Important Questions & Answers for Lake County voters

This year’s general election takes place on November 5.  Changes have been made to voting in Florida and Lake County, so Mount Dora Buzz compiled the top 10 things you need to know to ensure your vote counts in November.

1. What is the new process for voting by mail?  How do voters request a vote-by-mail ballot?  
Vote-by-Mail requests expire every 2 years, every even-numbered year.
Voters may request a Vote-by-Mail ballot by:

• Calling Lake County Supervisor of Elections office at 352-343-9734.
• Completing an online request at their official website at https://www.lakevotes.gov/Voter-Information/Vote-By-Mail .
• Printing and completing a Vote-by-Mail Request Form and returning it to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office at 1898 E. Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares. Vote-by-Mail Request Forms are available on LakeVotes.gov or at Lake County Supervisor of Elections office at 1898 E. Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares or at any Lake County Library location.

Voters can visit the Vote-by-Mail tab at the official website at https://www.lakevotes.gov/Voter-Information/Vote-By-Mail for more information. 

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2.  What's the deadline to mail in a Vote-by-Mail ballot?
The United States Postal Service recommends five to seven  days to return a Vote-by-Mail ballot by mail.

Secure Ballot Intake Stations are available for voters to return a voted Vote-by-Mail ballot to any one of 12 Early Voting locations during Early Voting.  Early Voting dates and hours of operation for the General Election are:
October 21st through Nov. 2nd from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.

Vote-by-Mail ballots MUST be received at Lake County Supervisor of Elections office at 1898 E. Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

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3.  Were any voters removed from the voter rolls since the last general election?  If so, how do voters check to see if they are still shown as valid voters?
Yes.  Voters may call the office of the Supervisor of Elections at 352-343-9734 or visit its official website, LakeVotes.gov, select the Voter Information button, select Look up My Voter Information, and complete the Voter Information Lookup Form.
The link is https://www.lakevotes.gov/Voting/Voter-Information .

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 4.  How do voters confirm their signatures?  What is the deadline to update a signature?
Signatures change due to a variety of reasons. Lake County Supervisor of Elections encourages voters to update their signature on a consistent basis. Age, illness, injury and more can impact signatures.
Should a voter wish to view their signature on file, a visit to the Supervisor’s office at 1898 E. Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares would be required.

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5.  Are there any new Florida voting requirements that voters should be aware of?
Lake County Supervisor of Election’s official website, LakeVotes.gov has a plethora of voter information available. Voters who are heading to their polling location for in-person voting need to bring a valid and current photo ID with signature. Examples of what is acceptable can be found at LakeVotes.gov in its digital Voter Guide.

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 6.  Can people register to vote online?  If so, what is the link?
Yes, voters can absolutely register online.  The links to register in Lake County and Florida are:

• https://www.lakevotes.gov/Register-to-Vote
• https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home

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 7.  What is the deadline to register before the November 5, 2024 election?
The deadline for new voter registrations is October 7, 2024.

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8.  Have there been any precinct changes since the last general election?No. However, voters are encouraged to review the location of their precinct prior to heading out for in-person voting. Voters can find their precinct:

• On their Voter Information card.
  
• By visiting the website LakeVotes.gov, select the Voter Information button, select Find my Precinct.
  
• By calling the Supervisor’s office at 352-343-9734.
  

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 9. When does early in-person voting begin and end in Lake County?
October 21st to November 2nd from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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10. How transparent is the process in Lake County?
Anyone curious about the inner workings of Lake County Elections can schedule a 90-minute tour of the facility.  The tour is guided by Supervisor Hays or another team member. This is a great way to experience how elections are administered by the office. Voters may sign up for a tour by visiting https://www.lakevotes.gov/Educational-Resources/Facility-Tours .

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