FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — State election crimes investigators were sent to Broward County’s elections headquarters in Fort Lauderdale this week to investigate marijuana-referendum petitions processed by the Broward Supervisor of Elections Office.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the investigators sent by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration arrived at elections headquarters Monday and were still there Tuesday.
The Broward County Supervisor of Elections office told Local 10 that investigators were expected there again Wednesday.
The elections office released a statement to Local 10 News, saying, “There is no indication that the Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office, nor Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, is under investigation.”
Scott said the investigation targets “circulators who were terminated for petition fraud by Smart & Safe Florida.”
“A letter dated January 24, 2026, from the Secretary of State referenced issues related to petitions collected for the marijuana initiative,” Scott said in a statement. “That correspondence was subsequently clarified by a letter sent to our office the following day from the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor, which makes clear that the targets of the investigation are circulators who were terminated for petition fraud by Smart & Safe Florida.
“My team and I are doing our part by providing information requested by the authorities. Our office remains committed to serving the people of Broward County with the transparency they expect from us.”
The proposed marijuana referendum would amend the state’s Constitution to legalize the use of recreational marijuana by those 21 and older – something DeSantis is opposed to.
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