Early Voting

County election supervisors say the new restrictions will create significant election reporting delays and a slew of costs for local election offices, and could disenfranchise large numbers of voters.

Several local contests and a few congressional and state house races are expected to close, perhaps requiring recounts or legal challenges.

A forecasted storm could further complicate things at the polls on election day.

More than more than 15,000 vote-by-mail ballots statewide have been flagged for having a mismatched signature or no signature at all.

On this week's Florida Roundup, we discuss voter intimidation at early voting sites, Florida becoming more red, and the process of electing judges.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer says so far, there have been no instances of early voting intimidation that's been seen in other states like Arizona.

The storm caused significant damage in the southern part of Sarasota County, but Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner says the turnout so far has been on par with what his office saw in 2018.

WUSF is answering the questions that you have ahead of the Nov. 8 general election as part of America Amplified, a partnership with public media newsrooms across the country.

Early voting opens Monday in counties across the area, with the deadline to request a mail-in ballot on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order that makes it easier for voters in Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties to cast ballots in next month’s midterm election.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner said all nine early-voting sites will be open Oct. 24, though not all regular polling places will be open by the Nov. 8 general election.

Election officials in Florida say they are meeting a Thursday deadline to send out mail ballots, despite the hurricane. But in-person voting sites remain a concern.