To reduce voting crowds, Miami-Dade sending out more than 500K mail-in ballot requests
Preparing for its first major competitive elections during the coronavirus pandemic, Miami-Dade plans to send out more than 500,000 applications for mail-in ballots in order to promote the option as an alternative to voting in person.
The plan approved unanimously Tuesday by county commissioners stopped short of the blanket mailing of applications some advocates wanted. Instead of sending applications to more than 1 million voters who haven’t yet requested mail-in ballots, the Elections Department will send one to each household with a voter without an existing request.
Since many households have multiple voters, Miami-Dade expects to send about 520,000 forms attached to cards urging residents to apply for mail-in ballots online as the easiest option, along with calling the Elections Department directly.
“We really should be promoting and advocating vote by mail in this election cycle. We always do, but this one in particular,” said Christina White, the county’s elections director. “The mission of the department has changed a bit. It’s now not just making sure everybody votes, but making sure they do so in a way that makes them feel safe.”
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