The jury in the voter fraud case against former Eatonville mayor Anthony Grant heard damaging testimony Tuesday as witnesses claimed the longtime elected official coerced voters into voting for him.

  • Former Eatonville mayor Anthony Grant accused of voter fraud
  • Witnesses testified Tuesday that Grant coerced voters
  • Testimony cut short Tuesday after co-defendant had allergic reaction

Witnesses called to the stand testified that Grant might have told them how to vote, which would be a violation of state election laws.

Grant's daughter was called to testify and defended her actions in the 2015 Eatonville election, one Grant won in a landslide — primarily because of absentee ballots.

Grant, along with Mia Nowells and James Randolph, were indicted in January on 25 counts of voter fraud, including intimidating voters and tampering with absentee ballots.

Grant was removed from office by Gov. Rick Scott. All three are being tried together.

Danielle Jones and Rita McNight testified they were visited by Grant before the election, possibly helping them fill out their absentee ballots. Jones said that before Grant's visit, she was planning on voting in a way she called "Christmas Tree," stating she was going to mark off names all over the ballot.

She said Grant told her who she should and shouldn't vote for.

"He was telling me they were not the same people on his team," Jones said during her testimony.

McNight also testified Grant's daughter, Rihana Grant, helped her fill out her absentee ballot. The former mayor's daughter testified she only wrote in the date on the absentee ballot.

Testimony was cut short when Randolph, a co-defendant, told the judge he was having an allergic reaction to his medication. Jurors were sent home early.  

The trial resumes Wednesday morning.