The official vote count for Broward County for the Aug. 23 election demonstrated that voters prefer to use Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballots, with 136,413 VBM ballots cast out of 260,678 (over 50%). However, more VBM ballots would have been counted if voters had followed the instructions.
Voting during the early voting period or on Election Day is closely watched by poll workers. Every step is explained and monitored. Unless the voter has to cast a provisional vote, a voter knows before they leave the site that their vote has been counted. In exchange for convenience, when a voter uses a VBM ballot, the voter takes on the responsibilities of the poll worker and must follow the voting instructions exactly. It isn’t difficult. The voter just has to plan ahead!
To mark the VBM ballot, use a black ink pen (not a permanent marker) and fill in only one circle per race. Place the completed ballot in the privacy sleeve. Then place the privacy sleeve with ballot inside the return mailing envelope. Be sure to sign the outside of the envelope where indicated. Without this signature the ballot will not be counted. At least 113 VBM ballots in the August 23rd election were not counted because the mailing envelope had not been signed.
There are two ways to return a completed VBM ballot. You can mail it. The return mailing envelope is preaddressed and postage is prepaid. Place in the mail no later than Saturday, Oct. 29. The ballot must arrive at the Supervisor of Elections office by 7 pm on Election Day, Nov. 8. A postmark on Election Day is not enough. VBM ballots received after 7 pm on Election Day are not opened and therefore not counted.
If you don’t want to mail the ballot or it is too late to mail, you can drop off your completed VBM ballot at any of the 24 early voting locations Oct. 24 through Nov. 6 between 7 am and 7 pm. Check www.browardvotes.gov for locations. Each location has a special box for VBM ballots that is monitored at all times by two Supervisor of Elections employees. At the end of each early voting day, the box is emptied and VBM ballots taken to the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) office in Lauderhill where they will be counted.
You cannot drop off your VBM ballot or those of family members at a precinct on Election Day, November 8!
There are only two places where VBM ballots can be dropped off on Election Day – the SOE office in Lauderhill or the one in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Many people do not want to make the effort or don’t have the time to drive to these locations, which means these ballots will not be counted.
However, if you are the voter dropping off your VBM ballot at your precinct on Election Day, you will be permitted to vote in-person. You simply exchange your VBM ballot for a new ballot and vote.
Vote-By-Mail is convenient, but you have to plan ahead to be sure your ballot will be counted!