Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Sherri Hodies joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the election.
The office is investigating an incident involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents near an early voting location in Key Largo after voters reported feeling frightened and concerned about potential voter intimidation.
It occurred Tuesday at the Murray Nelson Government Center, where early voting is underway.
According to Hodies, two unmarked sport utility vehicles were positioned near the entrance to the government center, where agents had pulled over a person in a vehicle. One voter who contacted Hodies said the driver appeared to have been stopped on U.S. 1 before the vehicles entered the property’s driveway.
Hodies said she has not yet confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the matter remains under investigation.
Several voters contacted her office to express concern about the agents’ presence near the polling location.
“The voters were frightened,” Hodies said. “Just the mere presence of armed Border Patrol agents outside a polling place is just not a good look for anything, no matter what was going on.”
Some voters described the incident as voter intimidation, while others characterized it as voter interference, she said.
Hodies said she was particularly concerned about the potential effect on people trying to exercise their right to vote.
“Every phone call I got, which was many, said that they were frightened that this is something that they have never seen before,” Hodies said. “Why did this happen? This intimidates me. Had I known this, I wouldn’t have went to vote.”
The supervisor of elections said the FBI, Florida’s secretary of state, local law enforcement and attorneys have been contacted as officials work to establish what happened. Her office is also reviewing video footage from the area to determine whether the agents were within 150 feet of the voting location.
Hodies cited federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. Section 592, which restricts the presence of federal troops or armed forces at polling places in connection with elections, subject to the law’s terms. Florida law also establishes a 150-foot zone around polling places where certain activities are prohibited.
Hodies said the incident was particularly surprising given assurances that elections would be peaceful and that armed federal agents would not be positioned near polling locations.
“I was stunned,” she said.
Although the circumstances remain unclear, Hodies said she is committed to keeping voters informed and working with the appropriate agencies to address their concerns.
“I took an oath to protect the Monroe County voters and their right to cast their vote and their voice to be heard,” she said. “I don’t want them to be frightened.”
She also assured voters that she would contact law enforcement if federal agents were present near early voting sites or polling locations on Election Day, Nov. 3.
“I want the voters to know that they can call me with anything that they see, any questions, any concerns, because we’ve got to work together to make sure our elections are safe,” Hodies said.
Despite the incident, Hodies encouraged residents to continue participating in the election and not allow the situation to discourage them from voting. She said voter turnout has been increasing and emphasized the importance of returning mail ballots on time.
Mail ballots must be received by the elections office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Voters with questions or concerns about election safety can contact the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections Office at 305-292-3416.
Hodies said she will continue working with federal, state and local officials to determine what happened and help ensure voters can cast their ballots without feeling intimidated.
She added that voters should not have to navigate an encounter with federal agents when trying to access a polling location.