USA TODAY International Edition
Fla. man accused of tampering with database
A Florida man who allegedly accessed the registration of several wellknown figures stands accused of changing Gov. Ron DeSantis address in a voter database. Anthony Steven Guevara, 20, of Naples, was charged with felonies. Authorities say he also accessed the registrations for U. S. Sen. Rick Scott, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, but made no changes.
An elections supervision called Guevara’s actions a “very expensive prank,” at worst.
Meanwhile, the supervisor of elections in Brevard County has deployed security to guard vote- by- mail drop boxes outside her four offices around the clock after hearing Sunday of the contents of a box set on fire in Boston.
Texas judge: Masks required at polling sites
A federal judge in San Antonio has voided Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s exception to statewide mask mandates and ruled that everyone who enters or works at a polling place in the state must wear a face covering. U. S. District Judge Jason Pulliam, appointed by President Donald Trump, said the exemption violates the Voting Rights Act “because it creates a discriminatory burden on Black and Latino voters.” The pandemic has disproportionately affected minorities, placing them at higher risk of severe illness and death. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he will ask the 5th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block the order.
The Texas Supreme Court upheld Abbott’s order limiting counties to one mail- in ballot drop- off location, overturning lower courts. The ruling dissolved an injunction issued by a Democratic judge in Travis County that sought to bar enforcement of Abbott’s limit of drop- off locations as an impermissible burden on voting rights.
The all- Republican court determined that although Abbott restricted voters to one site per county, the governor actually had expanded voting opportunities. Under Texas law, voters can hand- deliver mail- in ballots only on Election Day, but Abbott used his emergency powers during the pandemic to allow deliveries for more than five weeks before Nov. 3.
Mich. judge tosses open- carry gun ban at voting sites
A Michigan judge has struck down Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s directive banning the open carry of guns at the polling places on Election Day. Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray said Benson did not follow the proper procedure and issued a preliminary injunction against her directive. “This case is not about whether it is a good idea to openly carry a firearm at a polling place, or whether the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution prevents the secretary of state’s ... directive,” Murray’s opinion said.
The Detroit branch of the NAACP said its members and area attorneys will monitor polls and report to police and prosecutors any instances of voter intimidation or voter suppression.
2 accused in intimidation case
Two men accused of voter intimidation against minorities in Michigan have been indicted on felony charges of telecommunications fraud and bribery in Ohio. The alleged robocalling scheme meant to intimidate voters in minority neighborhoods into not voting. More than 67,000 calls were made in August targeting areas of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The calls purported to warn people that asking for an absentee ballot would alert bill collectors to go after them, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.
Tenn. voting sites for COVID- 19
Tennesseans with COVID- 19 should be able to vote in person with new safety measures, officials told counties this week. Polling can be designated for anyone with symptoms.