Florida Agency Reviewing Ballot Harvesting Complaint Referred by Election Investigation Office

A worker scans and tabulate ballots at the Miami-Dade County Elections Department in Doral, Fla., on Nov. 3, 2020. Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing a complaint about ballot harvesting that happened in Fort Myers, the agency told The Epoch Times.

The complaint (pdf) claimed Terolyn Watson, Fort Myers Democrat City Councilwoman for Ward 3, has been going through neighborhoods on a golf cart, asking residents to call the supervisor of elections office to request a vote-by-mail ballot while she stands there and waits.

Watson also allegedly intimidated residents into placing her campaign signs in their yards.

The complaint was filed by Chantel Rhodes, Watson’s Democrat challenger for Ward 3.

Rhodes is a self-professed Black Lives Matter supporter.

“FDLE received a complaint about ballot harvesting in Ft. Myers and we are reviewing the complaint,” FDLE public information officer Gretl Plessinger told the Epoch Times. “This is not currently an investigation.”

Rhodes confirmed that the law department has contacted her.

“I just spoke with the Fort Myers Police Department,” Rhodes told The Epoch Times on Oct. 26. “They said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement now has the case.”

Chantel Rhodes (center), candidate for Ft. Myers City Council District 3 with her mother Darlene (left) and bother Chuck (right). Courtesy of Chantel Rhodes

The complaint was reviewed by the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) and referred to the law department, Florida Department of State (FDOS) Director of External Affairs Mark R. Ard, PMP told The Epoch Times.

“Our office received the complaint on August 31, 2022,” Ard said. “The Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) is an investigative entity and does not have the authority to make arrests.  The OECS performed a preliminary investigation and forwarded the information to the Fort Myers Police Department on September 14, 2022, and on September 15, 2022, notified the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. The OECS has now forwarded the complaint to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for possible violation of section 104.0616, Florida Statutes.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Press Secretary Bryan Griffin refused to comment on this matter saying they cannot comment on active investigations.

‘That Girl Is Just Desperate’

Rhodes said she learned that Watson has paid multiple people $20 and offered to purchase things for their ballots.

“That was a red flag to me,” she said. “We’ve got ballot harvesting going on.”

Emails from The Epoch Times were not answered by Watson.

Incumbent Ft. Myers Democrat City Councilwoman for District 3, Terolyn Watson is under investigation for possible violation of Florida's ballot harvesting laws. City of Ft. Myers website

However, according to a local Sept. 6 report, Watson denies engaging in any improper election practices.

“That girl is just desperate, just trying to come up with something,” Watson said. “The people choose their own candidates; the love and respect I have for them, they have for me.”

“My initial feeling is my (opponent) is getting desperate. My numbers double hers. That’s the first thing that comes to my mind,” Watson said. “This is not going to throw me off of getting out and doing what I need to do. It’s just a distraction.”