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Election officials in Palm Beach County are pushing back against a wave of election integrity concerns, as accusations of fraud and mismanagement continue to circulate on social media following the 2024 election.
Palm Beach County has become a focal point for election integrity questions, with specific allegations targeting Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link. Critics claim the county’s 2024 election was compromised by improperly issued vote-by-mail ballots and a voter roll allegedly containing tens of thousands of unverifiable voters.
One of Link’s most vocal critics is Jeff Buongiorno, who ran against her in the 2024 election. Buongiorno has engaged in multiple legal battles, claiming that vote-by-mail ballots unfairly tilted the election in Link’s favor. According to Buongiorno, he won the in-person vote by nearly 9,000 votes, but after mail-in ballots were counted, Link ultimately prevailed.
“The outcome completely flipped after they counted the vote-by-mail ballots,” Buongiorno stated in his complaint. His legal challenges have focused on allegations that safeguards during the vote-by-mail tabulation process were either disabled or compromised.
Adding to the controversy, Ken Zitko, an election integrity activist with the group Unite4Freedom, released a report claiming that over 91,000 voters in Palm Beach County—approximately 12% of the voter roll—were “unverifiable.” Zitko has expressed concerns about how such a percentage could potentially influence close race outcomes.
“When you have races decided by just a few percentage points, having 12% of your voters unverifiable raises serious questions,” Zitko said.
Supervisor Link has forcefully defended her office’s procedures and the integrity of the county’s election systems. In response to the mounting criticism, Link opened the doors of the county’s advanced elections headquarters to CBS12, providing a transparent look at the ballot-counting processes and security measures in place.
“Palm Beach County has one of the cleanest voter rolls in Florida,” Link stated. “This has been verified by multiple third-party assessments, and we take pride in maintaining accurate voter information.”
Link, who was appointed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019, has overseen significant upgrades to the elections office and received national recognition for her efforts. She now serves as the leader of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association and has expressed frustration at what she characterizes as misinformation undermining voter confidence.
An investigation by CBS12’s I-Team raised serious questions about the methodology behind Unite4Freedom’s claims. Their report was based on a sample of just 608 voters out of Palm Beach County’s approximately 753,000 registered voters—less than 0.1% of the total voter population. Furthermore, the group relied on commercial skip-trace databases that are not designed for election verification purposes and often contain outdated or incomplete information.
State officials have also weighed in on the controversy. A post-election audit from 2024 reported that Palm Beach County’s voting systems demonstrated 99% accuracy, with no evidence of fraud or systemic issues detected.
The legal system has consistently rejected Buongiorno’s claims. Judges at multiple levels have dismissed his lawsuits, finding no credible evidence of election fraud. Defending against these cases has cost Palm Beach County taxpayers nearly $250,000, according to county records.
Buongiorno maintains that Link should personally cover those costs and continues to assert that the court system is biased against his claims.
Despite the ongoing controversies and social media debates, polling suggests that most Americans still have confidence in the electoral system. A recent Navigator Research poll found that approximately 80% of registered voters are confident their ballots will be counted accurately and fairly.
Election officials across the country emphasize that this confidence is essential to maintaining a healthy democracy, especially in an era of heightened political polarization and widespread misinformation.
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16 Comments
This election controversy in Palm Beach County seems quite complicated. I hope the officials are able to thoroughly investigate the allegations and provide clear, factual information to the public. Transparent and secure elections are crucial for democratic integrity.
Agreed, it’s important to get to the bottom of these concerns and ensure the process was fair and above-board. Robust safeguards and verifiable results are essential for public trust in the system.
This situation highlights the need for clear, consistent communication from election officials. Providing the public with accurate, up-to-date information can help counter misinformation and restore confidence in the electoral process.
Absolutely. Transparency and accountability should be the guiding principles here. I hope the authorities can thoroughly investigate the concerns and provide a definitive, fact-based assessment to the community.
The allegations of improper vote-by-mail procedures are certainly troubling, but it’s important to withhold judgment until the investigations are complete. Rushing to conclusions without solid evidence could further erode public trust.
Exactly. In these highly charged political times, it’s crucial that election authorities remain impartial and focus on verifying the facts. Transparent and credible processes are essential for preserving the integrity of our democracy.
As an impartial observer, I’m curious to see the results of the official investigations into these election integrity concerns. Maintaining the integrity of the electoral system should be the top priority, regardless of partisan interests.
Well said. Ensuring fair and secure elections is a fundamental responsibility of public officials. I hope they can address these issues in a measured, fact-based manner that restores confidence in the process.
The claims of improper vote-by-mail procedures are concerning. I’m curious to see what the official investigations uncover and whether they can restore confidence in the election outcome. Transparency will be key.
Absolutely, this is a sensitive issue that deserves a thorough, impartial review. Rushing to judgment or spreading unverified rumors is counterproductive. Let’s hope the authorities can provide clarity.
It’s concerning to see legal battles and misinformation cloud the integrity of the election process. While the allegations are serious, I hope the officials can address them in a measured, impartial way that upholds democratic principles.
Well said. Maintaining public trust in the electoral system is critical, regardless of partisan affiliations. A thorough, objective investigation focused on the facts is the best path forward.
While the legal battles and misinformation around this election are troubling, I’m glad to see election officials pushing back and defending the integrity of the process. Maintaining public trust in the democratic system is critical.
Agreed, these types of allegations can be damaging if not properly addressed. Voters deserve accurate, objective information to make informed decisions about the reliability of election results.
This situation highlights the importance of robust election safeguards and clear communication from officials. I hope the investigations can shed light on the facts and provide reassurance to the community.
Precisely, transparency and accountability are essential for upholding the democratic process. Rushing to conclusions without solid evidence is counterproductive and can undermine public trust.