur at polling stations.
The incidents come as early voting continues across Florida. In Orange County, voters can cast their ballots at any of the 27 early-voting locations through Nov. 1, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
More than 1.6 million Florida votes have been cast for the midterm election. Ballots from registered Democrats are slightly ahead of those returned by Republicans after the first days of in-person early voting.
Registered Democrats have returned nearly 485,000 vote-by-mail ballots to just under 406,000 from Republicans as of Thursday morning, according to the Division of Elections.
Meanwhile, almost 235,000 Republicans have gone to early voting locations, which have been available in more than half of Florida’s 67 counties, compared to 211,000 Democrats.
Florida has 13.7 million residents registered to vote.
This year’s midterm elections in Orlando feature more than a dozen federal, state and local candidates on the ballot.
On tap for everyone in Florida is a vote on Florida’s next governor, the state agricultural commissioner, the state chief financial officer, attorney general and a special election for a U.S. Senate seat that is currently occupied by Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody.
Here’s Orlando Weekly’s guide on how to vote in Central Florida.
