Duval County Election Advisory Panel Meeting

Date: September 22, 2026, at 11:00 AM

Chairman Ray Prangle convened the Duval County Election Advisory Panel meeting with introductions and a roll call. The panel received updates on voter registration, vote-by-mail preparations, primary election turnout, poll worker training, polling location changes, new voting system audit equipment, compliance with federal executive orders, the upcoming Florida SAVE Act, and administrative matters.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded, and carried unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Supervisor of Elections Update: Deputy Supervisor Justin presented voter registration numbers: total 651,978; Democrats 245,685; Republicans 238,974; non-party affiliates 142,734; other minor parties 24,585. Vote-by-mail requests stand at 36,570, with domestic requests at 34,053 and UOCAVA (military/overseas) at 2,517. Ballots began mailing on September 21, 2026; domestic civilian ballots are scheduled for September 28. Primary election turnout was 23.4%, with vote-by-mail accounting for 15.62% of votes cast, early voting 39.1%, and Election Day 45.28%. Two new early voting sites were added: Dallas Graham and Jack's Beach Community Center Exhibition Hall; the busiest sites were Highlands Regional and Pablo Creek Library. Poll worker training is underway: 40% completed, 15% in progress, 45% not started. For the general election, approximately 232 workers per day across 24 early voting sites and 1,500 workers across 159 precincts on Election Day. One polling location change: Precinct 508 moved to Weyman Temple AME Church South Campus (8855 Sanchez Road) due to the previous location declining. Voters will be notified via voter information card and sample ballot; social media and press releases have been issued. Sample ballots are available online; they will be mailed starting October 12. The ballot is 17 inches front and back, with candidate races and judicial on the front and amendments on the back.
• Clear Ballot Audit System Grant: The office is receiving a state grant to purchase Clear Ballot, an automated voting system audit that audits 100% of ballots, replacing the current manual 1-3% audit. The state covers the initial purchase (about $470,000); annual maintenance after warranty (end of 2028) will be approximately $92,638, which will need to be included in future budgets. The system is not expected to be operational for the November 2026 general election; the city election is the likely first use. The system is an independent scan of every ballot, viewable by the public. It has not been challenged in court and is used by about 37 of Florida's 67 counties.
• Vote-by-Mail Barcodes and Executive Order: Chairman Prangle inquired about compliance with a presidential executive order regarding barcodes on vote-by-mail envelopes. Justin explained that Florida already complies with most requirements (e.g., only mailed upon request, no unsolicited drop boxes, voter identification required). The order calls for three barcodes: (1) an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) on the outbound envelope (currently exists), (2) a voter-identifying barcode on the return envelope (exists), and (3) an IMb on the inbound return envelope for USPS tracking (does not yet exist). The third barcode would enable voters to track their ballot through the mail system. Implementation was not feasible for the 2026 cycle because the required USPS portal and manufacturer modifications were not completed in time due to a Supreme Court stay issued 46 days before the election. Compliance is anticipated for the 2028 cycle.
• Florida SAVE Act (House Bill 991): Effective January 1, 2027, the act aims to prevent non-citizen voting. It does not require voters to prove citizenship at the polls. Instead, citizenship verification will occur when a person renews or obtains a driver's license or state ID through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The DMV will mark citizenship status, send data to the state, which then cross-references with voter rolls. If a potential non-citizen voter is identified, the Supervisor of Elections sends a certified letter; the voter has 30 days to respond with proof of citizenship. If no response, the voter is removed and referred for investigation. No voter will be asked to show citizenship at the polling place. An existing eligible voter remains eligible even if flagged until due process is completed.
• Poll Watchers vs. Poll Workers: A member asked about poll watcher notifications. The office clarified that they do not recruit or assign poll watchers; they only authenticate credentials. Poll watchers are appointed by candidates or parties and choose their own precincts. The office does not send reminders about deadlines, as it would be impractical given the many candidates and parties.
• Meeting Notification and Scheduling: A member raised concerns about low attendance and difficulty changing email notifications. The chairman suggested follow-up confirmations, including text messages. Staff will collect phone numbers from members for future reminders. The next meeting was originally set for December 9, 2026, but since election staff will be at a state conference, the date was moved to December 2, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the same location. Members consented.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved.
• State grant accepted for Clear Ballot audit system (initial purchase paid by state; recurring annual maintenance ~$92,638).
• Next meeting set: December 2, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
• Staff will collect phone numbers and implement follow-up notifications to improve attendance.
• Polling location change for Precinct 508 communicated via multiple channels.