ORLANDO, Fla. — Using a controversial new law, Orange County Republicans have created an Elections Integrity Task Force to dispute mail-in ballots before they’re opened, resulting in at least 36 challenges and 20 rejections so far for Tuesday’s primary.
Voters whose ballots are rejected over signature mismatches or other issues would need to complete a “curing” process by Thursday to prove their identity and have their votes count. More ballots could be rejected next week, giving voters little time to fix any issues.
What Orange County elections supervisor Bill Cowles called an unprecedented level of challenges this early in the voting cycle is because of a change in Florida election laws. One provision requires supervisors to give “reasonable access” to partisan and other outside observers to “review or inspect ballot materials,” including mail-in envelopes and signatures.
