No state standard for poll worker vetting raises security concerns after Palm Beach County arrest
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — There is no background check requirement for Florida poll workers, according to Martin County Supervisor of Elections Vicki Davis (R).
The lack of a requirement has led to each elections office in the state setting their own policy for vetting people working in the state’s election.
The Palm Beach County Republican Party is now asking for more in-depth and complete background checks in Palm Beach County, after WPTV found out a background check missed previous theft charges filed against a man who is now charged with stealing election equipment from a training session.
John Panicci, arrested in March for stealing election equipment, faced multiple theft charges in Martin County more than two decades ago. Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link (D) said they would have not hired Panicci if they knew about his criminal past, but a background check conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) didn’t notify them about his past because it only reviews an individual’s criminal history from the past 10 years.
https://www.wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/no-state-standard-for-poll-worker-vetting-raises-security-concerns-after-palm-beach-county-arrest