A poll worker at a precinct in Hialeah was removed from the job Tuesday after voters complained he had suggested what candidates to vote vote for.
According to a video captured on Meta Glasses and shared with the Miami Herald by a resident, a poll worker at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 4497 W. 1st Ave., was asked by a voter who he intended to vote for. The poll worker, Salvador Blanco, a former TV personality also known as “Baila Salsa,” told the voter he could not answer. However, he then removed his hat and said in Spanish, “Soy calvo” — I am bald — a word that is also the name of one of the candidates running for city mayor, Bryan Calvo.
Blanco then mentioned the names of attorney Abdel Jimenez and Juan Santana (whom he in correctly called Jesus Santana in the video). Jimenez and Santana are running for City Council seats.
All three candidates denied any involvement with Blanco. They are not working as a slate and are running independently, without endorsing each other or any other candidate.
Alina Garcia, the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections, told the Miami Herald that as soon as her office became aware of the incident, Blanco was removed from his post. Garcia’s office described the incident as “a poll worker who acted outside the scope of their assigned duties.”
Garcia also said that Blanco will not work in any future elections. She emphasized that, even if provoked by a question, all poll workers must remain impartial, what she described as being “Switzerland,” referring to neutrality, regardless of their personal opinions.
“We take any action that undermines the integrity of our elections very seriously. Upon learning of the situation, we immediately removed the individual from their position,” Garcia office said in a statement.
An attempt to reach Calvo for comment was unsuccessful.
Tuesday marked one of the most competitive Hialeah elections in a decade, with five candidates, including Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves and Councilman Jesus Tundidor running for the mayor and 12 candidates competing for four council seats.