Some FL Election Websites Crash During Early Voting: Reports

TAMPA, FL — Some Florida election websites experienced trouble Monday as voters began heading to the polls on the first day of early voting in many counties.

Election Day is not until Nov. 5, but some Tampa Bay area voters have begun making their selections in the 2024 general election that is partially comprised of the presidential race.

However, some election offices have been faced with a challenge: their web systems have crashed, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Voting tallies have not been affected, WFLA reported.

Early voting began Monday in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Polk, Hernando, Citrus and Osceola counties, WFLA said.

Election offices in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas have published backup websites due to their public-facing systems crashing, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Other websites, such as in Manatee and Sarasota counties, seemed to be up and running as of around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

“I just want my vote to count,” Hillsborough early voter Sandra Bryant told WFLA in a report specifically about early voting. “I just want the best candidate to be chosen. I want a change in society itself.”

Early voting began Monday in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee,Sarasota, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, and Osceola counties, among others in the Tampa Bay area.

Voting starts in Hardee and Highlands counties on Thursday, Oct. 24, WFLA said.

Aside from local races, voters are choosing between former Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to become the next U.S. president.

Early voting may take place at any designated sites ahead of Election Day.

State officials advised residents in counties impacted by hurricanes Helene or Milton to check their local supervisor of elections for updated information.

Here are the ID requirements for voting in Florida:

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
• U.S. passport
• Debit or credit card
• Military identification
• Student identification
• Retirement center identification
• Neighborhood association identification
• Public assistance identification
• Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
• Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

The deadline to request mail-in ballots is Thursday.

A request must be made to the Supervisor of Elections in the county of registration:

• By signed writing, using Form DS-DE 160 (Statewide Vote-by-Mail ballot Request Form) (e.g., mail, online, fax, or as scanned attachment to an email. For online request submission, visit our webpage for county specific links)
• In person or
• By phone

A request must include:

• The voter's name,
• The voter’s date of birth,
• The voter’s address (A signed written request is required if the address is different that the address on file. An exception exists for absent uniformed service voter or an overseas voter seeking a vote-by-mail ballot.),
• The voter’s Florida driver license, Florida identification card, or last four digits of the voter's social security number, whichever may be verified in the supervisor’s records, and
• The voter’s signature (if the request is written).