A judge has just found that Broward County election supervisor has violated both the Florida Constitution and and the public records act. He is giving them until 7PM to comply:
BREAKING: Judge finds Broward County violated constitution by not following open records laws, orders election officials to comply by 7pm. Ruling does not address allegations of fraud. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/M1rK2RPsWj
— Jamie Guirola (@jamieNBC6) November 9, 2018
Judge finds Broward SOE violated public records act and Florida constitution. SOE must provide public records requested by Scott and NRSC.
— Ali Schmitz (@SchmitzMedia) November 9, 2018
Judge Phillips finds Broward elex supervisor Snipes violated the public records act. Snipes must allow immediate inspection of the records Scott is asking for no later than 7 p.m. tonight. Judge says this is information that should already be compiled.
— Nadege Green (@NadegeGreen) November 9, 2018
Here’s more from ABC Local 10:
A judge ordered Broward County Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda Snipes to allow immediate inspection of voter records during an emergency hearing Friday.
The court was asked to intervene in the tight U.S. Senate race between Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott as the two sides prepare for a possible recount.
Judge Carol-Lisa Phillip said Snipes must allow inspections on or before 7 p.m. Friday evening.
Scott filed a lawsuit Thursday night against, asking the court to order Snipes to turn over several records detailing the counting and collection of ballots.
But Snipes attorney said in court Friday that it would be inappropriate for the court to intervene at this time, simply because Scott wants the counting process to be sped up.
The attorney said Snipes is not refusing to turn over the records, but needs more time to do so.
Scott’s thin lead over Nelson has narrowed during the vote-counting in the days since he declared victory Tuesday night.
Without citing any evidence of wrongdoing, Scott also asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate elections offices in the Democratic strongholds of Palm Beach and Broward counties, questioning whether they have been taking too long in some sort of effort to inflate the Democratic vote.
However, the FDLE has said it is not investigating Snipes at this time, as no allegations of voter fraud have been received and Scott has not put his request in writing.
So this is just a beginning. Apparently this ruling doesn’t address any election fraud allegations but it is good to see that the court is intervening to provide appropriate transparency in this process.
It’s a shame that it has even come to this point.