Lee County’s elections office sees mistakes with ballots submitted

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office says it’s seeing mistakes coming through on ballots, and some votes can’t get counted

Lee Elections says voters are filling in the circle for a candidate but then writing in the name too. You can’t do that.

It happens in races such as Lee County Commissioners, where Kevin Ruane is facing a write-in candidate.

Lee Elections says, if you did this while voting by mail, the canvassing board will review it to attempt to identify “voter intent.” If it’s clear what the voter wanted, the board will OK the ballot for counting. If not, it’s cast aside.

If you go in person for early voting or on Election Day, the scanner will alert you to an issue. You will get an option to cast ballot as is or reject it and get a new one and start over.

Lee County poll workers must wear masks

Another thing that came up during early voting was masks at the polls.

A Fort Myers woman sent us a picture that showed a poll worker outside of a drop box at Riverside Community Center without a mask.

Lee Elections says poll workers must wear a mask.

The woman who worried about her health says someone should not have to risk it to vote.

“It didn’t feel like a fun voting event,” voter Cori Montoya said. “I actually feel like putting yourself at risk to vote is another way our pride and safety in the whole process is another risk factor that doesn’t have to be there. All they have to do is wear a required mask.”

Lee Elections says it did receive a complaint about this. The office also said poll workers are required to wear masks and they have been, “schooled,” to wear masks any time voters approach the drop box when outside.