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Feds Monitor More Polling Places in Fla Election Day Than Any Other State

The U.S. Justice Department is monitoring polling places in 51 counties in 23 states on Election Day. Officials are looking out for election fraud and possible violations of the federal voting rights laws. Several of those counties are in the Central and South Florida areas.

The federal Justice Department is monitoring what they’re calling seven jurisdictions in Florida. That includes Duval, Hendry, Lee, and Hillsborough counties. They’re also looking at Miami-Dade, Orange, and Osceola counties. University of South Florida Political Scientist Susan MacManus says there’s a reason for that.

“The counties have very high minority vote proportions of the total electorate," remarked McManus. "And, minorities are the key protected group, whether it’s a language minority or a racial ethnic, under the federal Voting Rights Act, which is why federal observers are coming in to observe the state’s compliance with federal laws.”

Federal observers and department personnel are monitoring more jurisdictions in Florida than in any of the other 23 states.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on twitter @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.