Fla. launches new absentee voting system

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Election officials said it's time to make it easier for service men and women to participate in the democracy they are fighting to protect.

"We conduct absentee voting today just as we did during the civil war. We mail a soldier a ballot and hope he gets it. He votes and mails his ballot back and hopes we get it in time to count it,” said Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections, Paul Lux.

Service members will now be able to log in to a secure website and vote using an electronic ballot. They can then print and return their ballot by fax or by mail.

“When the ballot arrives, members of the county canvassing board must transfer those votes onto optical-scan ballot cards to be counted with the rest of the absentee ballots," said Lux.

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford said it's really all about convenience for service members.

"We want to try to make the process a little more smooth, a little easier because we understand although it's vitally important for them to participate in their democracy, they are busy doing other things like fighting wars," said Stafford.

The new system will be up in running in time for Florida’s primary elections.