Guest commentary: Protecting your vote
For many voters, elections begin and end when they cast their ballot. What voters do not always know is the work that occurs before, during, and after voting, and the multiple safeguards put in place that protect the integrity of our elections.
As you prepare to vote in this year’s elections, I want you to know that we take fraud and all threats to the security of our elections very seriously. Here are the processes, procedures, and security measures that the Lee County Supervisor of Elections follows to ensure our elections are fair, accurate, transparent, and secure.
MAINTAINING ACCURATE VOTER ROLLS
The first step in protecting elections is making certain that only eligible individuals are registered to vote.
To do that, we conduct routine maintenance of our voter rolls.
This includes utilizing local, state, and federal data to regularly review and update voter registration records, including removing any voters deemed ineligible.
Before anyone is ever removed from our voter rolls, they are notified in writing of their potential ineligibility and given a timeframe to present documentation proving otherwise, as required by Florida law.
This year, our office removed individuals from the voter registration database for ineligibility reasons such as: death, felony convictions without restored voting rights, moving out of state, and non-citizenship. Cases regarding non-citizenship with prior voting history were referred to the Florida State Office of Election Crimes and Security.
We continue to strengthen the list maintenance process through improved access to federal and state data and by working closely with the state’s Division of Elections.
TESTING VOTING EQUIPMENT
Election officials in Florida may only use voting systems and equipment certified by the Florida Department of State. We utilize equipment provided by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), a state-certified and authorized vendor.
Before any voting begins, our office conducts a public Logic and Accuracy test on our systems, voting devices, and tabulation equipment to ensure everything is functioning properly. If any piece of equipment does not meet testing standards, it is removed, serviced, and publicly retested before the next election.
Testing the machines helps ensure that your ballot will be tabulated accurately, whether it is cast by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day.
PHYSICAL, NETWORK SECURITY
Securely storing our equipment is a vital layer to safeguarding elections. Ballots and election equipment are kept in secure areas under continuous physical security and video surveillance. Access is limited and requires multifactor authentication.
Strict chain-of-custody procedures document every transfer of ballots, tabulators, and election equipment using numbered security seals and signature logs. These safeguards help ensure election materials remain secure and accounted for at all times.
Our networks are continuously monitored and undergo cybersecurity assessments, including annual audits by the Florida Department of State.
Most importantly, the election systems we use to count your votes are never connected to the internet.
These security measures help protect against any threats and attempts to gain unauthorized access and strengthen the integrity of the election process.
MAIL, EARLY AND ELECTION DAY VOTING
Whether you choose to vote by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day, every vote in Florida is cast on a paper ballot. Paper ballots provide an official record of every vote, serving as the ultimate evidence of a voter’s intent.
Vote-by-mail ballots include additional safeguards. Every returned ballot undergoes signature verification before it can be counted. Our office also maintains a record of every vote-by-mail ballot requested, mailed, received, and tabulated, and voters can track the status of their ballot on our website.
POST-ELECTION SAFEGUARDS
Florida requires post-election audits as an additional safeguard. In Lee County, every ballot is processed through Clear Audit after an election. Clear Audit is a state-certified independent audit system separate from our tabulation system.
This independent audit provides a 100% audit of every race in every precinct for maximum accuracy and transparency.
Additionally, every paper ballot is securely stored for 22 months, as required by Florida law. If a recount is ever necessary, those ballots remain accessible.
Election integrity is built through layers of safeguards, rigorous testing, secure technology, transparent processes, and dedicated public servants who administer elections in accordance with the law. Whether voting by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day, you can trust that when you cast your ballot, your vote is protected and counted accurately.
2026 ELECTION DATES
– Primary Election: Aug. 18
– General Election: Nov. 3
Jenna Persons-Mulicka is the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. For more information, visit https://www.lee.vote/ or call 239-533-8683.