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Guest post by Billy Christensen

Florida, often associated with sunshine and sandy beaches, is now caught amid an election storm unlike any it has weathered. This time, it's not about hurricanes or tourist traffic, rather it is an election integrity issue that threatens to be the country's most controversial and far-reaching problem. To put this into
perspective, if Elon Musk's DOGE were tasked with evaluating Florida's elections, the shock and awe would rival (or perhaps even surpass) the findings of U.S. AID audits. The source of Florida's electoral chaos? It all begins with the mailbox.

For decades, Florida has been the epicenter of election-related drama. The infamous "hanging chads" of 2000, where a razor-thin recount turned national attention to the state, now seem minor compared to today's election troubles. The latest issue? Vote-by-Mail (VBM). Once seen as a convenient and accessible option for voters, VBM has now evolved into a potential avenue for fraud and manipulation.

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The Chain of Command: Bureaucrats Behind the Ballots

In Florida, the Department of Elections, managed by the Secretary of State, oversees the electoral process. Here's where the problem begins: Florida is one of only 11 states where the Secretary of State is not elected. This anomaly means unelected bureaucrats, officials not directly accountable to the public, are responsible for how elections are run. These unelected individuals interpret Florida's election laws, often subjectively and sometimes in ways that spark controversy.

Adding fuel to the fire is the Florida Supervisors of Elections, Inc. (FSE Inc.), a quasi-union representing local election officials and funded by taxpayer dollars. This organization is heavily influenced by political pressures, contractors, and explicit partisan biases. For instance, prominent Republicans Evan Powers and Dave Ramba hold or have held leadership positions in FSE Inc., seemingly steering the group's decisions in ways that appear to favor specific political agendas. How can voters trust a system shaped by powerful political insiders?

The Shocking Case of Hillsborough County

One of the most glaring examples of election irregularities comes from Hillsborough County. In the 2024 election, Craig Latimer, the long-serving Supervisor of Elections for the county, secured re-election with an astonishing margin, more than 11,000 votes above Vice President Kamala Harris and nearly
1,000 votes more than now President Donald Trump.

What's truly staggering is that Latimer, trailing by 30,000 votes in early and day-of voting, ended up winning by 40,000. How did this happen for a candidate most voters couldn't even name? The answer is simple: vote-by-mail.

Latimer, having been in office for over a decade, defeated Republican challenger Billy Christensen, a decorated veteran and former intelligence professional with broad support. Despite Christensen being a relative unknown, Latimer's victory raised eyebrows. This was not just any election; Latimer was in charge when Florida experienced its first-ever election data breach, in which 58,000 voter IDs were stolen from his office (coincidentally, the information necessary to request a VBM). What's more, Latimer was also the former chair of FSE Inc., further entangling him in the web of election-related controversies.

Despite multiple requests from the public about the breach, Latimer hides behind the "ongoing FBI investigation," and the breach remains unsolved. But the real question lingers: was this a cyber hack perpetrated by an outsider, or could it have been an inside job? Regardless, it raises questions about the security of Florida's election apparatus. Florida's lack of a standing grand jury process only complicates matters further. Without a standing grand jury, there is little recourse for holding those in power accountable at the state level, making and ensuring transparency and integrity in election-related investigations even more challenging.

Vote-by-Mail: The Gateway to Voter Fraud?

The role of vote-by-mail in Hillsborough's election is now under intense scrutiny. Congressional candidate Rocky Rochford, running in District 14, has filed an election challenge citing numerous anomalies, including 5,000 "no-no" ballots sent out by Latimer. These ballots were distributed without the required voter identification, such as driver's licenses and Social Security numbers.

Nearly 5,000 "no-no" ballots were issued in Hillsborough County alone. But the issue doesn't end there. In neighboring Pinellas County, nearly 200,000 VBM ballots were mailed out, with most returns favoring incumbents. The common thread? VBM ballots don't always adhere to party lines. Numerous instances
show low-level candidates outperforming national figures in the VBM tally.

As if this was not enough to raise suspicions, FSE Inc. is pushing to change Florida’s laws. In February 2025, the group announced a proposal to eliminate the requirement that voters must renew their VBM requests every election cycle. Why? Insiders suggest that VBM requests have sharply declined, something that could severely impact political insiders' control over future elections.

Is Florida Serious About Election Security?

Florida's elections are in crisis, and the state has a long way to go before it achieves the "gold standard" of election integrity it claims to uphold. With its VBM system vulnerable to abuse, corruption among officials, and a growing divide in election outcomes, the question remains: when will the state take real action to safeguard its elections?

As the fallout from the 2024 election and ongoing challenges continue to unfold, Florida's election system is only becoming more problematic. The state must take serious steps toward reform before the Sunshine State becomes a cautionary tale for the rest of the nation.

About the Author

Billy Christensen was the Republican candidate for Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections in 2024. He has a government and military intelligence background and currently operates a real estate business. Christensen holds a Master's degree in International Relations, bringing diverse skills and experiences to his approach to local elections.