Missing ballots cause for concern in local election

Sunday, March 16, 2008

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Slightly more than 1,000 absentee ballots for the state House District 55 race are missing.

ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- Postal workers in Pinellas County are still searching for more than 1,000 missing absentee ballots.

The ballots were supposed to go to voters in the state House District 55 race. Instead, voters will be receiving new ballots in the mail and members of the Pinellas Democratic Party are meeting this weekend to make sure the District 55 election does not become further problematic.

"We now have sent out two ballots to one voter,' said Toni Molinaro, the Pinellas Democratic Chairperson. "If someone has these extra ballots sitting around and they're intending to vote for one candidate or another, that's where your potential fraud can be.'

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Also, local Democrats are recruiting volunteers to oversee the March 25 election. The volunteers are supposed to keep a close eye on the canvassing board to ensure that every legitimate ballot is counted.

The House District 55 seat has been open since former Rep. Frank Peterman was appointed to head the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The Democrats in the race are attorney Darryl Rouson, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and educator Charles McKenzie.