Rep. West threatens legal action over ‘discrepancies’ at the polls

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) sent a letter to a Florida elections board supervisor Thursday threatening legal action over what he called “discrepancies” at the polls.

{mosads}The Tea Party freshman trails Democrat Patrick Murphy by nearly 2,500 votes in his south Florida district.

“Yesterday West for Congress campaign sent a letter to Gertrude Walker, St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, and the Canvassing Board detailing serious questions that have arisen during the canvass process in St. Lucie County prior to certification,” West’s campaign said in a statement Friday.

In its statement, the West campaign detailed what the congressman has called “disturbing irregularities.”

“Specifically, the campaign detailed a series of questions regarding the claimed ‘malfunction’ of memory cards used in the optical scanners in the first three days of early voting, as well as discrepancies in the numbers of ballots cast compared to how many voters voted. Given the extremely close nature of the election, the campaign has requested a response by noon on Friday, Nov. 9. If satisfactory answers are not provided, further legal action may be taken.”

Florida law requires a recount if the margin is 0.5 percent or less of votes cast. Murphy’s lead presently exceeds that margin, and he has already declared victory. Murphy told the Bradenton Herald he plans on being in Washington next week for freshman orientation.

The West-Murphy race is one of a handful of House races The Associated Press has yet to call.