OKEECHOBEE — Several voters have noticed that the return envelope they received with their mail-in ballot was already sealed when they received it. Linda Edenfield opened her ballot Tuesday morning, Oct. 6, filled it out and attempted to place it in the return envelope but found she could not open the envelope. “It was damp,” she said, “and there was no way it was coming open.” She thought about using a letter opener to open it but was worried it would appear to be tampered with, so she called the office of the supervisor of elections to ask them what to do.
Faith Nielson said they have had several instances of this happening, possibly due to the weather we have been having lately, and the voter should not use the envelope. If they call the office, a new one will be mailed out right away. The voter is also welcome to come in and get a new envelope.

Asked whether ballots would be thrown away if the voter did cut open the envelope and then reseal it, Neilson said their office never, ever throws away a signed ballot. If anyone did mistakenly cut open the return envelope and then seal it up with tape, the election office would call the voter to clarify the situation.
If you have a problem with your ballot or your envelope, please call 863-763-4014.