Alan Hays fends off Republican challenger in Lake County elections supervisor race
Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays fended off a challenge from a Republican on Tuesday night to win the GOP primary. Heโll face two write-in candidates in November.
Avoid potential voter registration text scam, donโt click on links, elections chief says
A text message asking voters to update or change their Florida voter registrations may be a scam, warns the Lake County supervisor of elections.
โIt would be a complete disaster:โ Florida bill would end no-excuse needed mail-in voting
In Florida, anyone can request a vote-by-mail ballot for an election, without needing a reason.
Central Florida election officials plead to voters: Donโt wait until Election Day
Five county supervisors of elections โ Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties โ came together to implore people to get out and vote now at early voting locations, rather than wait until Election Day.
โSit down and shut up:โ Lake supervisor of elections battles voting misinformation
Alan Hays, Lake Countyโs supervisor of elections, said voting misinformation is inviting disaster ahead of Election Day.
โPrivilege of being an American:โ Early voting kicks off in Lake County
Thursday was the first day of early voting in Lake County and people were in and out of the the Supervisor of Elections office casting ballots.
Florida lawmakers move to ban absentee ballot drop boxes
They are also moving to restrict other people from dropping off a voterโs ballot, a practice known as โballot harvesting.โโItโs not that there was a debacle so we have to fix it. He said Florida law requires ballot boxes to be monitored. He called the bill โpoor policy.โAdโWhy do you say that we can no longer use monitored drop boxes and yet youโre going to allow people to use U.S. Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley, the vice chair of the statewide group representing county elections officials, disputed assertions that drop boxes are not adequately secure. In November, Florida Democrats outvoted Republicans by mail by 680,000 more mail ballots.
UPDATES: Trump wins Florida; Floridians approve minimum wage increase
LIVE LOOK | Long line forms at Volusia County voting location LIVE LOOK | Long line forms for voting at McInnis Elementary in Volusia County. In Marion County, voters are also set to surpass 2016 total turnout with 72% by 3 p.m. In fact, President Trump made several campaign stops here within the last couple of weeks. pic.twitter.com/qb22CE2U4e โ Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 3, 202010:08 a.m.More people have voted in Orange County, Florida, this year than in 2016. Florida residents will also get to vote on six state constitutional amendments, including an increase on minimum wage.
Lake County voters encounter computer glitch on Election Day
TAVARES, Fla. โ Voters in Lake County ran into problems Tuesday morning shortly after polls opened in Florida on Election Day. โWe identified a computer problem in some precincts that incorrectly identified some voters were not registered in that precinct,โ said Alan Hays, Lake County supervisor of elections. โThe problem was isolated immediately, and corrective action was initiated. The solution is being deployed and everything will be fine very shortly.โHays said he appreciated the voters' patience as his agency worked to correct the issue, which was resolved before 8:30 a.m.For more election updates in Florida, click here.
Voters should act fast to fix mail-in ballot issues
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. โ Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays said voters have until 5 p.m. on the Thursday to take action to fix their vote-by-mail ballot if there was a signature issue or error. Hays said nearly 800 voters have cured their ballots so far, but he said they are still waiting on hundreds. Additionally, he said his staff has been contacting voters who filled in their contact information on their ballot if thereโs an issue. He said they reach out via email, phone call or even a mailed letter to those voters whose ballots had an issue. Other supervisors of elections said they, too, are reaching out to voters regarding signature issues on ballots.
Early voting comes to an end in several Central Florida counties
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. โ Early voting wraps up Saturday in several Central Florida counties Saturday, including in Lake County. [TRENDING: COVID-19 closes early voting location | Can you get COVID-19 twice? โweโve had almost 85,000 in-person voting early voting and then weโve had over 63,000 mail ballots that weโve received already,โ Hays said. Early voting is also ending on Saturday in Brevard, Marion, Flagler, and Sumter counties. Voters in the remaining Central Florida counties have until Sunday to cast their ballots early.
State issues onsite security at ballot drop boxes in Florida
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. โ The Department of State issued guidance to the Supervisor of Elections of each county in Florida to protect the November election. The Department of State issued guidance to the Supervisor of Elections of each county in Florida to protect the November election. (Florida Department of State)The Department of State issued guidance to the Supervisor of Elections of each county in Florida to protect the November election. Lake County Supervisor Alan Hays said upon receiving the letter, his office complied right away. โWeโve had a drop box here at our location in Tavares that has been accessible and is under camera surveillance 24 hours a day.โThe recommendation instructed Supervisors to have someone monitor the drop box on-site in case someone tries to destroy or spoil the ballots.
