Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo sponsored a resolution aimed at curtailing absentee ballot fraud that was passed at the Sept. 18 county commission meeting. The measure provides pre-paid postage return envelopes for absentee ballots at an estimated cost of $170,000 for countywide elections.
“Providing a pre-paid return envelope for absentee ballots severely diminishes the influence of ballot brokers who prey on the elderly,” Commissioner Bovo said. “By taking away their ability to offer postage in return for handling the absentee ballots, we are restoring a voter’s peace of mind when requesting an absentee ballot.”
The initiative will apply to countywide elections; the cost to provide pre-paid postage of absentee ballots for municipal elections will be up to the discretion of each municipality. The cities of Hialeah and Miami Lakes already have pledged to provide their residents with pre-paid absentee ballot return envelopes.
For information, contact Commissioner Bovo’s office at 305-375-4831.
