A Florida Circuit judge ruled Friday that that the state's second-most populous county violated state and federal laws by destroying ballots from a 2016 Democratic primary race which Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won.
Circuit Judge Raag Singhal decided that the records were wrongly destroyed because the laws require elections offices to keep the ballots in federal elections for 22 months.
Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes destroyed the ballots just after 12 months, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
The judge also noted that because the ballots were subject to a lawsuit, only a court order should have allowed their destruction.
Gov. Rick Scott's administration announced shortly after the ruling that Florida's Department of State will send election experts to the Broward elections office in the next election to "To ensure that all laws are followed."
Snipes' predecessor was fired from the elections office by former Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Senate after failing to ensure a smooth election process in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to Politico.
An attorney for Snipes, Burnadette Norris-Weeks, said she will appeal the decision because the elections office never declined to provide the ballots to Canova, only objected to unreasonable demands.
Circuit Judge Raag Singhal decided that the records were wrongly destroyed because the laws require elections offices to keep the ballots in federal elections for 22 months.
Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes destroyed the ballots just after 12 months, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
The judge also noted that because the ballots were subject to a lawsuit, only a court order should have allowed their destruction.
Gov. Rick Scott's administration announced shortly after the ruling that Florida's Department of State will send election experts to the Broward elections office in the next election to "To ensure that all laws are followed."
Snipes' predecessor was fired from the elections office by former Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Senate after failing to ensure a smooth election process in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to Politico.
An attorney for Snipes, Burnadette Norris-Weeks, said she will appeal the decision because the elections office never declined to provide the ballots to Canova, only objected to unreasonable demands.
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