TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A judge has found six absentee ballots with invalid signatures as he began hearing a challenge to Rep. Barbara Watson's 13-vote victory in the Democratic primary for a South Florida seat in the state House.
The hearing began Tuesday and will continue Wednesday in Tallahassee.
A lawyer for Rep. John Patrick Julien said the invalid signatures support his argument to throw out all absentee ballots. He contends some were cast by people who are dead or say they never voted.
Not counting the absentees would make Julien, of North Miami, the winner over Watson, of Miami Gardens.
They faced each other in the primary because redistricting put them in the same district. The Democratic winner is virtually assured of re-election against two write-in candidates.