A Florida county hit by a hurricane has accepted votes by email and fax, contrary to state rules

Some voters from a North Florida county, hit hard by Hurricane Michael, submitted their ballots by fax and email – a practice that goes against the guidelines issued by election officials in Florida in October.

Bay County election supervisor Mark Andersen told CNN that he and his associates had worked with 158 voters who had been moved by Michael to vote by e-mail and fax, while State of Florida had declared that vote by fax or e-mail "option."

Andersen said: "This was the only method available to voters displaced from the hurricane."

"We would send them a ballot by e-mail, as we would do with our foreign voters wherever possible, they would get it, they would vote, 147 of them faxed it to us. after voting, "he said. Eleven were sent back by e-mail, he said.

"Nobody voted for a ballot that should not have done it," said Andersen.

Due to the destruction of the hurricane, "Some (voters) do not have a home – some of my staff do not have a house that ran this election – so I think the important part (is) to realize that we could actually win elections with checks and balances, "said Andersen.

On October 18, Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a decree authorizing election supervisors in countries badly affected by Hurricane Michael to extend the advance poll and postal voting options. A few weeks before the November 6 general election, Hurricane Michael shot down Florida, causing a Category 4 storm and devastating communities.

On October 18, a Florida State Department press release described plans to extend advance polls and postal voting and also stated: "Voting by fax or e-mail is not an option in Canada. under the decree. "

"In the most affected areas, communication by telephone, fax and e-mail remains difficult and would be an unreliable method of returning ballot papers," the ministry said. "In addition, previous attempts by other states to allow voters affected by natural disasters to send ballots by fax or e-mail have multiplied."

Republicans, including Rick Scott and President Donald Trump, claimed that there was "fraud" in the state's electoral process, despite repeated denials from the Florida state department. The charges were brought against the Democratic Counties of Palm Beach and Broward. Bay County is a Republican County.

"I am quite puzzled by the fact that people are very aggressive in trying to prevent people from voting, given the devastation this county has had," Andersen told CNN.

Andersen told CNN that he had informed Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner of his intentions before polling day, and that he had replied, "You are the election supervisor. in this county, and you do what you believe to be the best interest of your constituents in Bay County. "

Sarah Revell, spokeswoman for the Florida State Department, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this application.

In a more general statement, Revell told CNN: "The Florida State Department has received information that the Bay County Election Supervisor would have allowed some voters to return their ballots by e-mail. and by fax ".

Revell went on to say: "The election monitors are independently elected constitutional officers and it is the responsibility of every supervisor to respect the law at all times."

Andersen told CNN: "I do not think I have broken anything with regard to the requirement and charge of my office to ensure the voter the opportunity to vote."