Prison? No problem!

In papers filed with the state, Jose Vazquez lists his residence as a prison facility on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee where he's serving time on a felony conviction. That didn't stop the state Division of Elections from declaring him a qualified write-in candidate this week for the state House of Representatives District 58 seat.

This despite state law that requires candidates to live in the district they want to represent and prohibits convicted felons from running for office unless their civil rights have been restored. Jennifer Davis, a spokeswoman for the Department of State, says it's not the division's job to check whether Vazquez  lives in the district or is a felon.

"We're merely the clerical agency that takes in the papers," she said. "We don't investigate." She said Vazquez turned in the proper forms and filled them out correctly. Vazquez is seeking the seat held by Mike Scionti, D-Tampa, who hopes to win his second term in office. He also qualified to run this week. 

--Janet Zink, Times staff writer