Florida
Florida Phoenix: GOP reforms: Only immediate family could help pick up and deliver ballots; but what if there’s no family close by?
Some voting-rights advocates come right out and say the goal is to cut into voting by Democrats, particularly Democrats of color, who collectively cast nearly 700,000 more ballots by mail in Florida in 2020 than did Republicans. “It seems to be coming from national forces,” said Brad Ashwell, Florida director of All Voting Is Local, a voting rights organization with state chapters around the country.
Florida Phoenix – GOP lawmakers move to get rid of ballot drop boxes for mailed ballots; election supervisors protest
Brad Ashwell, Florida director of the national voting advocate organization All Voting Is Local, told senators, “This can’t be seen as anything but an attack on voting rights.”
Tampa Bay Times – Minorities and young voters in Florida had ballots rejected at higher rates in 2020, study finds
“They seem hell-bent on addressing non-issues fueled by misinformation to their base,” said Brad Ashwell, All Voting is Local’s Florida state director. “It’s all based on blatant lies and misinformation.”
Tallahasee Democrat – As GOP looks to restrict Florida mail ballots, advocates unveil report that process worked
"The priorities of the governor and the legislative leadership show they are not heading in the right direction," Ashwell said. "Rather than seeking to improve access to voting, they are hell bent on addressing non-issues fueled by misinformation fed to their base.
Report: Florida Voters of Color, Young Voters and New Voters More Likely to Have Their Absentee Ballots Flagged for Rejection As Cure Rates Vary by County
TALLAHASSEE - All Voting is Local Florida and Daniel A. Smith, professor of political science at the University of Florida, today released Casting, Rejecting, and Curing Vote-by-Mail Ballots in Florida’s 2020 General Election. Across Florida’s 67 counties, voters of color, new voters, and younger voters disproportionately cast absentee ballots that were flagged to be “rejected as illegal.” This report also highlights a glaring lack of consistency in both the standards used by election officials to initially reject absentee ballots and the ability of voters casting them to resolve outstanding issues.
Casting, Rejecting, and Curing Vote-by-Mail Ballots in Florida’s 2020 General Election
Against the backdrop of a lethal pandemic, Floridians turned out in record numbers to cast vote by mail ballots in the November 3, 2020, general election. Although the state’s election ran smoothly, more than 47,000 Floridians—the majority of whom were people of color, younger voters, and first-time voters—had to follow-up with their elections supervisor to fix or “cure” their ballots before they could count. In this report, we examine these disparities and offer recommendations on how Florida’s 67 counties can make the process and validating of mail ballots uniform so that all voters can make their voices heard.