In Florida, you can securely and safely cast your vote

A free and secure election is a hallmark of our democratic republic. Casting our vote is a responsibility that we who are blessed to live in a free country must take seriously. I know there are concerns about health safety going to the polls and the security of voting by mail. The good news is that over the years Florida has taken steps to protect and secure a free and fair election process. Florida law includes strong voter identification, registration and voting processes that govern our early, in-person and mail-in-ballots. I have confidence in the integrity of Florida’s current voting methods and system.

An honest elections process relies on eligible voters casting ballots and the accurate counting of every lawful vote. Importantly, unlike other states, Florida does not universally mail ballots to all registered or eligible votes. The request to vote-by-mail is made by a registered voter contacting their Supervisor of Elections, verifying their identity and requesting a ballot before 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the election. The request must be personally made by the registered voter or their designee and must include identification confirmation. An affidavit is required to pick up a vote-by-mail ballot in person. Note, this process is very different than proposals being discussed at the federal level or the practice in states’ such as New Jersey, which mass mails ballots to everyone on their voter roll. That practice is very vulnerable to fraud and wastes taxpayer’s dollars - ballots could be mailed to deceased or otherwise ineligible voters, then fraudulently completed and turned in.