7:14 p.m.
Jupiter police say a woman campaigning for Donald Trump outside a South Florida polling place pepper-sprayed a Hillary Clinton voter during a confrontation. Police say 52-year-old Tom Garrecht and 58-year-old Donna Tatlici had exchanged words as Garrecht went in to vote, and the argument continued as he left.
Tatlici says she sprayed Garrecht because she was afraid of him. At some point, the woman was knocked to the ground, but it wasn't clear if Garrecht was purposefully attacking her or flailing around after being pepper-sprayed. No arrests were made. Both people were treated at the scene.
Few reports are coming in of claims of voter fraud or intimidation, long wait times or machine glitches.
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How to Report Voter Fraud
If you do encouter voter fraud, the Florida Division of Elections takes calls at its Voter Fraud (1-877-868-3737) and Voter Assistance Hotlines (1-866-308-6739).
Election Protection, a non-partisan coalition of more than 100 organizations led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, also is pushing out tips and resources for voters in the event voting doesn't go smoothly at some polling places.
6:10 p.m.
A Winter Park voting location was temporarily evacuated early Tuesday evening because of an unattended backpack.
Winter Park Police responded to Winter Park Christian Church on Lakemont Avenue at about 5:40 p.m. According to police, a man who claimed to own the backpack said it was an oversight that he left his backpack there. He said he got home, saw coverage of the suspicious package and rushed back to let police and first responders know.
Voting was interrupted for about 20 minutes.
The backpack was deemed not dangerous, and people were allowed back inside, where voting resumed.
Earlier
Election Day isn't a federal holiday yet, so the voting public needs to make sure to take time Tuesday to head to the polls. While filling out ballots should be a straight-forward process, anything goes in this tumultuous campaign climate.
So while exercising your right to vote, make sure you know how to protect yourself if you feel threatened, intimidated, harassed or in danger.
The group laid out a three-step process if things start to feel off while casting a ballot or even just trying to enter a polling place.
- First, do not engage.
- Second, continue inside and make sure you vote. Notify a poll worker or official.
- Third, call the Election Protection hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). From there, concerned voters can pass along info and local polling officials will be notified and take the proper next steps.
Tweets with the #ProtectOurVote hashtag on social media provide more information on voter safety.
In addition to providing resources and the hotlines, the coalition has representatives on the ground in 28 states' polling places. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission also supports state and county election officials and will be keeping an eye out for voter fraud and any other bad election behavior.
See the Twitter feed below from regional supervisors of elections: