Seminole County elections follow clear, secure procedures to ensure every valid ballot is counted accurately. From paper ballots to post-election review, the process is designed to protect voter intent and maintain public confidence.

Election Equipment

Paper Ballots

All voting in Florida is conducted using paper ballots. Voters mark their selections by filling in ovals, and those ballots are tabulated using secure scanning equipment.

Paper ballots provide a reliable record of every vote. If questions ever arise, ballots can be reviewed to confirm results. By law, ballots are securely retained for at least 22 months after each election. These ballots are public records, and after an election, anyone may submit a request to view them and verify the results.

Certified Voting Machines

All voting machines used in Florida are tested and certified by the Florida Department of State. Seminole County only uses equipment that has met these certification requirements.

The voting machines currently in use have undergone extensive testing, audits, and recounts over multiple election cycles to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Ballot Processing

Vote-by-Mail Safeguards

Vote-by-mail ballots are not sent automatically. A voter must first register, then request a ballot.

When a vote-by-mail ballot is returned, it must be placed in the official return envelope and signed by the voter. Upon receipt, the signature on the envelope is compared to the voter’s signature on file. Once verified, the voter’s record is updated to prevent the voter from voting again in that election.

Voters may track the status of their vote-by-mail ballot through the entire process, including when it is requested, mailed, received, and counted.

Secret Ballots

Whether or not a voter participated in an election is public record, but how a voter voted is private. The Florida Constitution guarantees the right to a secret ballot.

Ballots are not linked to individual voters. Every voter in the same precinct (and the same party during primary elections) receives the same ballot style. Once a voter checks in and receives a ballot, there is no identifying information on the ballot itself.

Similar procedures protect the secrecy of vote-by-mail ballots. No one, including election workers or Elections Office staff, can see how a voter voted.

Canvassing Board

The most critical functions of an election—including reviewing ballots, certifying results, and overseeing recounts—are handled by the County Canvassing Board.

The Canvassing Board is an independent body made up of:

• The Chair of the Board of County Commissioners
• A County Court Judge
• The Supervisor of Elections

This structure ensures that major election decisions are made collectively rather than by a single individual. Members may not serve if they have a conflict of interest.

Audits & Security

Logic & Accuracy Testing Before Each Election

Before every election, all voting machines are tested to confirm they are working properly and counting votes accurately. During this testing, pre-marked ballots are run through each machine to verify results.

This testing process is open to candidates, media, and members of the public.

Post-Election Audits

At the end of each day of voting, voting machine totals are compared to voter check-in records to ensure the number of ballots cast matches the number of voters who voted.

Similar accounting steps are taken for vote-by-mail ballots to confirm that each counted ballot is linked to a registered voter. No ballot is counted unless it is cast by an eligible voter.

This process is open to public observation.

Manual Audits

After every election, results are audited as required by Florida law. During the audit, the Canvassing Board hand-counts ballots from a randomly selected precinct to confirm the accuracy of the tabulation equipment.

Physical Security

All sensitive election materials are secured behind locked doors and monitored by 24-hour camera surveillance. Strict chain-of-custody procedures ensure that only authorized personnel have access to ballots, voting machines, and equipment.

One-time security seals are used on voting machines, ballot transport containers, and other equipment to confirm that no tampering has occurred.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a critical part of election security. Seminole County uses advanced hardware and software to monitor its systems and prevent unauthorized access.

Voting machines are never connected to the internet. Elections Office staff receive ongoing training to protect against cyber threats and maintain secure systems.

Transparency & Oversight

Outside Oversight

Nearly every stage of the election process is open to outside observation. Candidates and political organizations may appoint poll watchers to observe voting at early voting sites and polling places.

The processing and counting of vote-by-mail ballots may also be observed by the public. Many election-related records are public records, including voter registration lists and ballots. Sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or driver’s license numbers, is protected and not released.

Signatures may be viewed as part of public records but may not be copied.

Impartial Officials

Election workers swear an oath to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Florida. They do not work for political parties or candidates. Their responsibility is to the voters.

Election workers are members of the community and serve with integrity, transparency, and impartiality to protect every voter’s right to have their ballot counted accurately.