Florida is trying to block federal authorities from monitoring the state's elections, according to a report.
The Justice Department regularly monitors elections as part of an ongoing effort to ensure federal voting laws are followed. The agency announced it “plans to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27 states for the Nov. 5 general election.”
However, Florida responded by saying their monitors aren't on the guest "list," FloridaVoiceNews reported Friday.
Also read: Busted: How Florida's Rick Scott is ramping up his inflammatory anti-immigrant rhetoric
“As a reminder, Department of Justice monitors are not permitted inside a polling place under Florida law," said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd.
“Even if they could qualify as ‘law enforcement’ under section 102.031 (3)(a) of the Florida Statutes, absent some evidence concerning the need for federal intrusion, or some federal statute that preempts Florida law, the presence of federal law enforcement inside polling places would be counterproductive and could potentially undermine confidence in the election,” he continued, according to the report.
Florida intends to send in its own monitors, he added.
The Supremacy Clause in the Constitution generally holds that federal law trumps state law. States are permitted to conduct elections however they wish, but monitoring them by the federal government may be another matter, and it could end up before the Supreme Court.
