Frost Demands Answers from Orange County Supervisor of Elections Ahead of November

As the November Presidential Election nears, the urgency of ensuring election integrity cannot be overstated. Orange County Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean's introduction of new measures has raised concerns among Florida Democrats, leading Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL), who represents the area in Congress, to provide a detailed explanation of these rules to prevent confusion and ensure all citizens can exercise their right to vote.

Gilzean announced the changes in May, which include the creation of four new voting precincts, two boundary adjustments, the redesignation of an additional precinct, and the issuance of new voter ID cards. Such measures were introduced as Florida's population has grown rapidly, especially in the Orange County area.

However, these new policies affect 25,000 voters, as Rep. Frost pointed out in his letter to Gilzean, citing confusion among constituents.

Additional issues include delays in candidate filing, as Orange County uses a petition with a certain number of verified signatures. While potential candidates can pay a filing fee to run for office, the signature verification system has slowed significantly from the usual 48-hour period under the previous Supervisor, Bill Cowles.

"Changes in the Office of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections could jeopardize the freeness and fairness of the upcoming general election in November if candidates – of any party – are de facto barred from filing for free and risk tens of thousands of voters getting turned away at the ballot box on election day," said Rep. Frost in his press release.

As a result, the Florida Congressman called for Gilzean to meet with local leaders to provide a detailed plan for addressing these issues, especially with the November election just over four months away.

"The cornerstone of our democracy is the confidence that every eligible voter can participate in the electoral process without undue hindrance or delay. As an elected representative of the people of Orange County and a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability, it is my duty to ensure every citizen's right to vote is protected and that our elections are conducted with the highest standards of integrity and transparency," Frost concluded.