MANATEE—Beginning today, registered voters in Manatee County will receive a letter from Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher accompanied by a “new voter information card.” However, some residents tell TBT that the information on their “new” voter card is incorrect.
The issuance of the new voter information cards is creating confusion among Manatee County voters we spoke to, leaving those voters wondering which voter card is their “valid” card—the one they received today with incorrect information or the one they already have with their correct voter information.
The letter accompanying the new voter cards stated that the cards were issued as a requirement of state statute.
TBT was able to independently confirm that some voters who received their “new” voter information cards received cards containing information that differed from that on record with the Florida Department of State.
The latest issue with official materials mailed to voters by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office comes on the heels of last week some residents receiving vote-by-mail primary ballots that did not match the registered voters’ party affiliation.
Our publication is investigating the issue of incorrect voter information cards and has contacted the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections for more information on how these errors have occurred, how many residents may be impacted, and what Manatee County voters should do if they receive a “new” voter information card with incorrect voter registration information.
Satcher, who was serving his first term as D1 Manatee County Commissioner when he was appointed to the SOE position following Mike Bennett's retirement, faces Bennett's former Deputy SOE, Scott Farrington, in August's Republican primary.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
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Cat L
The "errors" we're already seeing from that office are not so much of a surprise since I learned that those appointed by the governor are suggested to him by lobbyists. The same lobbyists people have paid to get their do-boy politicians elected....
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
writerlynn9717
I also received an error this week. I received a new voter i.d. card showing me as a Dem. I changed my party a month ago to Republican, and I had already received my Republic voter i.d. card. So, I am going to have to call SOE again. The first time was because they sent out the Dem VBM ballot, instead of the Republican. Yes, they are having big issues if people aren't paying attention. I would have hated to show up to vote with the wrong party i.d. And, these extra i.d.'s and ballots are hanging around now. I believe this is all happening because thousands of Dems changed parties to vote in the primary.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
BennytheDog
The SOE messed up my new voter registration card, and sent me the mail in primary ballot for my previous party affiliation.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
JanaDM
Is this what our $800k paid for?
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
WTF
It's like taking a child from a sandbox and putting him on the Space X program. Satcher has no clue on how to run ANYTHING, except running from all the residential evictions he has had. His days are numbered thank God!
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
writerlynn9717
As a follow up to my previous comment, and to dispel conspiracies and/or security issues, I called SOE about my second voter i.d. sent out to me with the wrong party. People who changed their party from Dem to Republican recently, thousands did, the sending out of VBM ballots and i.d. cards got crossed in the mail. I was told to tear up the wrong ballot and to tear up the wrong i.d. card. I asked how the vote would be counted, if someone tried to cheat the system with their two different ballots or i.d. cards. I was told by SOE office help that the only the first vote made would be counted, never the second. Even though I vote Farrington for SOE, I do have to admit that it's understandable how ballot and i.d. cards might cross in the mail with thousands changing their party close to the primary, as has happened in Manatee County. Maybe this will require more than one count in the end anyway, even if the first vote received is the only one counted. And, in the long run, I am glad I could change my party temporarily, and I did receive the new ballot and i.d. card for the new party.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
rjckeuka4
I received a new card even though I had gotten the original one when I changed addresses a couple of months ago. I didn't understand why, but did a quick check of the accuracy of the new one, which seemed O.K., tore up the old one, and just assumed the new one was correct. Perhaps he just sent the new ones so he could get his picture and name out there...i.e., a campaign mailing at our expense.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
lyleclandon
There were two errors on my new Voter Information card: name mispelled and wrong party affiliation. A quick read of the entire FL Statute 97.071 does not specify that new cards need to be sent out when a new Supervisor of Elections is appointed or elected! Satcher is not following the statute and wasting the Manatee taxpayers' money. I did not authorize use of my tax dollars for Satcher to increase his awareness with all registered voters less than 30 days from the Primary Voting! This will backfire. By revealing his ignorance of the law, and deceitful and self-serving use of funds, he's just gifted Farrington bigtime.
YaLostMe
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
Debann
Thanks desaton. For appointing someone that's UNQUALIFIED and INCOMPETENT...YOU ROCK.....SAID NO ONE EVER!!!!!
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
jimloftusjr
The ERROR is the Christian Nationalist nonsense about the Invisible Man in the Sky.
Satcher's the Supervisor of Elections, NOT the village shaman.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
jimloftusjr
Forgot to mention: this is another Rhonda Santis appointee, as unqualified at this clown:
https://medium.com/@jamesleftist-95606/surprise-desantis-candidate-for-college-president-has-no-qualifications-and-a-criminal-history-2aba025501fd
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Report this
Dave
I switched my status to Republican a month or so ago and that is shown on the new card I got this week.
I was skeptical about Satcher’s claim that state law required new cards so I looked at the statute he cited.
He is, I think, right. The statute section requires the SOE be shown on the card. He of course wasn’t on the old card before he was appointed.
So as incompetent as I think he is, he got this one right.
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Report this
sandy
Dave: I switched my affiliation right after Satcher got appointed in April. My new card came with Satcher as SOE on it. I received a new card today a total duplicate to the one received before. I did not need a new card. Already had one. Seems to me he did some extra printing to justify what he asked for in his budget amendment. Why else would he send a new card to someone who already had a correct card. Computer systems could be set to send to only those who changed recently.
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Report this
Dave
Sandy,
There is no reason, he’s incompetent and biased.
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Report this
kmskepton
Here is the statute: "In the case of a change of name, address of legal residence, polling place address, or party affiliation, the supervisor shall issue the voter a new voter information card."
it does not state the a new card needs to be mailed if the SOE changed.
Satcher knew it was not necessary so he tried to make it sound like it was by including a statute that most people won't think to read. If he thought mailing all new cards was "normal" he would not have tried to justify it.
It was a campaign stunt - plain and simple.
Friday, July 26, 2024 Report this