Voters along the Gulf Coast of Florida will need to re-request mail-in ballots for the next election after the state wiped out all previous requests, affecting millions who rely on this voting method.According to the University of Florida Election Lab, more than 3.5 million ballots were requested for the 2024 election.However, Gulf Coast News political correspondent Dave Elisas has learned that voters here along the Gulf Coast will not be receiving vote-by-mail ballots in the next election because the state has wiped out their requests.Chief Political Correspondent Dave Elias explained that if you’re expecting to get a vote-by-mail ballot in the next election, chances are you’re not getting it. This is because the state wiped out all of the vote-by-mail requests. Currently, in Lee County, only about 8,000 people have requested one.In the 2024 general election, over 200,000 Lee County voters voted by mail. Tommy Doyle, Lee County Supervisor of Elections, said, “Everybody’s vote-by-mail request expired in the General Election 2024. So everybody has to re-request that vote by mail.” Since then, only about 8,000 voters have requested a mail ballot for the next election.The way it stands now, everyone who hasn’t requested a mail ballot would have to vote in person.Doyle said, “It would create long lines at the polls because people would have to go to the polls to vote.”This leaves about 500,000 registered voters to vote early or on election day.Doyle added, “We try to get people to request it as soon as possible because we don’t want that build-up.”Voters have expressed gratitude for the reminder. There is still plenty of time to request a mail-in ballot, with the deadline 12 days before the August election.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Voters along the Gulf Coast of Florida will need to re-request mail-in ballots for the next election after the state wiped out all previous requests, affecting millions who rely on this voting method.

According to the University of Florida Election Lab, more than 3.5 million ballots were requested for the 2024 election.

However, Gulf Coast News political correspondent Dave Elisas has learned that voters here along the Gulf Coast will not be receiving vote-by-mail ballots in the next election because the state has wiped out their requests.

Chief Political Correspondent Dave Elias explained that if you’re expecting to get a vote-by-mail ballot in the next election, chances are you’re not getting it. This is because the state wiped out all of the vote-by-mail requests. Currently, in Lee County, only about 8,000 people have requested one.

In the 2024 general election, over 200,000 Lee County voters voted by mail. Tommy Doyle, Lee County Supervisor of Elections, said, “Everybody’s vote-by-mail request expired in the General Election 2024. So everybody has to re-request that vote by mail.” Since then, only about 8,000 voters have requested a mail ballot for the next election.

The way it stands now, everyone who hasn’t requested a mail ballot would have to vote in person.

Doyle said, “It would create long lines at the polls because people would have to go to the polls to vote.”

This leaves about 500,000 registered voters to vote early or on election day.

Doyle added, “We try to get people to request it as soon as possible because we don’t want that build-up.”

Voters have expressed gratitude for the reminder. There is still plenty of time to request a mail-in ballot, with the deadline 12 days before the August election.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.