Behind the process of counting vote-by-mail ballots
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. โ Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays said they have started to count the 2020 Election vote-by-mail ballots coming in. Florida is one of more than 20 states that can count absentee or vote-by-mail ballots ahead of Election Day, up to 40 days before Nov. 3. Hays gave News 6 a look inside at the process of tabulating the ballots. Hays said theyโve mailed out 82,610 vote-by-mail ballots, and said, so far, theyโve had 32,000 returned to the county election office. He added that being able to tabulate as many ballots as possible now, puts them in a good position on Election night.
Lake County voters deliver mail-in ballots in person over fraud fears
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. โ On Wednesday, several voters in Lake County drove right past the ballot box watched by three security cameras outside the supervisor of elections office to park and make sure they hand delivered their mail-in ballot in person. โTo see me dropping it in by myself and make sure it gets to where itโs supposed to go to,โ an Orange County voter said. Postal Serviceโs number one priority between now and the November election is the secure, timely delivery of the nationโs Election Mail. The Postal Service is committed to delivering Election Mail, including ballots, in a timely manner.โThe Postmaster General issued an order to take effect on Oct. 1, which includes proper handling of all election mail. Any vote-by-mail voter can verify their status on it.
Central Florida counties reporting record number of mail-in ballots this election
According to the latest numbers Monday afternoon, 76,073 voters of the now more than 261,475 registered to vote have requested a mail-in ballot. [TRENDING: DeSantis to lift restaurant limits in Fla. | Hereโs how to track your mail-in ballot | How can I tell difference between flu and COVID-19?] Moreover, Hays said in 2016 only 41,244 voters requested mail-in ballots which means this year is an 84% increase compared to the last Presidential Election. He did say the increase of mail-in ballots could delay election results. โOne county in 2016 received 10,000 ballots on Election day from the post office, there is no way they would have gotten to them on election night but every one was counted,โ Hays said.
Poll watchers must be approved by local supervisor of elections
Hays said not anyone can just be a poll watcher, he said thereโs a process, along with approval required. โThe only people that are allowed to be poll watchers are people who have been approved by the local supervisor of elections, from a list that is submitted by either a candidate, or political party, or political committee,โ Hays said. Additionally, Hays said there are strict rules pertaining to poll watchers. This allows poll watchers to observe whatโs going on at a polling place and have a better understanding of the actions theyโre witnessing, according to Hays. Seminole Countyโs Supervisor of Elections, Chris Anderson, said poll watchers will also be clearly identified.
Vote-by-mail deadlines to know in Florida ahead of 2020 election
The Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays said in Florida the term โabsentee ballotโ was replaced by the term โvote-by-mailโ in 2016. He said thousands of residents in Lake County are already scheduled to receive a vote-by-mail ballot. However, Hays said, for those looking to vote-by-mail, there are some important dates to keep in mind. โWe cannot mail them after eight days before the election; that eighth day before the election is the last time weโre allowed to mail the ballots,โ said Hays. But not every county in Florida starts mailing their vote-by-mail ballots on the same day.
Central Florida election officials say USPS is keeping up with mail-in delivery demand
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. With talks of the United States Postal Service receiving funding in reference to mail-in voting delivery, two Central Florida election officials told News 6 they havent noticed any delayed in delivery. Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said his office received a record amount of mail-in ballots than any other primary election in the countys history. [RELATED: 2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of Floridas primary election]"We are very satisfied with the service we are getting from the postal service. Thats what I deal with and the postal employees are bringing me the mail every day, said Hays. Cowles said that 2019 legislation requires Florida counties to offer to drop off boxes at early voting locations as well as the election office.
Central Florida election offices use CARES funds to help cover additional expenses during pandemic
Many officials said they are receiving money from the CARES Act grant to help offset additional costs incurred that were not originally budgeted. Seminole County:Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson said his office is receiving $531,000 in CARES Act funds. He said the money will help cover the additional expenses as more voters request a vote by mail ballot. Orange County:Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles said the county is getting $1.3 million in CARES funding. Marion County:Officials with the Marion County Supervisor of Elections office said they are eligible for up to $359,810.
Lake County hiring 100 election workers amid COVID-19 pandemic
Many said they are still recruiting election workers to make sure they have enough in case some back out because of the pandemic. But he said the COVID-19 pandemic made it tough to hire enough election workers. Orange County election officials said they are always recruiting election workers. Osceola County election officials said they have "plenty" of election workers for the August election. Marion County election officials said they are always recruiting election workers because of constant turnover.