During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the logistics and challenges surrounding vote-by-mail (VBM) processes, particularly in Duval County. The conversation highlighted the varying approaches states take regarding mail-in voting, with some states, like Washington, relying solely on VBM due to high volumes of mail. In contrast, Duval County officials expressed confidence that their current staffing levels and processes would prevent overwhelming volumes from necessitating a shift to machine-assisted ballot verification.

The meeting also addressed the canvassing process for rejected ballots. Once a ballot is rejected by the initial reviewer, it is forwarded to the canvassing board. If the board also rejects the ballot, the voter is notified, and if they respond appropriately, their vote is counted without needing to go through the canvassing process again.

Budget considerations for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-2026 were discussed, particularly regarding funding for mailings to encourage voter reenrollment for VBM. Officials indicated that the supervisor of elections would likely request funding for these mailings, which are essential for maintaining voter participation.

A significant point of discussion was the cost structure associated with the vendor used for notifying voters about curing issues with their ballots. The officials clarified that the costs are based on a \"click charge\" model, which varies depending on the volume of notifications sent.

The meeting concluded with a proposal to utilize existing systems to remind voters about the expiration of their VBM requests and to encourage them to re-enroll. This approach could potentially be a cost-effective alternative to traditional mailings, ensuring that voter engagement remains a priority even outside of election years. The officials agreed to present this idea to the supervisor of elections for further consideration.