Vote By Mail

A number of other groups filed a series of lawsuits challenging the measure (SB 90), passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature this spring as part of GOP leaders’ nationwide attempts to make it more difficult for people to vote by mail.

Some counties are requesting extra money to cover the costs that will be incurred, including the mandate that ballot drop-off boxes be guarded by an employee of the elections office when in use.

GOP legislators said the changes were necessary to ensure election security and prevent fraud in future elections.

Cecile Scoon, the President of the League of Women Voters of Florida, discussed the obstacles a new law poses to voters on Friday.

The legislation includes changes to how vote-by-mail works, limits secure drop box use, and restricts who can hand out food and water to voters in line.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will sign a bill amending state elections law. The move follows the 2020 presidential cycle. the Florida legislation follows disproven claims of voter fraud in other states by former President Donald Trump.

The plan is still under fire from Democrats and voting rights groups who say the rest of the bill makes it harder for Floridians to vote.

Critics say the measure could make it harder for some to cast their ballots.

They say the proposal would force them to spend a lot of money notifying voters to renew their absentee ballot requests every year.

Voters only have a couple more days to cast their early votes. Here's a map of where and when they can do so across the greater Tampa Bay region.

She said that while there’s typically a lot of litigation in an election year, this time there’s a ‘bumper crop’ because of COVID-19.

Election experts say there is no longer enough time to ensure ballots sent through the mail will be delivered in time. They're encouraging voters to deliver their ballots by hand or vote in person.