The nation’s leading health experts warning of a resurgence of coronavirus infections colliding with flu season this fall. Supervisors of Elections across the U.S. are grappling with how to ensure safe and secure voting that does not endanger voters’ lives. In Florida, Supervisors of Election from all 67 counties are calling for changes in statutes that will ensure safe voting in the upcoming elections.
A lack of polling places, a substantial number of poll workers who are dropping out at the last minute, and a lack of sanitizing supplies were just some of the challenges Florida faced in the March Presidential Preference Election. Supervisors are again anticipating a significant statewide shortage of poll workers for both the August Primary and the November General Election. Assistance is needed in obtaining supplies of hand sanitizer, wipes, as well as other resources, such as human-power, to ensure that in-person voting is safe and within CDC and FDOH guidelines.
While the Supervisors noted that Florida is not prepared for all-mail ballots at this time, they requested that statutory modifications be made to allow greater options, such as designating additional early voting sites, expanding early voting to 22 days prior to election dates, consolidating voting locations so they can be adequately staffed, and expanding the timeframe for sending out and tabulating Vote by Mail ballots. Preparing for these changes will take considerable lead-time and resources, making these requests urgent.
If changes are made now, Florida’s early action in addressing safe and secure voting during this pandemic could be an example to the nation.
