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Nearly 500 ballots missing three LA-MSID races

By Staff | Nov 2, 2016

If you live in the Varsity Lakes area, your chance of being able to vote in the three Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improved District races is up in the air.

Last week, early voters noticed that the section supposed to include the LA-MSID races was missing on their ballots.

Officials estimated that there are close to 500 voters affected by the error.

Vicki Collins, public information officer for the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, said the office is aware of the mistake.

“After our investigation, we found that an error occurred in our geographical mapping system that placed approximately 500 voters outside of the district,” she said.

The office has contacted its mapping vendor to determine why the error occurred.

“This was an absolute travesty, a glaring display of incompetence of the Supervisor of Elections,”?said Michael Welch, who is seeking re-election to the district’s Seat 1.

He is running against Dewey Tyler.

Seats 3 and 5 are also on the ballot.

“There are 497 people affected,” Welch said. “Something needs to be done so those people at Varsity Lakes can vote for members seeking a seat on the LA-MSID.”

“What about those who voted at home and now the early voting people?” he asked. “They have a right to be heard.”

Varsity Lakes is a gated community, located near Lehigh Senior High School on Gunnery Road North.

As of last week, officials could not confirm how many voters had already cast a ballot with the races missing.

David Lindsay, executive director of the LA-MSID, said the nearly 500 voters need to be heard.

Many are saying that the ballots may mean the difference between a candidate winning or losing.

“The Florida Division of Elections has advised the Lee County Supervisor of Elections that due to the advanced stage of the election, we must allow the election to go forward in its current circumstance and report election results in accordance with Florida law,” Collins said. “The outcome of the election will determine what action, if any, will be undertaken.”

As of late Thursday afternoon, Lindsay had received an email from the Elections Office stating:

“The Lee County Supervisor of Elections office is putting a plan together for approval by the State Division of Elections to allow for a provisional ballot for the 497 voters affected in Precinct 4.1.”

But, the plan was denied.

“We received an update just moments ago, from the Lee County Supervisor of Elections staff, notifying us that the Division (of Elections) did not approve this alternative plan and that there is no accommodation available for the 497 residents and that the election must move forward as coded,” Lindsay said.

According to an email from the Elections Office:

“If there is a margin of 497 or less, then the elections results can be contested. But whomever wins the election, even if contested, will be installed. If there is a reelection, LA-MSID will not be charged. Also, a determination is being made whether new candidates can jump into the re-election.”

Nearly 500 ballots missing three LA-MSID races

By Staff | Nov 2, 2016

If you live in the Varsity Lakes area, your chance of being able to vote in the three Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improved District races is up in the air.

Last week, early voters noticed that the section supposed to include the LA-MSID races was missing on their ballots.

Officials estimated that there are close to 500 voters affected by the error.

Vicki Collins, public information officer for the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, said the office is aware of the mistake.

“After our investigation, we found that an error occurred in our geographical mapping system that placed approximately 500 voters outside of the district,” she said.

The office has contacted its mapping vendor to determine why the error occurred.

“This was an absolute travesty, a glaring display of incompetence of the Supervisor of Elections,”?said Michael Welch, who is seeking re-election to the district’s Seat 1.

He is running against Dewey Tyler.

Seats 3 and 5 are also on the ballot.

“There are 497 people affected,” Welch said. “Something needs to be done so those people at Varsity Lakes can vote for members seeking a seat on the LA-MSID.”

“What about those who voted at home and now the early voting people?” he asked. “They have a right to be heard.”

Varsity Lakes is a gated community, located near Lehigh Senior High School on Gunnery Road North.

As of last week, officials could not confirm how many voters had already cast a ballot with the races missing.

David Lindsay, executive director of the LA-MSID, said the nearly 500 voters need to be heard.

Many are saying that the ballots may mean the difference between a candidate winning or losing.

“The Florida Division of Elections has advised the Lee County Supervisor of Elections that due to the advanced stage of the election, we must allow the election to go forward in its current circumstance and report election results in accordance with Florida law,” Collins said. “The outcome of the election will determine what action, if any, will be undertaken.”

As of late Thursday afternoon, Lindsay had received an email from the Elections Office stating:

“The Lee County Supervisor of Elections office is putting a plan together for approval by the State Division of Elections to allow for a provisional ballot for the 497 voters affected in Precinct 4.1.”

But, the plan was denied.

“We received an update just moments ago, from the Lee County Supervisor of Elections staff, notifying us that the Division (of Elections) did not approve this alternative plan and that there is no accommodation available for the 497 residents and that the election must move forward as coded,” Lindsay said.

According to an email from the Elections Office:

“If there is a margin of 497 or less, then the elections results can be contested. But whomever wins the election, even if contested, will be installed. If there is a reelection, LA-MSID will not be charged. Also, a determination is being made whether new candidates can jump into the re-election.”