Today’s Media Briefing: Florida’s Presidential Primary & Voter List Maintenance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earlier today, a panel of state voting rights experts briefed the media on  Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary (PPP), the Municipal Elections, and the state’s election procedures and updates.

State leaders explained how the PPP works, its timeline, and what voters should expect in this election cycle. Speakers also addressed the recent and anticipated changes to vote-by-mail, shared insights on the hand-counting of ballots, and clarified how Florida maintains its voter list including active, inactive, and removed voters.

This briefing was the first in a series of several updates to come during the 2024 election cycle. 

In response to today’s briefing, members of the coalition shared the following:

Amy Keith, Common Cause Florida Executive Director and FLEPC Co-Lead, regarding the recent changes to vote-by-mail:
“Election laws passed in 2021, 2022 and 2023 changed the rules for voting by mail in Florida. These changes can leave voters confused about the process and result in voters being disenfranchised. Election Protection’s voter assistance resources help voters navigate the current voting rules, whether they choose to vote by mail or vote in person, so that every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts.”

Brad Ashwell, All Voting is Local Action, Florida State Director, regarding emerging threats: “For years, Florida’s state legislature has passed voting laws to try to overturn the will of the people by corrupting our nonpartisan election processes. Every voter, no matter their background, age, race, gender, or zip code, deserves to have their voice heard at the ballot box without fear of intimidation for essential voting rights being stripped away. Floridians will respond by continuing to show up to the polls in high numbers, just as they did in 2020.”

Debbie Chandler, Esq., League of Women Voters of Florida Co-President, regarding the insights on voter protection:
“Throughout this pivotal election year, it is incredibly important that we prioritize the integrity of our electoral process and guarantee that every citizen’s voice is heard. Prioritizing a secure, transparent, and effective election process supports voter turnout and ensures that Floridians retain trust in our election systems.” 

Moné Holder, Senior Director of Advocacy & Programs for coalition partner Florida Rising Together, regarding list maintenance:
“We are seeing an increase in list maintenance activity this year. That means more voters will be inactive and more voters will be removed from the rolls. This makes it more important than ever for voters to check their status and update their information on their county Supervisor of Elections website.” 

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As part of the national nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, the Florida Election Protection Coalition (FLEPC) works to ensure all voters can cast a ballot freely, fairly, and securely. We empower and support voters and communities who have been historically disenfranchised and underrepresented in our democracy. Our year-round work includes direct voter assistance and education, advocacy, litigation, and communication with election officials. FLEPC is comprised of over two dozen organizations in Florida.