Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
While everyone makes their last-minute preparations for the impending storm — and no, we don’t mean Tropical Storm Nicole, here’s an interesting tidbit for those tracking Florida’s mail-in ballots.
Florida is one of eight states where dead people’s votes can count. It’s not an election conspiracy or voter fraud, but rather an explicit protection within Florida law.
“The ballot of an elector who casts a vote-by-mail ballot shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before Election Day, as long as, before the death of the voter, the ballot was postmarked by the United States Postal Service, date-stamped with a verifiable tracking number by a common carrier, or already in the possession of the supervisor,” according to Florida Statute 101.68.
Ten states — Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin — explicitly prohibit the counting of absentee ballots of voters who died before Election Day, according to Pluribus News. Kentucky and Mississippi similarly prohibit the practice, but the decree comes via opinions from the state Attorneys General.
In Connecticut, the ballots only count if the deceased voter was a member of the armed services. Former electors might have a better chance of voting from beyond the grave in Missouri, where a dead voter’s ballot can only be rejected if there is sufficient evidence to show the voter died before polls opened and that the ballot is still sealed in its envelope.
Evening Reads
—“From two South Florida stages, candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate make closing pitches” via Bianca Padró Ocasio and Grethel Aguila of the Miami Herald
—“Former President Donald Trump says he voted for Gov. Ron DeSantis” via Josh Miller of The Florida Standard
—“When we will know election results and why some race calls may be delayed” via Danielle Paquette of The Washington Post
—“Why is America always divided 50–50?” via Annie Lowrey of The Atlantic
—“Rick Scott sidesteps Senate leadership question again despite Trump backing” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“Midterm electorate deeply troubled by inflation, America’s direction” via John McCormick of The Wall Street Journal
—“Tropical Storm Nicole reaches 65 mph, as Palm Beach County orders evacuations for expected hurricane” via David Fleshler and Angie DiMichele of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Disney to close water park, mini golf; schools, airports set closures; evacuation orders given” via Richard Tribou, Natalia Jaramillo, Martin E. Comas, Ryan Gillespie, Leslie Postal and Mark Skoneki of the Orlando Sentinel
—“Cord Byrd speaks out against Department of Justice election monitors” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics
—“Democrat congressional candidate Alan Cohn sends text with pic of him and Trump” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—“Turnout so far in Leon County appears low among Black voters, high among Republicans” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat
—“Election Day is brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“No matter who you vote for, you have to vote.”
— Former President Donald Trump on Election Day.
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