By | The decline is likely a reflection of President Trump’s rhetoric and tighter restrictions | The number of vote-by-mail requests for Florida’s August primary elections is sharply lower than in previous election cycles, likely reflecting increased partisan attitudes about mail ballots and the effects of tighter restrictions state lawmakers enacted in 2021.
The number of vote-by-mail requests has been cut in half since 2022’s primaries, from over 4 million to 1.9 million this cycle, according to an analysis of the latest available data. The decline in mail ballots is notable given the historically significant role mail ballots have played in Florida elections, a trend that often benefitted Republican candidates.
Sean Freeder, director of the University of North Florida’s public opinion research lab, says there’s a number of reasons for the decline, including the effect of the political rhetoric surrounding them in recent years from Republican leaders, and especially President Donald Trump, who has called mail ballots “inherently corrupt.”
Freeder says this kind of language could be influencing Florida’s GOP voters to avoid the practice.
“Republican voters hearing someone at the top of their party say over and over again that this is a problem, they might take that at face value and they may voluntarily decide to move away from mail-in voting.” Freeder said.
He also attributed the decline to Florida’s tighter restrictions on voting by mail.
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Voting by mail has declined sharply in Florida, latest data show