FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Protesters are chanting for Broward County's elections chief to be imprisoned, and candidates are gearing up for a legal slugfest Friday, bringing chaos into Florida's midterm elections reminiscent of the infamous 2000 presidential recount.
A crowd assembled outside the office of Broward elections chief Brenda Snipes just a day after Republican Gov. Rick Scott delivered a speech at the governor's mansion asking state police to investigate vote counting in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Scott holds a 15,030-vote lead over incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the race for Senate, a margin that has continued to narrow since Election Day.
President Donald Trump weighed in on Twitter after Scott's speech, proclaiming "Florida voted for Rick Scott." He attacked Snipes in a tweet Friday morning, saying she has "a horrible history."
About 75 Republican supporters chanted "lock her up," "bye, bye Brenda," and "stop the steal." Scott provided fuel for the demonstration the night before, questioning whether "rampant fraud" could be happening in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
"They're putting ballots in and signing ballots that don't exist," said Jodi Sandak of Boynton Beach, a member of Americans for Trump Broward Chapter, who held a sign with a picture of Snipes under the heading Supervisor of Corruption.
Broward County is beefing up security at the elections office, using metal detectors on visitors. A shouting match erupted between the crowd and a lone woman wearing a T-shirt supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.
Scott's lead is close enough to trigger a hand recount. The contest between Gillum and GOP nominee Ron DeSantis is close enough for a machine recount, even though Gillum conceded on Election Day.
Nikki Fried, a Democratic candidate for agriculture, holds a 2,983-vote advantage over her Republican opponent, Matt Caldwell.
Both sides of Florida's Senate contest are digging in for a legal fight. Scott filed a lawsuit against Snipes and Palm Beach County elections head Susan Bucher, accusing them of withholding voter information in violation of Florida's public records laws.
The Florida Democratic Party is suing Secretary of State Ken Detzner, accusing election officials of disenfranchising voters by discarding absentee and provisional ballots where the signatures don't appear to match.
Marc Elias, lead recount attorney for Nelson, said election officials are using their "untrained opinions" on handwriting to discard votes. He said Scott's calls for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate elections officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties crossed a line.
Elias said he thinks that Nelson will be ahead when the recount is completed and that Scott's comments reflect a candidate who is fearful.
"This is not a third world dictatorship," he said. "We don't let people seize ballots when they think they're losing."
Scott tweeted Friday morning that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has retained the law firm Gibson Dunn, veterans of the Bush v. Gore case that decided the 2000 presidential contest in favor of George W. Bush.
