ELECTIONS

Record number of vote-by-mail ballots in Lee, Collier counties sent or ready for mailing

Michael Braun
Fort Myers News-Press

A record number of domestic vote-by-mail ballots have been sent by the Collier County Supervisor of Elections. 

Lee County has its own record number of such ballots ready for mailing Tuesday — more than 300,000 in both counties combined.

Trish Robertson, spokeswoman for the Collier County Supervisor of Elections office, said the office mailed 103,988 ballots on Friday — a record for the county.

"Lots of people have already gotten them," Robertson said. "And some have already voted."

Early voting and voting by mail have eclipsed Election Day balloting in Southwest Florida.

In Lee County, Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said a record 215,020 ballots for the Nov. 3 general election will go in the first drop of domestic vote-by-mail ballots Tuesday. 

"We encourage everyone to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the Nov. 3, general election," Doyle said. "It is the safest and most convenient way of voting."

Doyle said those who decide to vote in-person should consider the vote-by-mail ballot as a back-up plan.

"In the event an emergency arises and they are not able to vote in person during the early voting period, or at the polls on Election Day, they still have the option to use their vote-by-mail ballot to cast their vote," he said.

To request a ballot, voters may call 239-533-8683 or visit lee.vote in Lee County.

Collier County voters can request ballots online at Colliervotes.com, by mail, by phone at (239) 252-VOTE (8683) or in person at the Supervisor of Elections office at Collier County, Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Building, 3750 Enterprise Avenue, Naples, Fl., 34104.

More:Record number of mail-in ballots dwarfs early and Election Day voting in Lee and Collier

More:Election 2020: Vote-by-mail in Florida works, experts say, despite Trump's claims of fraud

More:Guest opinion: 'Let me reassure you that voting by mail is a safe, secure method of voting'

You may also fill out a form at the supervisor of elections online sites for Lee or Collier counties to review or update your voter registration information, as well as check the status of your vote-by-mail ballot.

The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 24.

Florida law mandates completed ballots must be physically returned to the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The United States Postal Service recommends that voters mail their completed ballots one week before the due date to account for any unforeseen events such as weather issues and to allow for timely receipt and processing by the elections office.

A voter drops off a vote by mail in ballot at the Lee County Elections Center Branch Office on off of U.S. 41 on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. It is primary election day.

In Lee County, voters may drop-off completed ballots at secure drop boxes at all four Lee Elections office locations 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Nov. 3:

• Bonita Springs Branch Office, 25987 S. Tamiami Trail #105, Bonita Springs.

• Cape Coral Branch Office,1039 SE 9th Ave, Cape Coral.

• Elections Center, 13180 S. Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers.

• Main Office, Melvin Morgan Constitutional Complex, 2480 Thompson St, 3rd Floor, Fort Myers.

In Collier County, vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections office at 3750 Enterprise Ave., Naples, by 7 p.m. on Election Day; or by 6 p.m. at the satellite office at the North Collier Government Service Center: 2335 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, Fl., 34109.

Drop boxes will also be available at specific sites in Lee and Collier counties during Early Voting, Oct. 19 - 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

A complete list of Early Voting sites and directions is available at lee.vote and at  Colliervotes.com.

Vote-by-Mail Dos and Don'ts

• Completed vote-by-mail ballots cannot be accepted at a polling place on Election Day.

• A registered voter who requested a vote-by-mail ballot but decides to vote at the polls should surrender the vote-by-mail ballot at the polls so it may be cancelled.

• A registered voter who requested a vote-by-mail ballot but cannot surrender the Vote-by-Mail ballot will be allowed to vote a regular ballot. After voting in person, we request that the voter destroy their original vote-by-mail ballot if they left it at home or if they come across it in the future.

• A person who requested and returned a vote-by-mail ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office may not go to the polls to vote. Voters who vote more than once in the same election commit a felony and will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook)@MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.

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