Election officials prepare vote-by-mail and early voting processes

Election officials in Lee County and Orange County are preparing for upcoming elections by facilitating vote-by-mail and early voting processes.

In Lee County, the Supervisor of Elections has begun mailing approximately 119,000 vote-by-mail ballots to voters with active requests. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 22, and ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on November 3. Voters can return ballots via mail or in person at designated offices and secure intake stations at early voting sites.

In Orange County, Registrar of Voters Bob Page is encouraging early voting to expedite the tallying process on election night. The county is preparing to unlock ballot drop boxes and has invested significantly in processing equipment and infrastructure. Following a record number of ballots in the primary, the county has utilized state funding to expand office space, hire staff, and improve software to increase counting capacity.