Florida Right to Tap Brakes on Additional, Significant Changes to Vote-By-Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the release of the Florida Department of State’s Report on Vote-By-Mail Voting, Secure Democracy Foundation Director of Advocacy Peter Skopec released the following statement:

“Florida has long been a national model for convenient and safe voting, and the Florida Department of State’s report on vote-by-mail rightly taps the brakes on recommending additional, significant changes to the mail ballot process in the state.

“A full and fair assessment of recent changes to vote-by-mail processes is prudent. Florida should continue to ensure voting is accessible, convenient, and secure for all voters, including military voters, voters with disabilities, and older voters who traditionally rely on mail options or in-person early voting. 

“With numerous changes to Florida’s election laws still being implemented across the state, Secretary of State Byrd, through his close work with Florida’s trusted election supervisors, is right to recommend that lawmakers take time to review the impact of recent legislation before considering further significant changes.”

Voting-By-Mail Remains a Popular, Reliable Option for Florida Voters, According to Florida Department of State’s Own Figures:

• More than 2.7 million Florida voters cast their ballots by mail in the 2022 election.

• In the 2022 election, about 35% of voters voted by mail; 30% voted early in person; and 35% cast their ballot on Election Day. 
• Approximately 95,000 ballots were mailed out under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) in Florida in 2022.