The man charged with overseeing elections in Florida was questioned by Senators Tuesday in Tallahassee. Secretary of State Ken Detzner says most of Florida’s 67 counties performed well during the general election. But Detzner will begin an investigation next week in five counties.
Ken Detzner told the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee that Floridians cast nearly 8.5 million votes.
“More people voted early and absentee than voted on Election Day- the first time in history”, said Detzner.
The biggest complaint came from voters who spent hours waiting in line. Orlando Senator Andy Gardiner wants to know why the wait was so long in some places.
“Is it the number of locations", Gardiner asked. "Because it’s my understanding that they did not use – they were authorized for a certain number of locations and they didn’t even use them?”
Miami Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla said the supervisor of elections in Miami Dade could have opened additional early voting sites.
“So that supervisor of elections chose to open 20 sites out of a potential at least 83, 84, 85 early voting sites, right”, questioned Diaz de la Portilla.
Detzner will lead a fact finding trip to five county elections offices next week in Palm Beach, Lee, St Lucie, Broward and Miami-Dade. The outcome of the investigation will be sent to Gov. Rick Scott in January.