The legislation would also change the kinds of identification Florida voters could use at polling places. It would, for example, eliminate student identification as an acceptable ID, which could make it more difficult for college students without driver license\u2019s to vote.<\/p>\n
What is it \u2014 and why?<\/p>\n
ExpressVote features, such as the adjustable type size and different backgrounds, make it helpful for some people with disabilities. Link and previous supervisors of elections in Duval and Lee counties deployed it to make early voting smoother for everyone.<\/p>\n
Florida law allows in-person early voting at any of the regional early voting centers in the county in which people live.<\/p>\n
Every voter has to get a ballot that corresponds to all the districts in which they live, and there are myriad combinations \u2014 U.S. House, Florida Senate, Florida House, County Commission, School Board, city government, plus agencies such as the Port of Palm Beach commission.<\/p>\n
Because people can go to any early voting site, it\u2019s impossible to stock all the potential permutations of ballots at every location. That\u2019s not an issue on the final day of voting, Election Day, because people have to vote at neighborhood polling stations, each of which are stocked with pre-printed ballots for that location.<\/p>\n
For early voting, many counties \u2014 including Broward \u2014 deploy high-speed, on-demand ballot printers to all their early voting sites. After a voter checks in, the printer produces a ballot tailored to where that person lives even if it\u2019s at the other end of the county. A voter fills in the ovals to make their choices.<\/p>\n
Starting with a 2021 special election, Palm Beach County began using ExpressVote.<\/p>\n
Check-in is the same. But the ExpressVote user gets a smaller ballot with a barcode.<\/p>\n
When a person inserts it into the device<\/a>, Link said the screen allows a person to select the size of the type and the background they\u2019d like to see and the language they prefer (English, Spanish or Creole).<\/p>\n After the voter makes all of their choices, the screen shows a summary, and a person can make changes. When the voter finishes, the selections are printed on the ballot. The voter can review all the choices again before actually depositing it in the ballot box.<\/p>\n With either the traditional fill-in-the-oval ballot or an ExpressVote ballot that\u2019s been printed, a voter can make a change by having a poll worker \u201cspoil\u201d the ballot, and getting a new one to start over again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a ballot marking device that allows them to use the touch screen to choose their races. It does not record anything. It does not tabulate anything,\u201d Link said.<\/p>\n Link said voters can choose to use ExpressVote or to have a traditional ballot printed.<\/p>\n ExpressVote is much faster, she said: 3 seconds to produce an ExpressVote ballot; 45 seconds for an on-demand printer to produce a full ballot. Though it sounds small, \u201cJust that printing difference when you get a two-hour line, that adds up,\u201d Link said.<\/p>\n The difference adds up to an extra 17 hours of time for 1,500 early voters.<\/p>\n Link said the system has been met with enthusiasm by Palm Beach County voters. \u201cMost of our voters like it. It\u2019s easier for them. It\u2019s faster.\u201d In 2024, records show, 97.5% of Palm Beach County voters used ExpressVote.<\/p>\n Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said Jacksonville voters like using ExpressVote for early voting for the reasons Link identified: speed and accuracy.<\/p>\n \u201cThey like it,\u201d Holland said.\n<\/p>\n Duval County has two lines at early voting sites, one for ExpressVote and the other for a traditional fill-in-the-blanks ballot. \u201cWe absolutely do not push them to either one,\u201d he said; many people pick the line that is shortest or seems to be moving the most quickly.<\/p>\n Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott has said in the past that he was exploring the possibility of using ExpressVote or something similar for early voting. But Broward has not taken that step, spokeswoman Lisa Lee Arneaud said via email.<\/p>\n The legislation wouldn\u2019t explicitly ban ExpressVote. \u201cPersons with disabilities may vote using a voter interface device\u201d such as ExpressVote or a similar system, the measure states.<\/p>\n A bill analysis from the national organization Voting Rights Lab said the language in the bill would, \u201cRequire all voters, other than those with a disability, to mark all selections on an official ballot using a pen or marker recommended by the voting system vendor.\u201d<\/p>\n At a Senate committee hearing, Polsky pressed the sponsor, state Sen. Erin Grall, an Indian River County Republican, about the legislation.<\/p>\n \u201cThat section makes it sound as if you have to affirmatively request to use the express ballot, and otherwise if you don\u2019t say anything, you\u2019re going to be handed a paper ballot. Is that your intention with this section?