mail-in ballots

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.

The state legislature passed a law in 2021 that limits mail-in ballots to one per election cycle.

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.

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.

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.

Sarasota County had among the highest turnout in the state.

WUSF's Steve Newborn talks with Brian Corley, supervisor of elections for Pasco County, to answer some questions about the process.

Here are the important dates, deadlines, and how to vote in Florida's elections.