Orange County Canvassers Begin Reviewing Flagged Mail-In Ballots
Seminole County confirms all votes will undergo a second automated count to verify machine totals.
By Sakura Novak ·
100% of votes cast in Seminole County will pass through a second, separate automated counting system to verify the final totals. Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock confirmed the additional step as polling places across Central Florida closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday. This parallel verification process is designed to cross-check the results generated by the primary voting machines.
In nearby Orange County, election staff began processing mail-in ballots immediately after polls closed. The Orange County Canvassing Board is currently reviewing envelopes that were flagged for potential problems. These issues include signature mismatches and questions about voter residency. Board members examine each case individually to decide whether to accept or reject the ballot.
Vehicles dropped off ballots at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office throughout the day. Although the office does not serve as a polling location, it functions as the central hub where all ballots from the county are transported for processing. Staff worked to secure the paper records and ensure every vote is properly counted before the final tally is announced.
Security protocols are in place for the equipment used in the election. In Seminole County, voting machines are locked before they are moved to polling sites. They are locked again after voting ends, just before they are returned to the supervisor’s office. This procedure prevents access to the machines during transit.
Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd said state and local officials are deploying every available resource to support voters. “People want to vote. I can tell you that we are making every effort from the state level and the local level, every resource available, we are surging to where it is needed to make sure voters have the ability to cast their ballot,” Byrd said.
The dual-counting method in Seminole County provides an independent check on the initial machine counts. Meanwhile, canvassers in Orange County continue their manual review of disputed mail-in mail. Both counties are working to finalize their results as the state moves toward certification.
