ORLANDO, Fla. – In a recent interview with News 6, election supervisors from five Central Florida counties shared their thoughts on the upcoming November election, highlighting both optimism and concern.
Each supervisor brings years of experience, ranging from Mary Jane Arrington in Osceola County, with 16 years, to Glen Gilzean in Orange County, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis just seven months ago.
Together, they discussed their hopes for voter engagement and the challenges they face.
You can watch this part of the interview in the video player above, or watch our 23-minute “Results 2024: Inside the election” special in the player at the end of the story.
[RESULTS 2024: Complete Coverage | What to know about the November presidential election in Florida | Here’s how your vote gets counted and verified]
A Mixed Outlook on Voter Turnout
When asked to describe the upcoming election in one word, Lake County Elecitons Supervisor Alan Hays chose two: “extremely important.”
His colleagues echoed his sentiment but with varied emotions.
Mary Jane Arrington, from Osceola County, expressed excitement over the many choices voters will make.
Chris Anderson of Seminole County, however, voiced concern about voter apathy.
“The magnitude of your participation determines the magnitude of change,” Anderson emphasized, noting a dip in turnout from 2016 to 2020 and his curiosity about how voters will respond this year.
Lisa Lewis, from Volusia County, described the election as both “exciting and anxious,” reflecting the uncertainty many feel about turnout and results.
Concerns About Safety and Intimidation
Election workers’ safety has become a significant concern.
When asked if any of them had received threats, Anderson admitted he had faced death threats.
Lisa Lewis described a climate of intimidation, with letters and phone calls alluding to possible threats.
“Because of the atmosphere that is in our time right now, in elections, you know, there are threats made to election workers,” she said.
She explained that while these incidents aren’t as widespread in smaller counties, they still create anxiety among election workers.
“You know the campaigners seem to be getting more and more aggressive with trying to get their message out, and it is a little anxious feeling sometimes because you don’t know what is going to happen on Election Day,” Lewis said.
Both Anderson and Lewis pointed to the lasting effects of the 2020 election, noting the ongoing hostility faced by election officials.
“That’s where the threats came from and it’s continuing through present day,” Anderson said.
Lewis emphasized the importance of keeping elections safe and secure, stating, “We want people to register to vote, us to count the votes, and present the results.”
Watch Results 2024: Inside the election
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