Remember Seminole County, Florida's infamous role in the 2000 election fiasco? County election chief Sandy Goard allowed GOP operatives to set up shop and fill in missing information on Republican absentee ballot applications, a clear violation of the law. (Goard made the opposite decision for a very similar case involving a Democratic candidate for commissioner, Dean Ray.)
That was years ago, when dirty tricks meant leaving the comfort of your home. BUT NO MORE!
The big buzz at the candidate rally held today in Casselberry, FL was the recent discovery that Republican Mike Ertel, Seminole County's current elections chief, allows some poll workers to take home the laptop-like electronic voting machines recently purchased for Seminole County.
Yes, there is supposedly a "tamper-proof" seal on them when they take them home. Which doesn't make me feel any safer--especially when you ask the question of what possible justification they have, and what reason they have, to take these machines from a secured government office to someone's home for a "sleepover"?
Note to our right-wing elections chief: taking these machines home is NOT a good idea. At best it breeds suspicion, and of course, they can be stolen: just ask the VA.
At worst, well, let's just say the GOP does not have the best reputation for protecting the integrity of the vote.
Saying there is a seal makes it seem even more suspicious: if they supposedly can't get into the machines---what is the point of bringing them home??
Does Seminole County, much less Florida, really need another election scandal?