\u201d Polsky asked.<\/p>\n Grall: \u201cYes. That is correct.\u201d Under further questioning from Polsky, Grall said the effort was \u201cto clarify that the paper ballot is the preferred method.\u201d<\/p>\n Link said implementation of that provision would mean that, \u201cThe lines will be longer, voters will be less satisfied with their experience, and it\u2019s just a step backwards instead of a step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Holland said he doesn\u2019t believe the legislation would require an overhaul of Duval County early voting, as long as voters are offered a choice. Link, who sees it differently, said Palm Beach County voters have been able to opt for a paper ballot if they wanted one.<\/p>\n Sponsors of the legislation haven\u2019t clearly explained why they don\u2019t want ExpressVote used the way the three counties have done for early voting. \u201cIt just doesn\u2019t make sense to me,\u201d Polsky said in an interview.<\/p>\n She tried to elicit a rationale at the Senate Ethics and Election Committee hearing on the measure. But she got little clarity from Grall, the sponsor, who explained \u201cthe intention is to clarify that voting is to be conducted by paper ballot unless a voter requests the voter interface device, so that the voter interface devices are not the default for the administration of elections and that it is the paper ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n Backers of the change seem to \u201cthink something was corrupt\u201d about ExpressVote, Polsky said. \u201cFor unknown reasons they don\u2019t think it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Voting systems used in Florida, including ExpressVote, are tested by the Florida Department of State, an agency run by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and certified by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.<\/p>\n Link said there\u2019s something illogical about ending widespread use of ExpressVote for early voting. If there\u2019s something that makes ExpressVote unsuitable for widespread use, how can it be safe and accurate enough to remain in use by people with disabilities?<\/p>\n At the House Government Operations Subcommittee, sponsoring state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Lee County Republican, explained the change this way. \u201cIt provides for greater ballot integrity by requiring all voting to be by paper ballot unless a person with a disability requests to use a voter interface device.\u201d<\/p>\n Almost all the testimony and committee discussion focused on the citizenship section. Neither Grall nor Persons-Mulicka responded to emailed questions.<\/p>\n Persons-Mulicka\u2019s home county is one of the three that uses ExpressVote for early voting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ExpressVote devices have worked well for our elections. Our office tests all devices before each election to ensure proper functionality,\u201d Gaby Aguirre, communications director for the Lee County Elections Office, said via email. \u201cThe majority of our voters are satisfied with their voting experience using the ExpressVote marking devices.\u201d<\/p>\n Aguirre said the county elections office is \u201cmonitoring legislation and (is) aware that the bill could also be amended before the session ends.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee County\u2019s supervisor of elections retired last month; DeSantis has not yet appointed a replacement.<\/p>\n![\"Palm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/TFL-TFL-L-express-vote-link-FL0107869959.jpg\")
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link demonstrates the the ExpressVote system to Kay Brown of the Classroom Teacher’s Association on Feb. 4, 2020. The county has been using the system at early voting centers in recent locations and it has been well received, Link said. (Joe Cavaretta\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n![\"State](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/TFL-L-Persons-Mulicka-Byrd-01.jpg\")
State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, left, presents legislation that would make several changes to Florida election law, including limiting the use of ExpressVote early voting used by Palm Beach County, to the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Feb. 5, 2026. State Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce, looks on. Between them, watching from the audience, is Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd. (Florida Channel\/courtesy)
\nLegislation<\/p>\n![\"President](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP24227634036447.jpg\")
President Donald Trump talks with Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link as he voted early in the Florida primary on Aug. 14, 2024, in West Palm Beach. He used the ExpressVote system without objection or incident. (Wilfredo Lee\/Associated Press)
\nWhy change<\/p>\n