<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Election official: Counting is secure, transparent"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Under legislation now under consideration by Florida lawmakers, county elections supervisors would be able to withhold information about the ever-present possibility of systems being hacked and voter records being altered.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Those dangers came close to happening in at least four Florida counties in 2016, according to federal intelligence reports.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">In case you missed this:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/news/local/state/2021/03/09/florida-mail-ballots-voting-election-security-restrictions-drop-box-ban/4642096001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l="|inline|intext|n/a" class="gnt_ar_b_a">As GOP looks to restrict Florida mail ballots, advocates unveil report that process worked</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">Florida legislators:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/news/local/state/2021/02/15/florida-election-laws-2021-legislative-session/6736150002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l="|inline|intext|n/a" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Look to tweak election laws – from voter registration to felon voting rights</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Voting rights groups, government watchdogs and members of Florida’s congressional delegation have pushed for greater transparency in disclosing those security breaches, but a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1704/BillText/Filed/HTML" rel="noopener" data-t-l="|inline|intext|n/a" class="gnt_ar_b_a">measure by Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, would go the opposite direction. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“We’ve seen in past elections a real invasion from outside sources to try to intimidate and change certain information,” Broxson said Tuesday in introducing the bill (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/1704" rel="noopener" data-t-l="|inline|intext|n/a" class="gnt_ar_b_a">SB 1704</a>). “It happened in my county.”</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">In its first committee hearing, the bill was cleared without debate or objection. It has two more committees before it reaches the Senate floor. Because the bill expands an existing public records exemption, it will need a two-thirds vote for final passage.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The measure has the full backing of the statewide Florida Supervisors of Elections association, which has made it a legislative priority.</p><a target="_blank" class="gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el" href="/picture-gallery/news/2020/04/14/coronavirus-florida-elections-chief-backs-mail-voting-amid-national-debate/112363884/" data-t-l="|inlinePhotoGalleryPromo|viewGallery" aria-label="View Gallery - Coronavirus Florida: Elections chief backs mail voting amid national debate" data-g-r="nav_mo" data-g-tn="pgcss" data-g-mtn="pg112363884" data-g-moh="hpgm" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false" onmousedown="event.stopPropagation()" onmouseup="event.stopPropagation()" data-c-id="112363884" rel="noopener"><img class="gnt_em_gl_i" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/2887f5d7d58a75a6437c45e987fd994202334aff/c=0-156-3000-1844/local/-/media/2020/07/24/PalmBeachPost/ghows-LK-200419101-1e0aae8a.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/2887f5d7d58a75a6437c45e987fd994202334aff/c=0-156-3000-1844/local/-/media/2020/07/24/PalmBeachPost/ghows-LK-200419101-1e0aae8a.jpg?width=1320&height=744&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="" width="660" height="372"/></a><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“Florida’s public records laws do not clearly protect information by...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2021/03/17/election-security-breaches-kept-secret-under-florida-legislation/4715916001/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
