ELECTIONS
Broward eases rules for 'no match' voters at polls
Broward is joining Miami-Dade in offering so-called 'no match' voters an Election Day option for clearing identification questions.
BY CURTIS MORGAN AND CHARLES RABIN
cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
Broward County has changed its policy and will allow a one-stop Election Day option for its 1,600-plus ''unverified'' voters.
That adds Broward to the list of counties, including Miami-Dade, that will buck state recommendations for handling residents flagged by the controversial Florida Voter Verification Law.
The state's final unverified list, released Monday, leaves the voting status of more than 12,000 newly registered voters in limbo unless they can clear up identification mismatches in driver's license and Social Security databases.
Miami-Dade ranked at the top of the list, with nearly a quarter of the so-called ''no match'' voters. Broward, with 13 percent, ranked No. 3, just behind Orange County. Statewide, Hispanics and blacks outnumbered non-Hispanics by more than three to one -- and by nearly six to one in South Florida. Democrats outnumbered Republicans about four to one statewide and in South Florida.
The ''no-match'' law, temporarily suspended a year ago after a lawsuit by voting and civil rights groups, applies only to 437,638 residents who registered since Sept. 8. A political rift has erupted over enforcing it.
Last week, Broward Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes announced she would follow procedures set by Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning that require a two-step process for ''no match'' voters who show up at the polls. First they must fill out a ''provisional'' ballot and then deliver, e-mail or fax ID documents to the elections office within 48 hours.
But Broward elections spokeswoman Mary Cooney said Snipes, a Democrat in a county that is a stronghold for the party, decided to tweak Broward's policy after a weekend talk with Lester Sola, Miami-Dade County's elections supervisor.
Broward will still require a provisional ballot, but if a voter brings copies of a driver's license or Social Security card, that information will be attached to the ballot and no further action would be required. ''You do not need to do anything further,'' she said. `You have complied with the request to provide proof of identification.''
Miami-Dade's process goes further, allowing unverified voters to use a regular ballot, which can't later be contested, if they supply copies of ID proof.
Join the discussion
The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
More Florida & Local
Florida and Local Politics
- Florida's worst drivers will have to retake driving test
- South Florida's killer pythons capture U.S. attention
- Attorney general candidate denies close ties to ex-con
- Joe Sanchez and Tomás Regalado offer starkly different visions in Miami mayoral race
- Joe Garcia nominated for federal energy post
- Miami-Dade School Board pleased with budget draft
Videos




















My Yahoo
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@