- President's Message
- Voter Resources
- Our Schools
- Election Info
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- Vote 411 is Live
- Take the Challenge
- Committee Shorts
- New LWVCC Members
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- How to Judge Judges
- Democracy in Action
- Safe and Secure Elections
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A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Every Vote Matters!
Yes, every vote matters! Every vote has always mattered. I am still reeling from learning that 90 million voters did not cast a vote in our last Presidential election. I urge you to talk to people around you about the importance of voting. There is much noise about voting and the upcoming elections. Please take the time to learn what is fact, and what is disinformation. Help those you know do the same.
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A Gift to Voters
from participating candidates
By Stacy Vermylen, Communications Chair
For decades, the League of Women Voters has helped voters make informed decisions through candidate forums, printed voter guides, community presentations, newsletters, and other nonpartisan educational efforts. As voters increasingly turn to digital resources, the League created Vote411.org—a free, online voter guide that allows voters to see exactly what will appear on their ballot and compare candidates side by side. It is a useful gift for voters.
Every candidate on the ballot is invited to participate by uploading biographical information and answering the League's questions. Vote411 also includes synopses of ballot referenda, making it a convenient resource for election information. Thanks to the hard work of Laura Hansen Reynolds, our local candidates were contacted shortly after qualifying, and the Collier County races, together with the state and federal races coordinated by the League of Women Voters of Florida, were available online beginning July 10.
This year, the League enhanced Vote411 by including candidate photos and campaign website links whenever possible—even for candidates who chose not to respond—so voters can still see everyone on the ballot and visit campaign websites directly. The guide is most valuable, however, when candidates participate. So far, only about 60% of candidates in Florida races have submitted responses, and participation in several important Collier County races has also been limited. While additional responses may still be added, the election is now only two weeks away.
Why some candidates choose not to respond is known only to them. Whatever the reason, voters miss an opportunity to compare candidates in a consistent, nonpartisan format where every candidate is offered the same free opportunity to present their qualifications and priorities. Vote411 remains one of the best election resources available, and as voters we should urge candidates to participate.
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By Susan Brown, Guest Contributor
As a former judge, voters often ask me: “How can I learn more about judicial candidates and make an informed choice?”
Judicial elections also receive less media coverage because Florida judicial elections are nonpartisan. A candidate's political party does not appear on the ballot. As a result, voters should take the time to research candidates on their own prior to making a choice. Read more for important information on how to research and evaluate judicial candidates for the Primary and beyond.
Note: In the August 18th Primary the ballot will include two Circuit Court races.
The three County judicial candidates are running unopposed and are considered elected.
READ MORE
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Additional Resources for Voters
Need help getting helpful information about candidates and referenda on the ballot? Here are just a few that, in addition to Vote411 and the judicial information provided above:
Sparker's Soapbox
Insightful non-partisan explanation of Florida and local elections, information about candidates and referenda, by Sandy Parker.
Supervisor of Elections
Information provided by candidates to the SOE, including details about spending and the candidates' donors.
Florida Division of Elections
Information provided by candidates in state legislative and congressional races.
Ballotpedia
Comprehensive background on candidates, offices, ballot measures, election rules, and campaign information. Excellent for digging deeper into a race.
No single resource tells the whole story.
The best-informed voters compare information from several sources, distinguish between factual information and opinion, and whenever possible hear directly from the candidates before casting their ballots.
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Women's Equality Day August 26, 2026
Take the Challenge!
On August 26th, our country will commemorate Women's Equality Day, a day that has been recognized by Presidents since 1970. The celebration falls on the anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Let's celebrate that day in advance by voting in force in our August 18th Primary election! By doing so, we will honor the strength and determination of the many women who fought for us to have the right to do so. We challenge you to vote and convince others to vote, too!
Yes, a summertime election is challenging in Florida when so many are away. However, key races and issues are being decided by the noble few who take the time to vote by mail or vote in person.
In 2022, the most recent comparable mid-cycle election, the Collier County primary election turnout was only 29%! Among eligible women, the turnout was 31%, but this extremely low level of participation is still distressing.
Let's beat those numbers in 2026! Join the challenge!
Click below to see the turnout by demographic groups for the mid-cycle
2022 Primary and General Election:
Voting Statistics from the 2022 Primary
Voting Statistics from the 2022 General Election
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A Reflection by Teresa Stohs, LWVCC President
The words above are the first words that come to mind when reflecting on my experience at the LWV Convention and the LWVFL Council of Leaders this summer.
Over 1,000 members of the LWV convened in Columbus, Ohio, to shape the League's priorities and direction for the next biennium. We were scheduled from 6 a.m. breakfast until the 9 p.m. close of the Plenary Session. Women and men from across the USA spoke with conviction on a variety of issues.
Here are some of the soundbites from the Convention that resonated with me:
- 76M votes were cast for Harris. 78M for Trump. But 90M were not cast.
- Democracy is not the end. Shared humanity is.
- Hope is never silent.
- Safety is more than just physical. It includes emotional safety also.
- The epidemic of violence against women is fueled by higher levels.
