(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – In a staunch affirmation of states’ rights, Florida has barred U.S. Department of Justice election monitors from entering polling places, insisting on their own state sovereignty.
See Florida’s letter to the U.S. Justice Department in the tweet below!
This contentious move challenges the DOJ’s initiative to deploy monitors for safeguarding voting rights amidst concerns about election integrity.
Florida’s firm stance raises fundamental questions about the balance between federal oversight and states’ autonomy.
The DOJ plans to monitor voting rights across several Florida counties, including Broward and Miami-Dade, from outside polling locations.
Officials clarified that their personnel will ensure civil rights compliance yet remain external to the actual polling sites to respect state laws.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd informed the DOJ that state law, specifically Florida statute 102.031 (3)(a), does not permit federal monitors inside polling locations.
He stated, “We told them that under state law that is not permitted, and we asked them to respect state law.”
Byrd emphasized that federal monitors can accomplish their roles without infringing on state laws.
While DOJ observers will operate outside polling stations in counties like Orange and Osceola, the DOJ has not commented on the specific criteria for choosing the states and counties they are monitoring.
The agency persists in deploying personnel nationwide to uphold federal civil rights, demonstrating the ongoing tension between federal duties and state prerogatives.
“The U.S. Department of Justice will watch for voting rights violations in four Florida counties on Election Day — but their observers won’t be inside polling locations,” election officials said, cited by Gazette Extra.
Florida’s administration ensures its vigilance by deploying state monitors to guard against any interference in the voting process.
Byrd expressed apprehensions that federal involvement inside polling stations “would be counterproductive and could potentially undermine confidence in the election.”
State law distinctly states that DOJ personnel are not on the list of those authorized inside voting areas.
The state’s proactive appointment of its local monitors underscores a decisive check against federal encroachment, reflecting GOP leaders’ growing opposition to perceived overreach.
Secretary of State Cord Byrd’s communication to the DOJ highlighted that “plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws” do not supersede Florida’s established legal boundaries.
Florida maintains its ground while the federal effort proceeds in 86 jurisdictions across 27 states.
Strong state authority shapes a long-standing debate on jurisdictional oversight.
Florida blocks federal monitors, channeling the conflict of upholding state sovereignty and enforcing national civil rights protections into a heated political issue.
The outcome may redefine how election integrity efforts unfold in future elections nationwide.
https://t.co/C4bC95Djpr pic.twitter.com/iFmW9OZdTt
— Florida Department of State (@FLSecofState) November 1, 2024
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