Escambia Elections Boss Stafford Speaks To Congress

February 23, 2011

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford spoke before Congress last week on Military and Overseas Voting: Effectiveness of the MOVE Act in the 2010 Election.

“Florida has been at the forefront of military and overseas voting for decades,” Stafford said, adding that Florida has altered its election calendar several times to provide for more time to mail ballots. Oversees voters with an email address on file also receive email materials, including a list of candidates no later than 30 days before an election.

Stafford also said his office is will pursue a technology grant to make a to make electronic ballot delivery and completion a reality. Ballots now must be returned by mail or even fax, which he termed a “dying technology” that is difficult for many overseas voters to access.

“Many younger…voters don’t understand why they can fax a ballot but not return a ballot via secure e‐mail, which most of them use every day,” he said. “Relying on essentially the same system of returning ballots used in the Civil War is no longer acceptable.”

For Stafford’s complete statement, click here.

Comments

2 Responses to “Escambia Elections Boss Stafford Speaks To Congress”

  1. David Huie Green on February 23rd, 2011 2:20 pm

    He’s trying to make voting more accessible to the voters. He’s doing his job.

    Of course, another part of that is avoiding voter fraud so somebody else doesn’t vote for us. Since there is no absolute security in life, we can only try.

    Good of him for trying.

    David appreciating trying people
    or people who try

  2. Phil N. D'Oval on February 23rd, 2011 1:18 pm

    Too bad your site focuses exclusively on Escambia County. Stop by Okaloosa County sometime. They’ve actually DONE the things Mr. Stafford is “pursuing.”