- The most radical thing we can do is stay at it.
- We need to play, rest, and clear our heads.
- Women will decide the election.
- You don't have to do everything, but you need to do something.
- We are the ones we've been waiting for.
- The fierce urgency of now is clear.
Learn more about these two important meetings and Teresa's thoughts for the LWV.
READ MORE
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Our Schools: Your Vote Is Important
How do School Boards Operate?
By Nancy Chism, Education Ambassadors
On August 18th, our primary ballot includes one school board member race; two other board candidates faced no opposition and are therefore elected to the board. The five members of the Collier County Public Schools Board run for office on staggered four-year terms on an at-large basis. They can serve for a maximum of eight years. The election is nonpartisan, so it is open to all voters.
While those without students in the system may wonder what is at stake for them, the longer view of public education as the vehicle for a future educated citizenry, prepared workforce, and community resource makes participating in school board elections a crucial responsibility for all. It is important for voters to participate in this primary.
Learn more about the critical roles school board members play and why your vote in the primary is so important.
READ MORE
| Committee Shorts
Education Ambassadors
On July 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that legislative controls imposed four years ago on faculty speech in Florida's colleges and universities are unconstitutional. The ruling supported an earlier injunction issued by a Florida district court on the "Stop W.O.K.E. Act," which placed strong restrictions on how faculty can discuss such topics as racism, sexism, and gender. Although the state is not out of legal appeals, the Court of Appeals ruling makes it unlikely that further legal appeals will be successful.
The 11th Circuit decision was the first time an appellate court ruled on the constitutionality of "viewpoint discrimination" in postsecondary settings. It will have important effects on such laws in other states and will entail significant changes in how Florida higher education is now regulated.
Education Ambassadors 2026-27 Priorities: 1) Verification of how vouchers are expended after being awarded. 2) Comparative academic achievement in public, private, and home schools. 3) Effect of Education Freedom Tax Credit legislation and Scholarship Granting Organizations. 4) Impact of reduced federal funding on CCPS programs.
Voter Services
Right up until the election, there are numerous ways volunteers can help get out the vote. Volunteer activities range from sending postcards and staffing information tables to training local voters to spread the word about voting and providing advice about registration, voting by mail, and how to find information about candidates and referenda. Contact tinapalmese@aol.com for more information. |
by Melissa Blazier, Collier County Supervisor of Elections
Voting by mail is safe, secure, and is not a new concept for Florida voters.
As Supervisor of Elections, my team prioritizes ensuring election integrity while offering a high-quality voting experience for Collier County voters. This includes accessibility to voting both in person and by mail.
Voting by mail is convenient and popular not only in Collier County, but also across the State of Florida. Voting by mail is not a new concept for Floridians and has evolved over decades of legislative changes and advances in technology to improve the process. Several safeguards have been put in place to ensure the integrity of voting by mail while also giving voters peace of mind when they choose to vote by mail.
There are several steps taken to ensure that Vote-by-Mail ballots are safe and secure, including:
- Only registered voters can cast a mail ballot, and they must request a ballot each election year.
- Voters must return their voted ballot in the official ballot return envelope after signing it.
- Our office offers tracking and alerts so voters can follow the Vote-by-Mail process from the moment they request a ballot.
Continue reading for important information about Vote-by-Mail safeguards and information about both the Primary and November elections.
READ MORE |
IMPORTANT ELECTION INFORMATION
Vote-by-Mail ballots must be in the possession of the Supervisor of Elections office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. Your Vote-by-Mail ballot can be returned by mail (allow 10 days for delivery, recommends the SOE), dropped off at one of the Supervisor of Elections office locations, or returned to one of our Secure Ballot Intake Stations located at each of our 11 early voting locations during the early voting periods scheduled for next year.
For more information about voting by mail or to request your Vote-by-Mail ballots for 2026, visit: Colliervotes.gov or call the Collier County Supervisor of Elections office at 239-252-VOTE (8683).
Around 170,000 voters in Collier County now are in a different congressional district due (state legislative districts did not change). Check Colliervotes.gov or Vote411.org to confirm your districts based on your address. These numbers are estimates from the SOE:
- Changed from District 19 to 22 = 30,600 voters
- Changed from District 26 to 22 = 91,090 voters
- Changed from District 26 to 19 = 49,950 voters
Voters may choose any of the early voting locations to cast their vote during the early voting period. However, voting on election day, August 18th, must be done at the voters' assigned precinct and location. To confirm locations for early voting and election day, contact Colliervotes.gov.
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline – August 6 at 5 p.m.
Early Voting in Collier County – August 8-15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Election Day – August 18, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Welcome New Members!
Dylan Mariah Darlynn Alfalla Maryann Pennella Dorothy Kuzneski Teresa Bacchi
| Coming Up Next Month
In September's VOTER we will have the first in a five part series on the increasing use of terms to characterize government or economic policies, like "communism" or "socialism". What do these terms really mean and how are they being used (and abused)? |
P.O. Box 9883, Naples, FL 34101 | lwvcolliercounty.org
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