A Republican and an independent voter in Miami-Dade are suing the Miami-Dade elections supervisor to be able to vote for state attorney in the Aug. 14 primary.  

At present, only Democrats will be able to vote in the state attorney primary between incumbent Katherine Fernandez Rundle and challenger Rod Vereen.  

"I want to vote in that race," said Armando Lacasa, a former Miami commissioner and registered Republican, "but I cannot because I'm a Republican. I have been disenfranchised." 

Independent voter Vincent J. Mazzilli is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. 

Republicans and voters with no party affiliation, who number nearly 700,000 in Miami-Dade, will not be able to vote in the Aug. 14 primary because two write-in candidates have qualified for the November general election.  

Miami-Dade Election Supervisor Penelope Townsley said only Democrats can vote because of state election law.  

However, attorney Roberto Martinez, of the Colson Hicks Eidson law firm in Coral Gables, argues that the two write-in candidates were "put up" to running only to prevent Republicans and independents from voting in the state attorney primary contest. 

A hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday before U.S. District Judge William Zloch on the lawsuit filed by Martinez.