Following the August 18th election, we must learn from our mistakes to ensure that every vote counts. This is especially important for mail-in voting.

 

Do not ignore mail, emails, text messages, or phone calls from the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) Office.

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If there is a problem with your vote-by-mail ballot (VBM) and you provided your email address or phone number, the State Elections Office (SOE) will contact you immediately to ask you to correct the problem, which is usually on the signature line of the envelope. Without an email address or phone number, the SOE will have to send you a letter by mail, and you may not have time to correct the error.

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Sign the shipping envelope

If the envelope is not signed, it will not be opened and the mail-in ballot will not be counted. Be sure to sign the outside of the envelope. Follow the instructions exactly.

 

Sign YOUR mail envelope

Your mail-in ballot envelope has your name printed on it, visible next to the barcode. Be sure to sign YOUR envelope. This is especially important if you receive multiple mail-in ballots. Keep the envelopes separate! If the signature on the envelope is incorrect, it will not open and the ballot will not be counted.

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Signatures on the mailing envelopes

Generation Z doesn't sign the mailing envelope; they print their name. However, when registering to vote—usually when obtaining their Florida driver's license or ID card—they did provide a signature, even if it was just a scribble. This means the name printed on the envelope does NOT match the signature on the voter registration, so the envelope isn't opened and the mail-in ballot isn't counted.

 

Keep these mistakes in mind as you prepare to vote in the November 3 general election. If you know any Gen Zers, make sure they know what a signature is and when it's required. If they're unsure how to sign their mail-in ballot envelope, mimic the signature on their Florida driver's license or ID.