WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – As Polk County election officials begin the process of recounting more than 247,000 ballots from the midterm election, election supervisor Lori Edwards responded to Gov. Rick Scott’s claims that election supervisors in Broward and Palm Beach counties were responsible for fraud.
“It's offensive. It's irresponsible,” she said. “These are volunteers from our community.
“These are your friends and my neighbors who get up before the crack of dawn and work for a mere stipend just to protect our right to vote, and he has insulted every one of them."
Scott said last week that every Floridian should be worried about “rampant fraud happening in Palm Beach and Broward counties."
The Republican expressed concern that both counties were still counting ballots 48 hours after polls closed, although there was no evidence of illegal activity.
Scott’s campaign also filed multiple lawsuits against the supervisors of elections in Broward and Palm Beach counties. No action has been taken against counties in the Tampa Bay area.
Scott leads Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson 12,562 votes as of Monday morning.
Emerald Morrow is a reporter with 10News WTSP. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. You can also email her at emorrow@wtsp.com.
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