All that separates Republican Ron DeSantis from his Democratic challenger for the governorship of Florida Andrew Gillum is about 38,000 votes, and the counting is still not finished.
Florida teacher finds 'provisional ballot box' in storage area https://t.co/W9s5P7CW1D pic.twitter.com/NbBWGOKC6c
— New York Post (@nypost) November 9, 2018
In fact, it may be awhile. According to the Sun-Sentinel, a new controversy was raised on Thursday when an elementary school teacher found a locked box in the area where voting had taken place at Sunshine Elementary School in Miramar.
‘Seeking help, Sorey phoned her friend, State Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, a close confidante of gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.
‘Jones called the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office, and a woman there told him the box was probably full of blank ballots, he said. If that’s the case, Jones is questioning why the box is locked.’
Teacher reports finding ballot box left behind at Broward polling place https://t.co/bA8DxrSdgT pic.twitter.com/nbQu32yfJq
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) November 8, 2018
Jones is unsure at this time whether anyone from the Broward County Elections Office is even planning to come and retrieve the box, and finds the incident suspicious.
‘I was shocked about it. I don’t think you’d lock up extra ballot paper. I’m hoping someone will at least go verify and make sure there are no ballots inside the box.’
Apparently #BrowardCounty elections left behind a box labeled “Provisional Ballots” at a local elementary school that served as a polling place.
Just let that sink in for a moment. https://t.co/o1Gn7mxOzG
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 8, 2018
Provisional ballots are used when a voter shows up to the polls who does not appear to be properly registered or eligible to vote. It is unlikely that such safeguards would be taken to lock up blank ballots.
@maddow I hope you have heard about this and are actively investigating! A locked box of provisional ballots left at an elementary school in Florida! https://t.co/6VqPXTjri7
— KBluhm29 (@KBluhm29) November 9, 2018
With the gubernatorial race this close between Gillum and DeSantis, as well as an even closer race between Rick Scott (R-FL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) for the U.S. Senate seat, a box of uncounted balance is a very concerning issue.
Featured image via Flickr by Amanda Wood under a Creative Commons license