Q&A of the Day – How to track your mail in ballot in Florida
Each day I’ll feature a listener question that’s been submitted by one of these methods.
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Today’s entry: I completed my mail- in vote on Sunday. Read I could drop it off at one of two of my local libraries. Person at the first library had no clue!!! Called the other library which read something about how I was able to drop my ballot at a local location. I told him that the library is the local location!!! I just put the ballot in the mail. The last time my ballet was found in a trunk of a car... where will this one land???
Bottom Line: It wouldn’t be an election cycle in South Florida if everything was seamless would it? Hopefully what you’re describing is the extent of the issues which crop up this year, and what you specifically described is explainable at this point in the cycle. With record ballot requests by mail in South Florida, literally totaling into the millions already, confusion like what you’ve described is magnified. First, here’s a look at what the options are for all Florida voters casting a vote by mail ballot:
- Mail it in
- Drop it off at a drop box at a Supervisor’s of Elections office
- Drop it off at a drop box at early voting sites once early voting commences
Those are all required under Florida law and are currently in force statewide. Based on your description of what you encountered when reaching out to local libraries...it would have been helpful if they had been more informed of this process generally but the reason they weren’t aware is because they aren’t in a position to accept ballots yet. The libraries listed on your ballot are likely early voting locations. Early voting will begin in all South Florida counties on October 19th. You’re not able to drop your ballot off at one of those locations until early voting begins. As for tracking your ballot, lest it end up in the trunk of a car again...
The Florida Division of Elections website has a feature which allows you to track your vote by mail ballot. It is now possible to ensure your vote is tabulated. The fact remains it’s still best to vote in person, as votes by mail are ten times less likely to be tabulated than votes cast by mail in Florida (predominantly due to errors made by voters). The good is that if you are voting by mail, there are more options for submitting your ballots than ever before and added confidence with the ability to track your ballot. Here’s hoping your example is the extent of our election drama this year.