At hearings before the Florida House and Senate committees in October, Florida Secretary of State Cory Byrd declared that elections in Florida are safe and transparent—and a model of election administration! This included mail-in voting, a process that worked successfully for nearly a third of Broward County voters in 2024.

 

As the Florida Legislature begins its deliberations in January 2026, the League of Women Voters is requesting that mail-in voting remain as it is. It works, so don't change something that already works!

 

We are concerned that some of the election bills introduced in 2025, which would have dismantled mail-in voting, will be reintroduced in 2026. The legislature should not make it harder for voters to use mail-in voting. Instead, it should increase funding to help our Election Supervisors be more proactive in educating the public about mail-in voting in 2026.

 

Most voters are unaware that they must request a NEW vote-by-mail ballot to use that method of voting in 2026. Only a few cities in Broward County will hold municipal elections in March, but there will be no early voting for these elections. If you cannot vote in person on Election Day in March, the only way to make your voice heard is with a vote-by-mail ballot.

 

More education is also needed on how to properly complete a mail-in ballot. Voters make mistakes that ultimately result in their vote not being counted. The most common mistake is failing to sign the outside of the envelope where the completed ballot is placed. Voting by mail is convenient, but you must follow the instructions.

 

The League's other request regarding the election concerns funding. We request that, in the budget process, election administration at the state and county levels be fully funded. With increased security, additional paperwork, cybersecurity threats, and other challenges, Supervisor of Elections offices throughout the state must be funded to ensure safe, transparent, and fair elections, so that Florida remains a model for the rest of the country.