With the redistricting process up in the air after lawmakers failed to pass a map proposal last week, the state’s election officials are worried as the 2016 elections draw near.
The decision regarding the redrawing of the state’s Senate districts now lies with the courts. But, Secretary of State Ken Detzner says for the sake of the elections, he hopes that decision comes soon.
“Part of the administration is planning for where candidates are going to be running, and what districts they’re going to be running in,. You know, we’re getting close to a time period in which the supervisors really need to know and we’re anticipating that the courts in the near future some time in December will have some final maps.”
The supervisors of election have started coming up with deadlines in order to meet the upcoming polling place needs. Clay County Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambless is the Incoming President of the Florida State Association of Supervisor of Elections. He says supervisors have a drop dead date of mid-December.
“And, so, in order for us to be able to notify and make those changes, go before our respective local governments to make those changes to local line work, and to be able to notify those military voters and voters abroad that we believe it’s very important that the courts resolve this issue by the middle of December.”
Meanwhile, Detzner says he’s expecting a huge turnout for the 2016 elections, and hopes it breaks records as the 2014 elections did in Florida. He says around that time, more people early voted or mailed in a ballot than voted on Election Day.
For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.
