Jamaican man arrested after voting illegally in Florida elections Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

A 57-year-old Jamaican man was on Wednesday arrested after he allegedly voted as an unqualified elector in Broward County, Florida in the United States earlier this year by using a counterfeit birth certificate.

Alford Nelson, who voted twice in Broward County under the name Alfred Samuels, was released from jail without having to post bail on Thursday.

According to the Sun Sentinel, Nelson was arrested a day prior on two counts of voting as an unqualified elector by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

The report cited an affidavit that revealed that Nelson was born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, and was admitted into Miami, United States as a lawful permanent resident of that country on June 21, 1977.

Lawful permanent residents, otherwise called ‘green card’ recipients, “are not US citizens and are not allowed to vote, according to Homeland Security,” the report emphasised.

As a result, the Jamaican could face up to five years in a US prison, and a maximum fine of US$5,000 for voting under a false name.

The FDLE noted as well, that Nelson did not apply for naturalisation and overstayed on his original entry documents.

Further, the Jamaican had numerous aliases, including the name Alfred Samuels, which he voted under earlier this year. However, a probable cause affidavit identifies him by the name Alford Nelson.

A statement from the FDLE confirming Nelson’s arrest on Thursday, said, as listed on the Department of Corrections website, the Jamaican had previously been convicted of, and served time in prison for 11 felonies, including cocaine possession, as well as selling and purchasing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.

Specifically to the case, Nelson told investigators at his home in Lauderhill earlier this month that he renewed his Florida identification card (ID) at the DMV using a fake birth certificate from New York City that he bought for US$2,000.

The affidavit further outlined that while at the DMV office he was asked if he wanted to register to vote, and days later, he received his voter ID card in the mail.

Records from the Broward County Supervisor of Elections showed that the Jamaican voted by mail in the January 11 special general election, and again, in the March 8 special general election.

Nelson’s arrest and charge was the result of a probe by several agencies, including the FDLE’s Election Crime Unit, the Florida Department of State, and the Office of Elections Crimes and Security.

The latter was created by Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis under the Florida Department of State in July. The department has the responsibility of probing all election crimes in Florida, as well as “overseeing the implementation of measures that will ensure Florida’s elections remain secure,” a release said at the time from the governor.

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