Broward voters mailed extra ballots; critics blame Oliphant

FORT LAUDERDALE - Dozens of Broward County residents are reporting they received extra ballots for next month's mail-in elections in four cities.

Critics of county Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant are calling it her latest misstep.

County officials suspect the errors are the result of Oliphant's failure to clean up the voter registration rolls every other year as required under state law. They believe thousands of people who moved, died or are in prison pack the county's list of 1-million voters.

Oliphant's office is in the process of getting 100,000 ballots for the Nov. 4 election to voters in Southwest Ranches, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and two neighborhoods near Cooper City. The mailing is normally handled in-house with the help of temporary workers, but Oliphant said last week she had hired Goodwill Industries to do it this year, at a savings to the county of $10,000.

Southwest Ranches Town Administrator John Canada said the town received about a dozen phone calls from people who didn't know what to do with extra ballots they got in the mail.

Among those who got extra ballots were County Mayor Diana Wasserman-Rubin. She received three for the people she bought her house from four years ago.

"I'm scrupulous and returned the three that don't belong to me, but who knows what's going to happen," said Wasserman-Rubin.

Oliphant did not return a phone message Tuesday.

Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood is reviewing Oliphant's office to see whether she is on track to run a special election early next year. A team of observers visited the county last week, and its report is expected soon.

State election administrators have become increasingly concerned since Oliphant forced out key managers on her staff over the past two months.

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