What Exactly Are the Rules?
Under Florida law, ballot drop boxes are no longer a 24/7 convenience. They can only be placed at the main and permanent branch offices of county Supervisors of Elections and at designated early voting sites. Crucially, these boxes must be physically monitored by an election official whenever they are available. This means their hours are restricted. At early voting locations, they are only accessible during official early voting hours. At elections offices, hours are generally limited to business hours, with extended hours on Election Day itself. Voters must return their own ballot, or they can drop off ballots for immediate family members or a maximum of two other non-family members per election. Finally, drop boxes are not available at regular
polling places on Election Day; the only drop-off option that day is at a Supervisor of Elections office.
How We Got Here: The Ghost of SB90
The shift from widespread, accessible drop boxes to today's more restrictive system is a direct result of Senate Bill 90 (SB90), a sweeping election law passed in 2021. The bill was enacted following the 2020 election, which saw a dramatic increase in voting by mail across the country. Supporters of SB90 said the changes were necessary to improve election security, transparency, and administration. The law not only created the new rules for drop boxes but also added stricter ID requirements for mail ballot requests and required voters to re-apply for a mail ballot more frequently. Though some provisions have faced legal challenges, the core regulations governing drop boxes have fundamentally changed how millions of Floridians return their ballots.
The 'Election Integrity' Argument
Proponents of these stricter rules argue they are a common-sense measure to safeguard elections. The requirement for in-person monitoring, for example, is designed to prevent tampering or damage to the boxes and ensure a secure chain of custody from the voter to the elections office. By restricting who can drop off multiple ballots, supporters say the law helps prevent 'ballot harvesting,' a term for the controversial (and now criminalized) practice of third parties collecting and submitting large numbers of ballots. The logic is that when a ballot leaves the voter's hands, every step until it is counted should be secure and transparent. For supporters, the limited hours and locations are a necessary trade-off to boost public confidence in the integrity of the vote-by-mail process.
The 'Voter Access' Argument
Voting rights advocates and other opponents see these same rules as a form of voter suppression. They argue that the restrictions disproportionately harm voters who can't easily get to a drop box during limited hours, such as hourly workers, seniors, voters with disabilities, and those who rely on public transportation. Critics point out that before SB90, many counties offered dozens of secure drop boxes available 24/7 in the weeks before an election with no evidence of widespread fraud. They argue that limiting drop-off assistance makes it harder for community groups to help vulnerable populations vote, a practice they see as civic engagement, not a threat. For these groups, the rules create unnecessary hurdles that make voting harder, not more secure.
What This Means For Florida Voters
For Florida voters, the takeaway is to have a plan. If you intend to use a drop box, you must first know where they are located and when they are open. This information is available on your county Supervisor of Elections website. Do not assume a drop box will be where it was in 2020. Given the limited hours, it's wise to drop off your ballot well before Election Day. Remember, your ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, not just postmarked. If you're worried about mail delays or drop box hours, you can still deliver your ballot in person to the main elections office. And if all else fails, you can bring your un-voted mail ballot to your polling place on Election Day, surrender it, and vote in person.
