Millions of vote-by-mail requests in Florida have been wiped out of election databases statewide.
This means that, as of right now, you will not get a vote by mail ballot in the next election.
In Lee County, 191,000 people voted by mail this month. In Collier, more than 84,000 got mail ballots, and more than 49,000 mail ballots went out in Charlotte County.
However, the state hit the delete button after the Nov. 5 election, and that left every county in the state with zero requests for mail ballots.
Lee County voter Garry Lafalaise requested a mail ballot for the November election because it was easier and faster for him, so he was shocked when he heard that his request was among those wiped out.
"I think that is very weird. I think it should be a lot easier. They shouldn't delete the (mail) ballot (requests) and make people re-request them. It should be a smooth process the first time," Lafalaise said.
Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle said all mail ballot requests expired.
"Every person in the state of Florida's vote-by-mail request has expired after this general election," Doyle said.
Just 10 people in Lee County have filed a new request form.
Charlotte County says they have just 20 requests, and Collier County has no requests for mail ballots.
When asked why the state began doing this, Doyle said that lawmakers claimed it was for safety reasons.
"This is happening because, in 2020, the legislature passed a law that vote-by-mail requests only last for one general election," Doyle said.
Therefore, after every General Election the requests are wiped out of the computers. Doyle said his office was inundated with mail ballot requests going into the General Election because people were unaware their requests had expired.
With concerns there could be a special election if Congressman Byron Donalds gets an appointment by President-elect Donald Trump, Doyle suggests people start requesting one just in case.
"If we have a special election, request your vote by mail now. We may not have one, but you still need to request your vote by mail," Doyle said.
Anyone who wants a mail ballot for the next election can visit your supervisor of elections' website or office or call to request one.