NAPLES — The State of Florida is asking Elections Supervisors to make ballot boxes more secure.
The Florida Department of State sent a letter to every county last week, asking them to have someone watching ballot boxes at all times. But in Collier County, Election Supervisor Jennifer Edwards said, that would limit access to voters.
The ballot box at the entrance to the Collier County Supervisor of Elections is the only one in Southwest Florida open 24 hours a day.
“I don’t want to confuse our voters. I want them to be able to come 24/7 and drop their ballots off," said Edwards.
Edwards said they don’t have the staff to monitor the box in-person around the clock, but regardless, she said her office isn’t breaking any laws.
“Our attorney with the State Association of Supervisors has given us an interpretation that... an in-person guard is not required in the law," said Edwards.
Edwards said the box is monitored by security cameras full-time. We talked with several voters who were dropping off their ballots Monday to get their opinions.
“I would feel better with a person there 24/7. The security cameras, that’s great, but things always disappear off of those tapes sometimes," said Tracy Crawford.
“I think they should definitely be trying to put somebody there 24/7, but I’m not going to volunteer," said Jack Tanner.
Edwards said, she understands those concerns, but it worked during the primary, and she thinks it will will work just fine during this election too.
“The County’s surveillance is 24/7, so they’re watching, and we’ve made them aware to be extraordinarily alert. So I’m comfortable with that," said Edwards.
We also reached out to the Elections Supervisors in Lee and Charlotte Counties. Both said that they do have a physical person watching ballot boxes at all times, but they also do not offer a drop off location 24-hours a day.
