Ballots and Bullets: Armed Guards Keep Watch Over Polls

Florida's Lee County ensures voting runs smoothly

Voting went relatively smooth in Miami-Dade and Broward counties Tuesday, but over in Lee County near Fort Myers, there was extra insurance things would run smoothly: armed guards.

Guards were stationed at 11 precincts after poll workers told elections supervisor Sharon Harringon they needed extra security, according to news-press.com.

"Some of them are high crime areas," Harrington said. Six of those precincts are in low-income neighborhoods, though Harrington insisted there was no profiling done in placing the guards.

Though the armed security guards have been used in Lee County the past six years, some, including Lee County Democratic Party Chairman Will Prather, aren't exactly thrilled with the idea of people packing heat near the voting booths.

Prather said he witnessed the guards stationed near the precinct entrances and in some cases, opening doors for voters.

“We went through all this in 2008, and we agreed the security guards would back off,” Prather said.

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