TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A judge has dismissed charges in a north Florida voting fraud case and defense lawyers are predicting others will follow.
Circuit Judge Julian Collins this week dismissed felony charges against Montollis Roberson, a volunteer in the 2010 campaign of a Madison County school board candidate.
Roberson was accused of violating requirements for the distribution and collection of absentee ballots.
Collins, though, cited a 1975 Florida Supreme Court ruling that says those provisions are discretionary rather than mandatory.
The judge also noted the state conceded there was no intent to cast a false or fraudulent ballot.
Five other defendants are facing similar charges including suspended School Board member Abra "Tina" Hill Johnson.
Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods Williams is facing separate misdemeanor negligence charges.
Madison is 50 miles east of Tallahassee.
