All good students of government need to do their homework in preparation for their final exam on Election Day. But don’t wait until the last minute; not only will you be caught in long lines on Nov. 4, you will be part of the problem.
That’s the advice of someone who should know: Bill Cowles, Orange County supervisor of elections, who has been an important part of that office for the past 20 years. Cowles, who graduated in 1976 with a degree in public administration from Florida Technological University, (now University of Central Florida), supervises the sixth largest county elections office in Florida.
To minimize inconvenience, your own as well as others, Cowles encourages all voters to become part of an informed electorate before stepping into the voting booth. And, even better, cast your ballot before Election Day. “Voting by mail is the best way,” Cowles said at last week’s East Orlando Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
“Study it, mark it and send it in.” Due to the overwhelming interest generated by this presidential election year, Cowles expects 85 percent of the 600,000 eligible voters in Orange County to vote. As of Oct. 10, 109,000 voters already had taken advantage of the mail-in, or absentee, ballot. And it is easy to see why, he said. This method affords the voter plenty of time to study the candidates and issues, within the comfort of their own home.
And the extra effort will be time well spent. This year’s ballot will not only be an exercise in democracy, but also one in critical-thinking skills. For example, there will be six Constitutional Amendments, three Orange County Charter Amendments, and a special referendum, each with their own convoluted wording.
Also, did you know that of all these United States, Florida will have the most presidential candidates listed on the ballot? Joining Senators John McCain and Barack Obama on the ballot will be 12 other hopefuls, representing such fringe political movements as the Boston Tea Party of Florida. And do you know why McCain will be at the top of the candidate list? Because, according to state law, this coveted position is given to the party that currently occupies the governor’s mansion.
By the way, if the race were limited to write-in candidates, Mickey Mouse would be a shoo-in to win Orange County. To vote by mail, however, there are a few requirements that must be followed. Oct. 29 is the deadline for voters to request absentee ballots be mailed to them for the upcoming general election.
These absentee ballots can also be turned in to the Orange County Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 4. Postmarks don’t count! Note that the postage cost to mail in the completed absentee ballot will vary by county; in Orange County the mail-in ballot will require 59 cents in postage.
If your intent is to beat the Election Day rush, but still want to vote in person, you may vote at local libraries from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, through Nov. 1. And this trend also is on the rise.
On Monday, Oct. 20, the first day for early voting in Orange County, more than 7,330 ballots were cast — double the number from day one of early voting in the presidential election in 2004. However, in East Orlando early voting is limited to just two locations: Southeast Regional Library, 5575 S. Semoran Blvd.; or the Alafaya Branch Library, 12000 E. Colonial Drive. Early voting also can be done at the Elections Office, 119 W. Kaley St. in Orlando.
Note that on Sundays leading up to the election, voters can cast their vote at the Supervisor of Elections office by absentee ballot only from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Again, Cowles suggests that if you’re voting early, vote early in the day, particularly if you’re going to the Alafaya Branch, which is the busiest voting location and, consequently, the one with the longest lines.
Another word of caution: the busiest day of the early-voting season is Halloween. “Our most popular time for [early voting] is Oct. 31. It’s all the people who don’t want to be home when trick-ortreaters come to their door,” he said. Cowles also recommends early voters bring in their official sample ballot, which includes a bar code that can be scanned to confirm voter registration.
This will allow the voter “express check-in,” alleviating delays, he said, adding that pre-marking these sample ballots also will expedite the voting process for one and all. The third voting option is the traditional casting of the ballot on Nov. 4 at a designated polling location. Regardless of the long lines that this milestone election will undoubtedly produce, everyone who is in line at the 7 p.m. cutoff will be allowed to vote.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Citizens can view their sample ballot, request an absentee ballot or find out more about local candidates by logging on to www.orangevotes2008.com or calling 407-836-VOTE (8683).
