DeSantis administration launches probe into marijuana referendum petitions in Broward County

FORTLAUDERDALE,Fla.—StateelectioncrimesinvestigatorsweresenttoBrowardCounty’selectionsheadquartersinFortLauderdalethisweektoinvestigatemarijuana-referendumpetitionsprocessedbytheBrowardSupervisorofElectionsOffice. AccordingtotheSouthFloridaSunSentinel,theinvestigatorssentbyGov.RonDeSantis’administrationarrivedatelectionsheadquartersMondayandwerestillthereTuesday. TheBrowardCountySupervisorofElectionsofficereleasedastatementtoLocal10NewsWednesday,saying,“ThereisnoindicationthattheBrowardCountySupervisorofElectionsOffice,norBrowardCountySupervisorofElectionsJoeScott,isunderinvestigation.” Scottsaidtheinvestigationtargets“circulatorswhowereterminatedforpetitionfraudbySmart&SafeFlorida.” “AletterdatedJanuary24,2026,fromtheSecretaryofStatereferencedissuesrelatedtopetitionscollectedforthemarijuanainitiative,”Scottsaidinastatement.“Thatcorrespondencewassubsequentlyclarifiedbyalett