More than 6,500 mailed in ballots in Miami-Dade primary won’t count

More than 6,500 mailed in ballots in Miami-Dade primary won’t count

UPDATED: There will be a press conference at the Miami-Dade Elections Department at 4 p.m. Wednesday to demand that the Supervisor of Elections count these ballots and request they “address valid voter suppression and ballot collection concerns” in time for the Nov. 3 election. Among those who will be present: P.U.L.S.E., South Florida National Action […]

Absentee ballots will be bigger than ever for elections in time of COVID19

Absentee ballots will be bigger than ever for elections in time of COVID19

The use of absentee or mail-in ballots has always been a concern in Miami-Dade, where veteran campaign consultants have manipulated these votes, particularly with elderly voters, for years. But a month from our first election in the time of COVID19, the Aug. 18 absentee vote will likely break records. According to Deputy Supervisor of Elections […]

Absentee ballots fly in hurried, special District 5 county commission race

Absentee ballots fly in hurried, special District 5 county commission race

If ever there was a race where absentee ballots was going to make the deciding factor, it is the special shotgun wedding election in Miami-Dade’s County District 5. Four candidates are vying to replace Bruno Barreiro, who resigned last month so he could run for Congress: His wife, Zoraida Barreiro, former Sen. Alex Diaz de […]

Two arrests in Homestead absentee ballot fraud case

Two arrests in Homestead absentee ballot fraud case

Almost a year after they were reported to have tampered with the ballots of a Homestead family, two workers from the 2013 mayoral campaign of hotelier Mark Bell, husband of Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda Bell — have been arrested on absentee ballot fraud charges. The Miami-Dade State Attorney Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department announced Thursday the […]

Hialeah State House heir trounces — with absentee ballots

Hialeah State House heir trounces — with absentee ballots

One of the few contested Florida House primaries in Miami-Dade went, as expected, to the anointed heir of the seat vacated by termed out State Rep. Eddy “Here Comes Hialeah” Gonzalez, and with a comfortable lead (read: landslide) of 60% to 40%. But it’s a five point game, not a whooping, if you only look at […]

Absentee ballots beat early votes, but activity quiet

Absentee ballots beat early votes, but activity quiet

UPDATED: The number of absentee ballots returned so far across Miami-Dade for this Aug. 26 primary is 77,500, far less than the 210,000 ABs that have been requested as of Thursday, according to the Miami-Dade Elections Department. But it is almost four times as many votes as in-person ballots cast by early voters. And many think […]

Non candidate mailer warns of absentee ballot fraud

Non candidate mailer warns of absentee ballot fraud

Our mailboxes this week are stuffed with mailers big and small for candidates from the congressional race in District 26 to county commission contests to municipal matchups to judicial jousts to the battle for the property appraiser’s office. But one mailer stands out — because it does not promote any particular candidate. “Absentee voter fraud […]

More absentee ballots on their way to voters today

More absentee ballots on their way to voters today

More than 187,000 absentee ballots were mailed to Miami-Dade voters Tuesday morning. They should arrive in mailboxes by the end of the week. It’s  more than 190,000 if you count the overseas absentees sent earlier this month. That’s up from the 165,000 or so ABs that went out in the 2012 primary, which was more […]

Reward: PBA offers $10K for tips on absentee ballot fraud

Reward: PBA offers $10K for tips on absentee ballot fraud

Days before thousands of Miami-Dade voters get absentee ballots for a number of key races in the August 26 primary, the Police Benevolent Association announced is a $10,000 reward Thursday to anyone who brings them information on absentee ballot fraud that leads to an arrest and conviction. The concern they have, shared by others, is that […]