Border Patrol vehicles briefly appeared at Florida polling sites

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 24 Oct, 03:20 · Archive

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol vehicles appeared at early voting locations in Florida, prompting election supervisors to file complaints.

Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicles appeared at the Northeast Branch Library early voting site in Tallahassee on Monday morning around 10:15 a.m., the first day of early voting in Leon County. The vehicles remained for about ten minutes before leaving. Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley initially filed a formal complaint with the FBI, which he said was "taking this very seriously."

According to the FBI's findings, the agents thought they could vote at the location but were not Leon County voters. The team was normally stationed in South Florida but had been recently reassigned to a North Florida location. As they travelled north out of state on US Highway 319, they approached the library just before realising they were leaving the state and would not be present on Election Day. They "immediately left the early voting site" once they understood they could not vote there. Earley said he was satisfied this was "an isolated instance of agents attempting to vote before they left Florida."

Separately, federal agents were spotted at a polling location in Key Largo. According to a federal agency, a Florida attorney was arrested at that site for allegedly threatening to kill U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The election supervisor in Key Largo also filed a formal complaint over the armed federal agents' presence at the voting location.

How it is being reported

• Border Protection agents at Tallahassee voting site mistakenly thought they could vote thereLeon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley said he’s satisfied that this was “an isolated instance of agents attempting to vote before they left Florida.”WCTV · 23 Oct, 20:49
• Duval County elections supervisor demonstrates how to use new express vote machinesEarly voting is underway in Duval County, and many residents are getting their first look at express vote machines at the polls.News4Jax · 23 Oct, 20:47
• Federal agents spotted at Florida polling locations as early voting continuesFederal agents were spotted at polling locations in Florida this week, including in Tallahassee and Key Largo, prompting election supervisors in both areas to file formal complaints.WCTV · 22 Oct, 21:25
• Leon Co. Supervisor of Elections says 2 Border Patrol vehicles seen at early voting site MondayLeon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley says two U.S. Customs Border Patrol vehicles were seen at an early voting site in Tallahassee on Monday.WCTV · 22 Oct, 14:26
• Leon Co. Supervisor of Elections says 2 ICE vehicles seen at early voting site MondayLeon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley says two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles were seen at an early voting site in Tallahassee on Monday.WCTV · 21 Oct, 23:23

In this story: Mark Earley · Leon County · Tallahassee · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · Key Largo · FBI

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log