Miami-Dade officials count 250,000 ballots in District 27 tie
A manual recount of the congressional race between Maria Elvira Salazar and Eliott Rodriguez began Monday after a federal judge rejected a motion to remove the elections supervisor.
By Rebecca Foster ·
Maria Elvira Salazar and Eliott Rodriguez are competing for Florida's 27th Congressional District, a seat that requires a full manual recount of approximately 250,000 ballots. Workers at the Miami-Dade Elections headquarters began the process shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday, following machine testing to verify equipment functionality.
Salazar entered the recount with a lead of 1,090 votes. Although her campaign claimed victory, the race has not been officially declared. The initial phase involved tabulating Election Day ballots, a step completed by Monday evening. The team is now processing early and mail-in votes, which could continue through Tuesday morning.
The counting process is not without legal friction. Rodriguez's campaign filed a motion in federal court on Monday to disqualify Alina Garcia, the Republican elections supervisor, from serving on the canvassing board. Citing conflict of interest, attorneys argued that Garcia's son-in-law represents the Salazar campaign. A judge denied the motion, allowing Garcia to continue her role.
The canvassing board also includes county judges Jose Rohaidy and Victoria Ferrer. Michael Valdes, the assistant county attorney, explained that ballots with physical damage, such as tears or rips, may stop the automated process. In those cases, the damaged ballot is sent for duplication and reviewed by the board. JC Planas, an attorney for Rodriguez, stated the legal fight was about demonstrating impartiality in maintaining democracy rather than targeting specific individuals.
The final outcome depends on the margin of victory. Valdes noted that if the difference between the candidates is 0.25 percent or less, a manual recount will proceed. If the margin exceeds that threshold, the recount will conclude.
