{"id":2061,"date":"2026-05-30T06:05:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T06:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=2061"},"modified":"2026-05-30T06:05:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T06:05:18","slug":"bay-areas-mail-in-ballot-requests-plunge-ahead-of-august-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=2061","title":{"rendered":"Bay Area’s mail-in ballot requests plunge ahead of August primary"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>Mail-in ballot requests have dropped significantly across parts of Florida ahead of the August primary election. Election officials attribute the shift to a state law change that requires voters to renew their requests.<\/p>

Read more Tampa fiery crash: 1 dead, 1 seriously injured on I-275: TFR<\/a><\/p>

Florida mail-in ballot requests<\/h2>

The backstory:<\/p>

<\/div>

For years, millions of Floridians automatically received mail-in ballots. That changed in 2025, when a new law required requests for mail-in ballots to expire at the end of each election year.<\/p>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n <\/div>

Dustin Chase is a deputy supervisor of elections for Pinellas County. He says many voters may not realize their requests are no longer active.<\/p>

“One of the big challenges is that people simply aren\u2019t aware that their mail ballot request have expired,” Chase said.<\/p>

Mail-in ballot request numbers fall across Bay Area<\/h2>

By the numbers:<\/p>

In Pasco County, election officials have received about 22,000 mail-in ballot requests thus far. At the same point in 2024, that number stood at roughly 77,000.<\/p>

Pinellas County has also seen requests fall, with mail-in ballot requests down about 45% compared to 2024.<\/p>

“We have about 153,000 mail ballot requests on file,” Chase said. “We really need about a quarter million to make voting as comfortable as possible for everyone.”<\/p>

Possible Election Day challenges<\/h2>

What they’re saying:<\/p>

Hillsborough County election officials say they’re preparing to notify voters who need to renew their requests.<\/p>

FOX 13\u2019s political editor and chief investigator Craig Patrick says the decline in mail-in ballot requests could create challenges.<\/p>

“If people don\u2019t realize they can\u2019t get mail-in ballots, it may result in more people lining up to vote on Election Day,” Patrick said.<\/p>

Read more Hillsborough County warns of rising garbage truck fires linked to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries<\/a><\/p>

Nevertheless, Patrick believes the lower number of mail ballot requests doesn\u2019t necessarily mean turnout will decline.<\/p>

“This is going to be a very energized base on both sides,” Patrick said. “I expect turnout will be equal to the last midterm, if not higher.”<\/p>

State election integrity standards<\/h2>

Dig deeper:<\/p>

Following the 2020 election, voting by mail came under increased scrutiny from President Donald Trump and some of his allies.<\/p>

When discussing election integrity, Gov. Ron DeSantis pointed to the state\u2019s SAVE Act as a national model.<\/p>

“All you have to do is watch these elections,” DeSantis said. “See how Florida performs, and we become the envy of the nation.”<\/p>

Election officials maintain that safeguards are in place to ensure ballots are properly verified.<\/p>

\n
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“We\u2019re verifying it every step of the way, and we continue to believe that the process is safe,” Chase said.<\/p>

Voting status verification steps<\/h2>

What you can do:<\/p>

Election officials encourage anyone planning to vote by mail in August to check their status and submit a request as soon as possible.<\/p>

Read more St. Pete food pantry sees growing demand; more families facing hunger than during height of pandemic<\/a><\/p> <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mail-in ballot requests have dropped significantly across parts of Florida ahead of the August primary election. 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