Brenda Hoots, Hendry County Supervisor of Elections, has been receiving a high volume of calls from voters who are not clear about certain pieces of literature they have been getting in the mail. She would like to help the public understand what they need to know and do in the event this type of mail is received.

Special to the Caloosa Belle
Supervisor of Elections employees, left to right, Nora Ned, Sherry Taylor, Emilio Hernandez and Supervisor Brenda Hoots.

Hoots noted that "many entities send out literature," and "not all of this literature is bad, but it can often be misleading or confusing." For instance, the Voter Participation Organization out of Washington D.C., is sending out information to addresses with both nonregistered voters as well as those voters who are currently registered. Some of the material is telling registered voters that they are not registered to vote when they are indeed registered. This is where it is getting confusing.

For people who have not registered to vote, or for those who have moved and need to update their information, this type of literature could be useful. However, Supervisor Hoots wants to make it clear that her office does not solicit in any way. Her office does not use telephone robocalls. They also do not send out absentee ballot requests or voter registration applications unless requested by an individual. She stated that "anything from this office will have my name, as well as the Supervisor of Elections title and our address on it."

Because it is an election year, Supervisor Hoots urges voters to look closely at who is sending the political information. If there is any doubt, confusion or if someone just wants to verify certain information, she asks that people call her office to clarify. She would like the public to not ‘BEWARE’, but ‘BE AWARE" of the literature they are being sent.

Hoots would also like the public to know that "we are here for you to come and vote". If a person needs to vote by mail or receive a voter registration application they should call the Supervisor of Elections office. Early voting starts on Oct. 24 and ends on Nov. 5. During early voting, the LaBelle and Clewiston offices will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Hoots reiterated that "there will be 13 straight days to vote early in Hendry County in the upcoming Nov. election."

After early voting closes on Nov. 5, voters will have to go to their assigned polling place to vote on Nov. 8. This means that for the upcoming Nov. 8 election, voters cannot vote at the Supervisor of Elections Office after Nov. 5.

If you have not registered to vote, the books close on Oct. 11. That means a person must be registered by that date in order to vote in the Nov. election. For questions or further information, please visit www.hendryelections.org or call the elections office at 863-675-5230 or 863-983-1952.